By – Kendall Worth!
As the following tweet shows…
Food Bank Use-age is expected to rise by 60% in 2023. For more on why this is unacceptable see the following video.
In the video, anti-poverty advocates, including Nick Jennery of Feed Nova Scotia, Christine Saulnier from CCPA, Christine Carter from Chebucto Connections, and Lisa Roberts, from Nourish Nova Scotia, speak to the Community Services Standing Committee, of the N.S. legislature on January 10th, 2023. They also suggested solutions during their presentations to the committee. My Community - those in poverty for whom I advocate - hope the government will listen to what was proposed at the Standing Committee. Important points were made that indicate the reasons why Food-Bank usage is expected to increase. Nick from Feed Nova Scotia and Christine from Chebucto Connections made their points including details of First Voice experiences.
From previous attempts, I know that the Community Services Standing Committee does not have to, and often does not, listen to suggestions given to the Standing Committee. Here is an article that relates my past experience of talking to, and dealing with, the Standing Committee
The point is that the Community-of-People-I -Advocate-for are calling this 60% increase, unacceptable! Everyone agrees something needs to be done. The biggest factor in collecting income assistance is disability. The government needs to begin to understand that people on welfare are not undeserving, or cheating or malingering… Tim Houston and his cabinet, have the power to improve lives and many people cannot work due to their disabilities!
This image here shows what needs to be considered!
This 60% increase in Food-Bank use is going to impact the quality of life for people living in poverty. Persons with disabilities are hurting the most from Food-Banks. The food you get from Food-Banks is not always healthy and persons with disabilities have just as much right to eat healthy as anyone-else. But without an increase in Income Assistance, or some other Disability Allowance coming into place, how are persons with disability suppose to achieve eating healthy?
As I explained in this article, we saw the House of Commons rise and take a winter break before Bill 22 passed third reading, got passed by the Senate, and Royal Assent. A bill that could have potentially provided a much better living allowance then the current $950.00 standard household rate in Nova Scotia, for those with a disability.
In addition to our government being unlikely to implement the recommendations made to the standing committee, we know that, had they implemented previous recommendations, we would have a much better system of Employment Support and Income Assistance, today. An additional factor which I pointed out in detail in this article is -- When we see the Government do nothing, the community members and NGO’s feel the pressure. It is organizations like Food Banks that are feeling the increased burden, because the government will not address the current poverty crisis!
We need to take action to increase wages, and income assistance and all allowances and incomes for those on low income and welfare. We need rent reductions and housing geared to income. We need to do so to ensure that there is NOT a 60% increase in food bank usage!
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