Advocating for Change: Walking with Both Feet Grey-Bruce Poverty Task Force Presented by: Deirdre Pike Senior Social Planner Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton

Each person that identifies as a stakeholder, Poverty Task Force member, Community Voices member or Action Group member contributes to our “community of change”. Grey-Bruce Poverty Task Force

SPRC Priorities Homelessness and Affordable Housing Poverty and Skills Development Children and Families Equity and Inclusion

Community Based/Provincial Anti-Poverty Initiatives Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction Speak Now! HOPE – Hamilton Organizing for Poverty Elimination Common Campaign Coalition Hamilton Faith Communities in Action Campaign For Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits Living Wage Campaign Health Providers Against Poverty Put Food in the Budget – Do the Math Freedom 90 RNAO, ISAC, 25 in 5, Citizens for Public Justice: Chew on This

U.N. International Day to Eradicate Poverty Chew on This!

Poverty Trends Income - levels have not kept pace with cost of housing, taxes, utilities, food, clothing Urban/Rural – food deserts, transportation, resources Neighbourhoods - Some neighbourhoods have a much higher proportion of poverty - Beasley/Carlisle Jobs – loss of manufacturing sector and union skilled jobs – precarious employment Rich get richer and the poor get poorer Wealthiest 40% got richer and poorest 60% got poorer

Tax is Not a Four-Letter Word [Without trust,] people are not willing to pay the necessary taxes; each worries that they’re being ripped off by the other, those at the top effectively secede from society and those at the bottom withdraw believing that the game is rigged. Alex Himelfarb

The Lie of Austerity Deficit Deceit …the Government of Ontario, supported by unofficial “finance minister” Don Drummond, has lied to us. It has consistently been exaggerating the amount of deficit we face in Ontario. $30 billion > $6 billion Scare tactic to cut public services – “taxphobia”

Poverty Rates Across Hamilton

Gender Lens Females more likely than males to live in poverty Income gap - median income full time/full year - Women $38,813; Men - $52,960 (2005) Women continue to be the primary caregivers for children Lone parent families headed by women have significantly high rates of poverty – 60% with children under 12 and 81% if children under 6

Social Assistance and Poverty

$30 increase (almost 5%) for singles without children 1% increase for families (Ontario Child Benefit was also increased in July) Monthly benefits $639 Cost of food-$208 Average rent-$500 Remainder-$ 99

Monthly benefits $1,467 Cost of food-$ 514 Average rent-$ 872 Remainder $ 15

MYTH BUSTING Welfare bums ripping off the system 3.5% fraud rate Poor people are lazy 60% are working

IT DOESN’T ADD UP! 30,000 Hamilton workers live in poverty (2006) over 10,00 working full time

Minimum wage still doesn’t lift workers out of poverty

People work and are still poor… People on social assistance and low income working people have consistently met their personal responsibilities with respect to taking employment… % of parents and single adults living in poverty were employed but still in poverty. One‐third of all Ontario children living in poverty in 2008 were in families with full‐time, full‐year hours of work (LICO‐Before Tax).

Persons working full-time yet still living in poverty, city of Hamilton and selected communities, 2006

Demographic composition of full-time working population, city of Hamilton, 2006

THE NEED FOR A LIVING WAGE? Employment should lift you out of poverty! A living wage is a level of pay that enables someone working full-time to earn enough to meet basic needs and participate fully in community

Hamilton’s living wage calculation: $14.95/hour Includes all taxes, credits and subsidies Based on cost of living data from credible sources (City of Hamilton, Statistics Canada, CHMC, etc.) and quotes Full calculation report available at: sprc.hamilton.on.ca

Tools for a Local Campaign Living Wage in Hamilton The National - Living Wage in Hamilton Steps to a Community Campaign

BENEFITS OF LIVING WAGES TO EMPLOYEES Receive fair compensation Raised out of poverty Better quality of life and improved health Education/Skills training

BENEFITS OF LIVING WAGES TO EMPLOYERS Reduced absenteeism and decreased turnover Decreased turnover = lower training costs Increased morale, loyalty and productivity More attractive jobs for job seekers Recognition for responsible employers

BENEFITS OF A LIVING WAGE TO THE COMMUNITY Greater consumer purchasing power Increased local spending Increased civic participation

Provide effective community support services Provide an effective charitable response Engage in policy advocacy Government targets

How to Walk with Both Feet Charity and Justice Example - Food Security Foot of Charity donate to the food bank Foot of Justice Join Freedom 90 Call your MPP and ask about what targets they’ve set for provincial poverty reduction

HOW ARE YOU WALKING WITH BOTH FEET IN OWEN SOUND?