Niagara's public health committee hearing of dire conditions facing some people, while on assistance
The heartbreaking reality of what some people endure while living on social assistance in Niagara revealed to the public health committee.
Niagara's Poverty Reduction Strategy Chair Jennifer Gauthier said some people are given $1,200 a month, while most rent is well above that.
She pointed out some women choose between living in their car, a hotel on Lundy's Lane, or face abuse. "Countless times I've had women say to me 'I'd rather go home and live with the unpredictable abusive situation facing me, than living with my children in poverty, and raising my family not being able to feed them'."
The committee voted to keep pressuring the Ontario government for social assistance increases, as well as programs such as Basic Income.
Councillor Joyce Morocco was sympathetic in pushing the government.
"At the same time I have to say that sometimes it's a battle when it comes to budget time, that we all try to fight for things that matter to us, and those things definitely matter to us. But, our limitations are based on our tax base."
Gauthier said "poverty is not all about the money, yet, it is all about the money".
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