June 2008 Newsletter
Reporting Back
The Poverty Reduction Coalition participates in Plan It Calgary
The Poverty Reduction Coalition in collaboration with United Way of Calgary and Area, Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations and Sustainable Calgary hosted a consultation with the Plan It Calgary team in early March. More than 40 non-profit sector participants shared their perspectives on the impact that land use and transportation planning have on the provision of social services in our city.
Plan It Calgary is an 18-month project to develop a long-term plan for Calgary's land use and transportation networks based on the imagineCalgary sustainability principles.
As a result of the consultation, the Poverty Reduction Coalition submitted recommendations to The City of Calgary regarding the future direction of Plan It Calgary. In doing so, the Coalition hopes to ensure that future policy resulting from the Plan It Calgary process will ensure a range of special care facilities and affordable and accessible housing options are proactively planned for throughout Calgary communities.
The City of Calgary Council Standing Committee on Land Use and Transportation has since recommended to the Plan It Calgary team that further stakeholder engagement, including the non-profit sector, should be conducted prior to development of the final plan to ensure that key directions of the plan adequately respond to community input.
The Poverty Reduction Coalition presents to Council:
Proposed Planning Principles for Special Care Facilities, Shelters and Non-Market Housing
On April 14th, at a non-statutory public hearing, City Council directed administration to re-work the Land Use By-Law planning principles for special care facilities, shelters and affordable housing to address the five concerns identified by the Poverty Reduction Coalition. The Administration is to report back to council on this issue in early July; this was the outcome that the Poverty Reduction Coalition was seeking.
In the days and weeks leading up to this hearing, Jim Dinning, co-chair of the Poverty Reduction Coalition, met individually with nine Aldermen to express the Coalition’s concern regarding the planning principles. On the day of the hearing, Jim presented the Coalition’s position to Council. It’s interesting to note that when Council was deliberating they referenced Jim’s remarks and the Poverty Reduction Coalition’s submission several times. Council also noted that it had received a large number of letters from social service agencies concerned about the proposed planning principles.
What's New in the News?
AISH benefits increase…again!
In late-January we received great news from the provincial government. AISH benefits were to be increased for the second time in less than a year!.
Census data released
On May 1, Statistics Canada released their 2006 Census data on earnings and income.
Poverty Reduction Coalition member receives Order of Canada Award
On April 11th, Governor General Michaelle Jean presented Dr. Tom Noseworthy with the Order of Canada for his work in health care during a ceremony at Ottawa's Rideau Hall. Dr. Noseworthy is a University of Calgary professor, physician and Poverty Reduction Coalition steering committee member.
As a critical care physician graduating with a master's degree in public health from Harvard University in 1987, Dr. Noseworthy is now the Head of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the U of C's Faculty of Medicine.
"It's interesting how you just work hard quietly with perseverance, not asking for any recognition, yet people do notice. I'm very grateful," Dr. Noseworthy says.
The Order of Canada is this country’s highest civilian honour. It was created in 1967 during Canada's centennial year to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation.
Congratulations Tom!
Alberta communities to share $254 million for affordable housing and rent supplements
The provincial government has allocated $254 million to create more affordable housing units, and provide rent supplements for lower income Albertans; an increase of $42 million from 2007-2008. Last year, funding was available only to municipalities under certain criteria. This year, the process is open to all municipalities, non-profit groups and private industry to encourage broader partnerships and innovation.
New Resources from the Poverty Reduction Coalition
Make Tax Time Pay
The Poverty Reduction Coalition’s Make Tax Time Pay initiative has identified government-offered programs and benefits that directly assist low-income families. Through Make Tax Time Pay workshops offered to low-income Calgarians and the service providers who work with them, the Poverty Reduction Coalition is raising awareness of these programs and benefits in an effort to increase uptake.
So far this year, Make Tax Time Pay workshops have been presented to several social service agencies, including CNIB and the provincial Telehealth network via Calgary Health Region. Employees of H&R Block Canada also participated in a session early in the year. Since that time they have passed on this knowledge to their low-income clients. In addition, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) distributed Make Tax Time Pay booklets to 700 volunteers who assisted low-income Calgarians with their tax returns this year.
This year, the benefits outlined in the workshops were expanded to include new federal benefits as well as information on RESPs and RDSPs. Information cards outlining available benefits for people with disabilities (printed in both plain language and large print) were also distributed this year and the Calgary Food Bank dropped a note in their outgoing food hampers reminding food bank clients to file their tax returns and outlining the benefits of filing. All in all, it’s been a busy season for Make Tax Time Pay!
If your organization would like to explore the opportunity of hosting a Make Tax Time Pay workshop, please contact us at (403) 410-2573 or reducepoverty@calgaryunitedway.org. Workshops can be scheduled throughout the year.
Crimes of Desperation: The truth about poverty-related crime
On the eve of Mother’s Day weekend, the Poverty Reduction Coalition reminded Calgarians that some mothers are struggling with difficult choices.
Crimes of Desperation illuminates the issue of poverty-related crime in Calgary. The report finds that a significant amount of crime committed by females is rooted in poverty and the costs to the woman, her children and the system are significant.
Emerging from the Poverty Reduction Coalition’s Survival Crimes Initiative advisory committee - a collaborative group of agencies and organizations with an interest in identifying solutions to reduce the number of women incarcerated for committing poverty-related crimes - Crimes of Desperation focuses on two types of offences: failure to pay fines and theft under $5,000.
Advisory Committee Chair and Calgary Counselling Centre CEO, Robbie Babins-Wagner explains, “The purpose of the project was to understand the situation of women, many of whom are single mothers, who are struggling to live in Calgary with its high cost of living.”
The report considers new strategies to reduce the barriers facing women living in poverty as well as changes to public policy that would better support women and have the potential to reduce poverty-related crime in Calgary.
One outcome from this report is already in production. At the request of Calgary Transit, the Poverty Reduction Coalition has developed an emergency contact card, small enough for Peace Officers to keep in their pocket, and full of referral information that they can share when appropriate with the people they encounter in the course of their day-to-day duties.
The Executive Summary of Crimes of Desperation is now available. The larger summary report will be available later this month.