June 2008 Newsletter

(click here for printable version)

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. Because the information provided at these workshops is so valuable and in such high demand, we have made it available here.

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!

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.