The coalition of lived experience groups in the Waterloo Region appreciate the opportunity to share our views and submit the following comments and recommendations to the proposed Bill 184. With the changes brought on by COVID-19, we are the most vulnerable, lack financial supports, at high risk to meet rent payments and in constant fear of eviction. Prior to COVID-19, the housing crisis in the region posed a major concern, and the pandemic has further exacerbated the conditions. These constant stressors contribute to poor mental health and other health conditions that add costs to the economy by pushing more residents into homelessness and hosuing precarity. We need equity in the legislation that provides needed protections for tenants, as well as for landlords. Read our suggestions below and our response.
Equity in Bill 184
Summer Job Positions 2020
The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region has openings for youth seeking experience in neighbourhood engagement and social development, done mostly online and in a virtual context. Two positions, each 8 weeks in length, with 35hr per week. The work would be cone between June 22nd and August 31st. These positions are open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred; who have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of the employment & are legally entitled to work in Canada; between 15 and 30 years who are facing barriers to employment or professional development.
Most Supports for the Most Impacted
This pandemic has been hard on all of us, but those living in poverty are more impacted and are feeling more frightened than ever that we are being forgotten by society as a whole. Four groups of people from Waterloo Region who have much in common, experiencing life while living with low incomes, living with disabilities, and people with a passion to improve our society’s overall wellbeing - the groups sent their account of life during COVID-19 and recommendations to federal, provincial and regional representaives how to improve financial supports during and after the pandemic. Awareness of Low Income Voices, Disabilities and Human Rights, Alliance Against Poverty and People's Action Group.
Mapping of Displacement
Life Stories of Displacement oral history project solidified our objective to capture the history of recent gentrification in Kitchener-Waterloo core areas that are walkable from the LRT, as well as to make displacement more tangible for the community. Thanks to the ongoing collaboration with the University of Waterloo School of Planning, and the funding through the Ontario Job Creation Partnership program, we are opening a call for participants to support data collections.
Care and Precautions for Unsheltered NOW
We Can Do Better is a letter that followed an email campaign in Waterloo Region to support and sanction homeless encampments until we create homes for all, July 15 2020.
We need a fighting chance for our unsheltered residents, Press Release April 11, 2020.
Find out more about the UNSHELTERED CAMPAIGN for temporary 24/7 emergency alternative shelters now: As a part of the Community Support Control Group’s pandemic response, all shelters in the region are open 24/7 and the A.R. Kaufman YMCA in Kitchener expended its daytime activities into overnight space so people can shelter in place. Currently, to counter the spread of the virus among the unsheltered, there are a few public washroom locations open in Kitchener and Cambridge, and two day drop in locations that they are not open seven day's a week. Unsheltered people have no easy access to water, hadwashing, enough food or a place to rest. Read the UNSHELTERED TESTIMONIES being published about life on the streets during the outbreak of COVID19. The letters sent by residents to ask about the plans to bring people indoors during the pandemic usually do not receive responses from the Regional Chair or the Mayors. We need over 250 additional 24/7 spaces in the region and we need them now for the basic human rights to shelter, healthcare, safety... and life. The PETITION for opening public and private facilities, funding and staffing of the additional shelter spaces is still open.
The Right to Housing is The Right to Life
Read the full report on Homelessness as Global Human Rights Crisis.
Read also the National Protocol of Homeless Encampment in Canada.
Coronavirus Community Update
Updated June 17
State of emergency expended until June 30.
Region of Waterloo's new dashboard for COVID19 data tracking.
Persons who receive Disability Tax Credit eligible for additional emergency benefits up to $600. Advocates says in excludes majority of persons living with disabilities.
CERB available until the end of summer.
30-day limit on prescriptions in Ontario expected to end by July 1.
Tax Filing and Benefits update: It was announced that Canadians currently receiving GST/HST and/or Canada Child Benefit and have not filed their tax return by June 1, 2020 will continue to receive these benefits until September. June 1, 2020 is still the deadline for those owing taxes for 2019 and the tax payment is due September 1, 2020.
In line with our core mandate, we will open up with current local, provincial and national advocacy campaigns to create better future for all.
Postponing Tax Clinic until further notice
We will be closing Social Development Centre, Civic Hub and postponing tax clinics until until further notice as a precautionary measure, for our staff, volunteers and community members. We hope to resume scheduling of the meetings as soon as it becomes possible. For the time being, email us at info@waterlooregion.org or leave a messate at the tax clinic extension at 519-579-3800.
Homes 4 All
Since November 2019, a number of lived experience groups and community members concerned about the housing crisis and homelessness in the region, have been gathering weekly to learn, share information, tell stories and take on small steps and meaningful actions towards solutions. Through collective storytelling, they have created a set of recommendations, an info sheet, content for a radio show, and Forum Theater sessions to support each other as we unpack hurt and trauma of being precariously housed and absent in mainstream decision making to address the humanitarian crisis in the region as a consequence of prolonged insecurity of income, housing, (mental) health and addictions care. Please read the recommendations shared with all affordable housing strategy teams in the region and subscribe to the ‘Homes 4 All’ podcast/radio show at CKMS Radio Waterloo 102.7. There are meaningful grassroots solutions, and we all have a role to play. Tell us what you can do.
Grassroots Connection, 2020 Annual General Meeting
High speed Grassroots Connection to tech sector in Waterloo Region. What would that look like? Join us as we explore technology sector in support of social justice work in the community on April 7th, during our Annual General Meeting, 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Civic Hub. If you are in environment, arts, peace, culture, spirituality, housing, democratic reform work, we hope you get connected to our work and become a member, or you decide to impact our strategy by joining the Board. Find all about our work in 2019 in the Activity Report and let's connect soon!
2020 Tax Clinic
We will be hosting free income tax clinics starting March 2nd and running to April 30, 2020. We are offering bookable appointments and drop-off services. Our hours will be Monday and Wednesday 10 am - 8 pm and Tues and Thurs 9 am - 5 pm. Call or email to schedule a time: 519-579-3800 or tax-clinic@waterlooregion.org. To ensure that your return is completed accurately, please prepare all of the necessary documents as it applies to your situation from the tax clinic check list. Please note that if you are not receiving Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), we can assist you in applying for it, even if not all the household members have filed taxes.
