‘Moderately than celebrating encampment removals, we needs to be demanding that the provincial authorities increase social help charges to livable ranges,’ reader says
GuelphToday acquired the next Letter to the Editor from Ron Anicich from Elevate The Charges Coalition in response to LETTER: Reader thanks metropolis workers for eradicating encampment:
Expensive editor:
Whereas I recognize Mr. Rodriguez’s concern for downtown Guelph’s financial vitality (Letters To The Editor, November 17, 2024), clearing encampments fails to deal with the foundation causes of homelessness and merely displaces susceptible individuals to different areas.
The truth is that Ontario’s social help charges stay far under the poverty line. A single individual on Ontario Works receives simply $733 month-to-month – nowhere close to sufficient to afford hire in Guelph, the place common one-bedroom residences exceed $1,600. Even recipients of Ontario Incapacity Help Program advantages wrestle with most funds of $1,368 month-to-month, an quantity which falls nicely in need of the price of an house. This represents an entire breakdown of the social security web which all Ontario communities depend upon, whereas our present provincial authorities offers away billions of our tax {dollars} to worthwhile overseas companies.
Moderately than celebrating encampment removals, we needs to be demanding that the provincial authorities increase social help charges to livable ranges. In 2024 this implies no less than doubling social help charges. Analysis constantly reveals that offering satisfactory, secure revenue is the simplest solution to stop and finish homelessness. When individuals can afford housing, they need not reside in tents.
The “prison exercise” Mr. Rodriguez references is usually survival behaviour born of desperation. Individuals experiencing homelessness want houses, not displacement. Whereas Guelph does have some social companies, they’re overwhelmed and underfunded. The answer is not forcing individuals experiencing homelessness out of public view – it is making certain everybody has sufficient revenue to afford protected, secure housing.
If the individuals of Guelph actually need to be a “metropolis of hope, unity, freedom, satisfaction and care” as Mr. Rodriguez suggests, we should deal with systemic options like satisfactory social help charges, not fast fixes that merely disguise the issue whereas inflicting additional trauma to our most susceptible neighbours, family and friends members.
Sincerely,
Ron Anicich
Elevate The Charges Coalition
