Income assistance
I was in Vancouver B.C since March 1 2017.
Since then I suffered much and spent most of my time on the streets struggling, no sleep .
I suffer from osteoporosis pain, and Arthritis .
I found after being there for 3 and a half month that it would be to hard for me as a woman from Ontario to transition in B.C
Prior to coming to B.C I endured a major operation in vaginal, and was hit by a car , that made it harder for me.
Reason I moved to B.C was due to denials of housing in Ontario London , due to arrears costs in co_op Mary Campbell , leaving me no way of giving me housing I became discouraged , and decided to try B.C
A letter pertaining to health issues was given to me for B.C indicating I would not be able to make it in B.C due to health issues, and that it would be better if I returned to Ontario.
Also I was required to receive a emergency greyhound ticket paid through letter request from organization Raven song from worker, but I latter was denied, by income assistance office .
The Process When Arriving In London Ontario, from BC Vancouver
The process in Vancouver B.C is so much worse, then the process in London Ontario, when dealing with poverty. Poverty in B.C is highly dangerous, criminal in all manner of speaking. Though poverty in general is anywhere , poverty is worse in B.C, then Ontario. 1. The process of long term stability housing 2. Working in B.C 3. Work in London Ontario 4. Bus Pass in B.C 5. Bus Pass in London Ontario 6. Mission services in B.C 7. Mission Services in Ontario 8. The process of poverty in B.C, walking distances 9. The process of poverty in Ontario, walking distances 10 A picture of Library Cards 11 , A picture of London Ontario Library Card 12 A picture of B.C Bus Pass 13. A picture of London Ontario Bus Pass 14 Rapid Transit in B.C 15. London Ontario Desires Rapid Transit. 16, Drug addiction in B.C 17, drug addiction in Ontario 18. Life on the streets, life expectancy in B.C 19. Life expectancy in Ontario , life on the streets
Posted 17th June by Nina Louise McCutcheon
1.B.C is way different from London Ontario Systems. It is a lot harder in B.C , then London Ontario, to get by. Even though there is a better chance of a Job placement in B.C , there is much red tape. When in B.C , I had a interview with security Guard, and even though I had much experience they needed for the position of security guarding, they required I go to B.C works, a program, that does a check on you to see if you in fact can work, and could be helpful in paying for your courses and License for security Jobs, and other jobs.
2. B.C has a system, that when applying for assistance is very strict and they do not desire to help people like myself from other provinces.
3. The Systems in B.C are good in some cases but not in others and much harder , then Ontario Systems. Management in B.C is way out of sorts. The amount of people dying due to poverty is a bigger percentage then Ontario poverty. Death is more evident, though I might add Ontario, is becoming much worse as we go.
4. The Time spans for Poverty in B.C , is much greater and waiting periods are longer and much harder to handle. People living on the streets, in missions or other, are enduring wait periods for assistance and housing waiting lists to get housed a lot more, then Ontario . B.C waiting lists are slower, then London Ontario.
5. The income levels in B.C are next to Nil. 234.00 a Month is the Street allowance and due to being from Ontario, this income is ongoing. People from the province on B.C receive more. Anyone coming from Ontario , are discriminated more.
6. Mission life in B.C compared to London Ontario, is a harder process. One Month in Salvation Army, and then shipped off to another Mission, if no Missions have room for you, then it is life out on the streets, weather your clean, or not. Life on the streets in Vancouver is a lot more dangerous, then Ontario.
7. The Crime Levels in B.C are a lot more Often and more serious then Ontario. Woman Rapes are more. Prostitution is greater. Subway issues, for woman are more dangerous as well. B.C has much security everywhere. You might say its like living in a concentration camp. Everywhere there is security guards. There is a huge movement of security. Helicopters over head and more, Police parole ect. B.C is a high level combat city. High level speeding and a Roller Coaster Ride. Fast pace city. Your head will spin.
8. B.C has many good qualities though. It is a beautiful City for attraction, and travelers . It is good for people who have money, and in homes. Life in B.C is not good for people who are poor. B.C systems are good in some ways and London Ontario can learn from them. Though London Ontario, must be very careful, in how they use B.C in order to make positive changes in our city. Using some is good, but not everything. London Ontario is a maintained city that has great love for people in our city, with respect and it must keep maintaining this kind of attitude base, to be continually successful. B.C on the other hand, is a bad attitude based system. As for Democratic and Liberal is concerned, Liberal is better as far as I am concerned, though I have no preferences to who is better. I vote, but I vote on the Legislation of concept and peoples rights under God.
9. B.C has many system qualities such as : 1. Bus Pass laws. Bus Pass Laws are carried on throughout the Month, and transferred on to next Month. If a Card is filled at 91.00 for Month, then if not used in same month , it is allowed to be used next month.
10. The B.C Luggage held system is better. B.C offers lockers to those living in Poverty at most Missions like The Lookout, on Yukon Street, and Salvation Army, on Homer Street, They hold the luggage even if your not staying there, if you have health concerns and are not able, and the load is too hard for you. Though there is a better place in B.C that ongoing holds your luggage during the day, called Gathering Place , respecting the fact that people in poverty have a life as well. This gives them the right to travel, enjoy there lives better, and journeys. It helps with health risks, and so they can look for Jobs, and do other important things to succeed through there lives in general. A locker system in London Ontario is needed as well.
GATHERING PLACE LINK: http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/gathering-place-community-centre.aspx
11. Salvation Army is a great place providing provision, classes and many resources during the day for people living in the Mission. Though the difference with B.C Salvation Army Meals is not as good as London Ontario. London Ontario provides outside times for others living on the streets and not living in Missions to come eat during the week. B.C Salvation Army does not provide this. Though B.C does have a lot more resources for meals in there city, then London Ontario.
SALVATION ARMY
1. Anger Management Classes
2. Spiritual Council, encouragement
3. Job Management Classes
5. Preparing a res classes.
6. Courses for maintaining your life
7. Selfworth Classes
8. Job placements and classes to better your experiences for a job. Volunteers. In Cooking and other things like Janitorial .
London Ontario Salvation Army has some of these, but needs a lot more.
The travel time between Missions , and the room to stay in Missions in B.C is over loaded. In Most cases it is very hard to get a placement in a Mission. I spent much time right on the streets. Without money , there is no drink, food, or safe place. I spent a lot of time, over night to stay safe in a Casino, or a Restaurant all night. No sleep for several days. This caused no strength, for next day, and life expectancy is urgent . I then had to travel a long way to get advocacy , due to being exhausted and had to try and find strength to get to the place to receive advocacy. B.C has a poor reasoning for those suffering on the streets. I called many times for help, in pain, and warn out, and it did not matter to them. My health was a question of room in missions, and no assistance was given. No one was there to pick me up. I had to find strength through my faith. This is one of the most scary part of poverty, and this is why so many lives lose hope, and desire suicide, rather then life. They give up, and just can not go on, due to no where to go for help. No ears to hear there cries. This is a main reason also for drug addiction, due to the suffering levels and no room in the Missions, the waiting periods out on the streets, and no advocacy .
London Ontario has a better system rate concerning Missions, and Stability, then B.C does. The compassion levels of authorities I find is a lot better, and the ability to provide for people is better.
London Ontario tries harder to hear the cries for those in poverty. They also listen more. B.C has no listening ear. No compassion. The strategy in B.C for poverty, is more app to think of a person in poverty as , its there own fault there on the streets attitude. They make it very difficult for them to get a break, or ahead. London Ontario is not as hard , and does not think like that about poverty people, but has a lot more wisdom involving what caused poverty in the first place. London Ontario, does there very best to find out what poverty is about, and to find answers that will maintain poverty better and help save lives rather then lose them. Though I also in some cases, London Ontario, needs some changes as well, in this area. Though i also believe we can find that everywhere.
ADVOCACY
The System in B.C is more ordered : They have a system that provides day time programs, a lot more, and places like Gathering place to get involved with classes, and organizations to help people in poverty stay consistent during the day, and find reasons to go on. They provide cafe's education , and advocacy clinics. London Ontario has no advocacy in our city. Advocacy levels in London Ontario is next to nil. There are advocacy Clinics like Raven Song: Link http://redbookonline.bc211.ca/service/45312609_45312609/raven_song_community_health_centre___primary_care_clinic?from=NDkuMjYxMjI2LC0xMjMuMTEzOTI2OA==
London Ontario could benefit from such Clinics. Raven Song has a walk in Clinic, and Councilors, with huge smiles and love added.
London Ontario has one clinic, but not as strong based as B.C has. B.C has a lot more.
London Ontario has Inter-community Center, but needs to learn from B.C .
Raven Song writes letters and other advocacy based levels that London Ontario does not provide.
I had to use the Money I had On me to survive to buy a ticket back to London Ontario, leaving me nothing to eat with. Even though a letter was given by a council advocacy worker, the Welfare office denied help anyway. In The months of June and July 2017 , I was given no money to survive.
I did not receive my March, check until end of April,and Making it hard for me to survive , April check was not issues til May 2017 .
I only receive 234.00 . This is not enough for anyone to survive .for each month.
I have returned to London Ontario, but now roughing it out, from, my struggles In B.C and burnt out.
I saw my Dr in London Ontario and exhausted he gave me a vitamin b 12 shot and I will, and will require another in two weeks. A blood test taken , to make sure all is okay.
As it stands my blood pressure is to low and my energy levels.
I have had to run all over London Ontario since returning with no transportation income or any income assistance at all for June 2017 .
My birthday just past and I turned 50 years not a good one I would say. A huge struggle, running for my life.
I've run around since returning , on next to nil energy , to get issues dealing with housing dwelt with, Dr appointment , and spoke to O.D.S.P worker, to get my file released again in Ontario. London housing is dealing with arrears issue , now
Thanks to ward 1 city councilor advocacy, I was able to speak to the manager of London Housing, and appeal for Housing .
A long road of more exhaustion. Being I almost died in B.C living right on the streets before returning.
I have no clothing or personal things , due to running for my life in B.C because of street abuse and no sleep , due to no room in missions for a week, in B.C .
All I could think of was running to a greyhound with the last of my Money hoping I May get some refuge on bus back to London Ontario , feeling desperate for sleep and in much pain .
When arriving in B.C I only received 2 months income of 3 and a half Month span , of only 235.00 . For 2 months, March and April 2017.
At first I was denied a income in B.C when first arriving in B.C and I fought it.
I latter learned they made a mistake and only put me on welfare portion, but should have been put onto disability right away.
Now that I have returned to London Ontario, I am now expected to survive without any income support for rest of June 2017.
In total I roughed out my journey 3 and a half months without money to live. I believe this should not be happening.
Though I am glad to say, that through all of this, London Ontario appeal was won, a victory, and I am now in London Housing , and London Ontario compassion and Love is the main factor to my success, and receiving housing. They saw the need, and the hard work I did, they considered all issues and my health, they looked into it all, did the work needed and used every avenue to make a decision on my behalf, to save my life. They on whole saw the need, and put every effort to do something positive in a life, mine. This is a asset in London Ontario. London Ontario, needs to always remember to keep this kind of conduct and statute in place. Its what make our system in London Ontario successful. Way To Go London Ontario.
