2023 – Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force

February 27, 2024February 27, 2024 Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

News Release: Poverty Task Force Launches Series on Food Insecurity in Grey Bruce Counties

27 February 2024 – For Immediate Release

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force is launching a new series focused on income solutions to address food insecurity in Grey Bruce County. With 17.5% of households in the area struggling to afford food, this series aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those who are food insecure.

Food insecure households in Grey Bruce County are forced to make difficult decisions every day, such as choosing between paying for utilities, housing, food, prescriptions, or transportation. This often leads to worrying about running out of food before being able to afford more, compromising on food quality, skipping meals, or eating less when there isn’t enough money. These households also face higher risks of poor mental and physical health due to their struggles to pay for basic needs.

The 2023 Cost of Eating Well report from Grey Bruce Public Health shows how unaffordable basic needs like food and rent have become for some of our neighbours.

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and its partners are committed to addressing food insecurity in Grey Bruce County and believes that everyone deserves access to nutritious and affordable food. Through this series, we hope to shed light on the challenges faced by our community members and work towards finding income solutions to ensure that no one goes hungry.

For more information about the work of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and our mission to combat food insecurity please visit: https://povertytaskforce.com/food-security/income-solutions-to-food-insecurity/

For more information about Grey Bruce Public Health’s 2023 Food Affordability and Cost of Eating Well Report please visit: https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Eating-Well/Food-Affordability-and-Food-Insecurity

August 10, 2023August 14, 2023 Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Poverty Task Force/United Way Community Update # 200

Dear Colleagues, There were positive announcements in July with the recognition of the harm towards First Nations children, youth and families.

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal: has just approved a $23.4 Billion compensation agreement for children, youth and families affected by Canada’s discriminatory conduct towards First Nations children, youth and families. CHRT Letter-Decision on Revised FSA on Compensation | First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (fncaringsociety.com)

August is Overdose Awareness Month and reminds us of the work to be done in response to the opioid crisis. Overdose touches people and communities in many ways. It is a complex issue involving stigma, discrimination and various misunderstandings about drugs and people who use drugs. Our collective response to overdose prevention demands a comprehensive response from governments, organisations within and beyond health sectors, and a compassionate and informed community.

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) 2023: is a global event held on August 31^st each year. It aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. The 2023 theme is “Recognizing those people who go unseen”. Campaign Resources 2023 – International Overdose Awareness Day (overdoseday.com)

Grey Bruce Events: Families and friends of those affected are planning memorial ceremonies in many communities.
- In Owen Sound, Safe N Sound will be hosting a barbecue and ceremony starting at 10:30am at the Farmer’s Market. More information to follow. In Hanover, the Overdose Awareness Group are planning a casual gathering at the Heritage Square Park at the gazebo. Concentrating more on support for those who have lost people to overdose, or living in fear with someone struggling. People are welcome to share or just embrace the support. More information to follow.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) continue to call for a multi-level response to end the drug poisoning crisis. These recommendations involve emergency management and policy reform that acknowledges the root causes of addiction, such as housing related factors, poverty, unemployment, and trauma.

Grey Bruce Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy: Call to Action presented to Grey County Council Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy Presentation Summary Report (drugstrategy.org)
drugstrategy.org
Grey County commits $1 million to Wellness and Recovery Centre | Grey County
Naloxone Poster.pdf (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)

HOUSING SUPPORT

Bruce County Housing Report: was presented to the Human Services Committee meeting with the following data:
- the number of applicants as of June 30th of this year was 1093, up from 843 at the same time in 2022.
- the largest increase was for the number of applications for rent-geared-to-income housing, which increased by 32%, from 790 applications in 2022 to 1046 in 2023.
- over the same time frame, the number of family applications increased by 32%, while the number of adults applying for housing went up by 29%.
- the number of senior applications saw a smaller increase of 13%.
- the highest number of applications was from Saugeen Shores (549), Kincardine (462) and Brockton (424) respectively. Bruce County Reports Increased Demands For Housing In Most Recent Report | Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre
Grey County Housing Report: and update to the Housing Action Plan (HAP) was presented to the Committee of the Whole.
- The County is expected to grow by more than 12,000 households through 2046.
- Policy targets aim for 30% of new development at an ‘affordable’ price point to low- and moderate-income households.
- The updated HAP was developed using a ‘systems framing’ which seeks to address policies, practices, relationships, and resource flows that are related to housing creation. Innovative forms of non-market housing and tenure models, as well as non-traditional funding and social finance approaches. Grey County To Consider Supporting Updated Housing Action Plan | Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre

FOOD SUPPORT

The Salvation Army Owen Sound: recently reported they are helping close to 1,000 people/month with food and clothing.
- Annual food bank usage is up 20%.
- Food bank feeds 750-780 people/month; 22-24% higher average than last year (600/month).
- $60,000 spend on groceries in the last 2-3 months; with a significant increase in food for the Supportive Outreach Program (SOS).
- The Salvation Army Port Elgin: food bank is now open 3 days/week due to demand and may go up to being open 4 days/week in September.
- Kelsey’s Food Donation: due to a recent fire at Kelsey’s some 1,100 lbs of frozen meat was donated to the food bank. Some of the 30 employees affected by the fire were being helped by The Salvation Army Owen Sound. Owen Sound Kelseys Donates Its Usable Food After Fire Heavily Damages Restaurant | Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre

FUNDING SUPPORT

Community Foundation Grey Bruce: Applications are now open for Fall grants up to $3,000 and being accepted through our online granting portal. The deadline is September 15, 2023.

Stay well, Jill

May 25, 2023 Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

News Release: End period poverty and the stigma surrounding menstruation

Menstrual products are a necessity, not a luxury. Access to menstrual products and dignity around menstruation – reducing the shame – is a health equity issue.

According to a local survey carried out by It’s Personal Period in Grey Bruce (2021), the survey found:

1 in 2 people surveyed experienced period poverty,
52% of those surveyed struggled to access products,
73% (3 in 4 people) missed work or school due to menstruation, and
40% were not informed of proper menstrual health.

The United Way Bruce Grey is pleased to recognize its partnership with It’s Personal Period, a grassroots committee based in Grey County and Bruce County. It’s Personal Period’s mission is to advance menstrual equity in Bruce Grey by addressing the impact period poverty has on the dignity and health of those who menstruate.

They aim to reduce the stigma and increase awareness about menstrual health by providing education and sustainable menstrual product options to those in need.

They have engaged with the Poverty Task Force’s Food Security Action Group to speak to the need for free menstrual products at community food program locations. You can find menstrual products in libraries and food banks across Bruce Grey.

For more resources, visit www.itspersonalperiod.com/resources.

Ontario Government Budget

In the 2021/2022 Ontario budget, the government made a 3 year commitment to provide 6 million menstrual products per year to school boards. Period Purse estimated that the number of promised pads does not meet the demand. It breaks down to only 10 pads/student/year. (Source: Period Purse, Oct 2021).

Here in Grey Bruce, the allocated amount from the Ontario government does not cover enough to provide free products and dispensing machines for all students in schools. The Poverty Task Force and It’s Personal Period supported the Bruce Grey Catholic School’s Board roll out of its student survey and free period product program The School Board added to the budget from the government to meet the demand of its student population.

The Poverty Task Force is advocating for the Ontario government to mandate free menstrual products in all public school washrooms such as exists in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is May 28th, 2023. Consider ways your organization can raise awareness about the challenges regarding access to menstrual products and education about menstruation.

Source: Plan International Canada survey