Tag: housing

Dear Colleagues,

May 5th is Red Dress Day. May 5th honours the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, 2 spirit, and gender diverse people in Canada by encouraging learning and building awareness to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, 2 spirit, and gender diverse people.  Home Page | MMIWG (mmiwg-ffada.ca)

Starting in 2016, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls held 15 community hearings and spoke with 2,386 people. A final report was released in June 2019 which includes 231 Calls for Justice that “represent important ways to end the genocide and to transform systemic and societal values that have worked to maintain colonial violence”. Final Report | MMIWG (mmiwg-ffada.ca)

• Indigenous women are four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women, yet Indigenous people make up only 4.3% of the population of Canada.
• Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from their current or former partner. A little more than 13% of Indigenous people experience violence from their current or ex-partner, a proportion twice as high as non-Indigenous people (5.7%).
• Indigenous women are more likely to experience physical and sexual assault than non-Indigenous women.56% of Indigenous women have suffered physical assault, and 46% have experienced sexual assault. By comparison, about one-third of non-Indigenous women have suffered these assaults in their lifetimes.

The Inquiry also released an engagement guide, Their voices will guide us, which will “introduce the value of Indigenous women’s and girls’ lives into the classroom and into the minds and hearts of young people. It will prepare educators to use a decolonizing pedagogy and a trauma-informed approach in their teaching.” Publications | MMIWG (mmiwg-ffada.ca)

• Gimikwendaanin: honour and remember community fire at Gichi-Name-Wikwedong Reconciliation Garden, May 5th, 11am-1pm.

May is also Sexual Violence Prevention Month: throughout May, various initiatives are undertaken to raise awareness about sexual violence and promote prevention efforts. Join together in support of survivors, community service providers and advocates across the province to raise awareness about the horrific crime of sexual assault and all forms of gender-based violence.  

• Read a summary of the 86 recommendations that came out of the Renfrew Inquiry in  https://lukesplace.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Inquest-report-community-consultations-final.pdf, including Recommendation No. 10 – Formally declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic.
• Learn more about human trafficking here:  Human Trafficking Digital Education Tool | Outil numérique de sensibilisation à la traite des personnes. (gov.on.ca)
• Learn more about filing taxes: Getting benefits and credits when in an abusive or violent situation – Canada.ca

HOUSING

• Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services: has launched a series of community engagements with urban Indigenous community members about housing priorities and how they can develop housing that meets communities’ needs. For more info email price@oahssc.ca
• National Encampments Response Plan: the federal government allocated $250M to address encampments in their 2024 Budget. The Federal Housing Advocate’s call for a National Encampments Response Plan. Learn more about what this plan should look like directly from lived experts & the Advocate: https://loom.ly/32jzeGQ

FOOD SECURITY

• Statistic Canada 2023: has released new data on food insecurity across Canada.How many Canadians are affected by household food insecurity? – PROOF (utoronto.ca)Food Insecurity A Growing Concern In Grey Bruce: Public Health | Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre 
• The report shows that food insecurity appears to be a worsening trend in the province. In 2021, 16.1% of households experienced food insecurity. That number increased to 18.7% in 2022. 17.5% of households in Grey Bruce are considered to be food insecure.
• Kincardine Good Food Box: broke its records this month, distributing a total of 222 boxes of fresh produce. The volunteers serve Kincardine, Ripley and Tiverton.  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ZxjczfDFq9RQzBko/?mibextid=WC7FNe The Kincardine Record | ​Kincardine Community Living receives donations for local programs
• Ontario’s 2024-25 Inclusive Community Grants Program:  applications are still open for up to $60,000 for projects that improve accessibility and support active living. Eligible organizations such as non-profits, Indigenous communities and municipalities are encouraged to apply by May 22. https://www.ontario.ca/page/inclusive-community-grants#section-1 

INCOME SECURITY 

• City of Owen Sound Council: approved a motion to support an increase to OW and ODSP, recognizing the cost of living and need to increase rates. https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIStandAlonePlayer.aspx?Id=8fd4c38d-0d39-43e9-ac9a-562c572d9cef
• Huron Perth CVITP Program: The tax clinics in Huron County and Grand Bend helped file more than 1,000 returns in 2022, which resulted in $1.7 million in benefits and refunds. For the 2023 term, Crane said clinic organizers don’t have a target goal but hope they’ll be able to at least file the same amount of returns.Local clinics ready to help with income taxes: United Way Perth Huron | The Stratford Beacon Herald
• Grey Bruce CVITP Network: the PTF’s Income & Employment Security Action Group shall be holding an annual gathering on May 25th, 10am-2pm at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre.  GB CVITP organizations shall join the Action Group to appreciate the work of volunteers and debrief about this year’s program. GB CVITP helped 3,050 individuals to file 3,550 returns in 2022, across 3 Counties, which is estimated in $9 million in benefits and refunds.   Look out for a poster and registration coming out for this event. 

• Seniors and poverty: seniors have some of the lowest poverty rates in the country relative to Canada’s official poverty line. Seniors’ poverty rates are consistently lower than the national poverty rate. Yet, many seniors across the country are struggling. Reports find that reality doesn’t match the statistics. Seniors’ poverty isn’t properly measured (irpp.org) and A fine line: Finding the right seniors’ poverty measure in Canada – Maytree
• Longevity literacy: Longevity literacy is an understanding of how long people tend to live upon reaching retirement age. It is particularly important since retirement income security requires planning, saving, and preparing for a period that is uncertain in length. A recent US study found:

• Only 12% of U.S. adults have strong longevity literacy—i.e., they demonstrate an understanding of how long 65-year-olds live on average, as well as the likelihood of living to an advanced age versus the likelihood of dying relatively early.
• 31% have weak longevity literacy—i.e., they demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of the distribution of life expectancy at age 65. This is a knowledge gap that can keep them from planning and preparing adequately for retirement. TIAA_GFLEC_Report_PFinLongevity_August2023_02.indd

TRANSPORTATION 

• Transportation Funding: the Ontario government announced transit a $1,052,544 investment from the 2023-24 Gas Tax program. The funding will support ongoing services of the Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit Corporation (SMART) on behalf of the Municipalities of Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Hanover, Huron-Kinloss, Kincardine, Saugeen Shores, Southgate and West Grey; Meaford Moves+ accessible transit and the City of Owen Sound transit. 
• Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce: is carrying out a transportation survey to determine needs of employees and employers in the area. Business Transportation Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Cheers, Jill