Poverty Task Force/United Way Community Update # 74

Dear Colleagues, 

Cathy Hird wrote in a Owen Sound Hub article that “one day is not enough”. Many partners hosted or participated in National Truth and Reconciliation Day/Orange Shirt Day last week. But we must continue to improve relations and to understand what actions we are committed to as “treaty people”. 

While May 5th, 2021 was Red Dress Day, this week is Red Dress Awareness Week. October 4th marked Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Day. A day when we honour the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people, support grieving families, and create opportunities for healing.

The 2021 National Action Plan responds to the many demands to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. It is meant to honour and respect Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples’ values, philosophies, knowledge systems, and agencies through the prioritization of Indigenous-led solutions and services, developed in partnership and sustained through the adequate resourcing of this work. 
The National Action Plan responds to the Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Métis Perspectives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People report.

The National Action Plan is not meant to be frozen in time; it is evergreen, recognizing the urgency for immediate action, but also the importance of continuing to cultivate transformative change over time.

COVID19 IMPACT SURVEY – GREY COUNTY & BRUCE COUNTY

  • A county-wide survey is asking Grey County and Bruce County residents how COVID-19 has impacted their daily lives. Residents are being asked to provide feedback on a range of social, economic, and health-related questions. The survey is in partnership with the University of Guelph. Results will help the County and local municipalities make important decisions regarding pandemic recovery efforts. Go to: Grey County Survey or Bruce County Survey

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS

HOUSING SUPPORTS

  • Tamarack Is hosting a mid-Ontario Rural Community of Practice (CoP)  on Tuesday, October 12th from 1-2pm. Dominica McPherson, Coordinator of the Guelph-Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, will help to kick off our conversation by sharing their YIMBY campaign and how they have reduced overall chronic homelessness by 25% and youth chronic homelessness by 76% in the community. Contact Jill Umbach if you want to join the zoom call. 
  • Rentsafe Owen Sound Collaborative: our Landlord Survey is still open. Recently Erica Phipps and Jill Umbach joined Mary Jane Murray on Rogers TV.  Start at the 30 minute mark for the Rentsafe interview

INCOME SUPPORTS

  • New Rules for Employment Insurance: There are new pandemic-related changes coming to the Employment Insurance system that took effect Sunday, September 26. This is a list of a few changes. To see all criteria, visit Service Canada at  https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html
  • Eligibility: In the last year, EI applicants received a one-time top-up of hours to help them qualify. This ends and is replaced by a requirement to have worked 420 hours to qualify. These hours will be in place until September 24, 2022. 
  • To qualify for EI-Sickness benefits, the government is again requiring a medical certificate proving the applicant is sick and can’t work. This requirement was waived over the last year because of COVID-19. 
  • Benefits: The weekly minimum payment will decline to $300/m from $500/m.  
    • Regional unemployment rates will once again be used to calculate the duration and value of benefits. 
    • Anyone with an existing EI claim won’t see any changes to the value or duration of their benefits with the new rules.  
  • Seasonal workers in 13 regions will still be eligible for 5 extra weeks of EI regular benefits until October 2022. This is specific to seasonal workers who started claims between August 5, 2018 and this coming October 30th and depends on them having 3 claims for regular or fishing benefits in the last 5 years, and at least 2 starting around the same time of year. 

FOOD SECURITY SUPPORTS

  • Meals2Motels: After 19 months, the United Way is phasing out of the Meals to Motels program as of September 30th. Close to 12,500 OSHaRE meals were delivered to those housed in motels. 
    • OSHaRE remains available to support people with meals twice a day. 
    • The YMCA Housing team will ensure there are frozen meals at the Key Motel in Chatsworth.
  • OSHaRE served more than 10,000 meals in August 2021. In all of 2019, OSHaRE served 22,000 meals. 
    • Pre-pandemic, OSHaRE was serving about 100 meals per day, and that rose to about 300 to 350 in the spring of 2020. Currently they are serving  between 150 and 200 people at lunch Monday to Saturday and from 280 to 350 at dinner Monday to Friday. All meals remain take-out due to the pandemic.
    • OSHaRE has observed that the rising cost of food and cost of living in general means they are seeing more people that need our service than ever before. There is no sign of the need waning.
  • Since March 2020, the Owen Sound Salvation Army has provided practical food assistance valued at $1,001,890.00. 
    • They have added an additional 321 new households that have never needed to use Food Bank services since the start of the pandemic.  

  FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

  • The United Way has released its 2022 call for United Way grants. Deadline is December 10th, 2021. Contact Francesca Dobbyn to discuss ideas and potential partnerships.  All the details, online application links, PDFs of the questions and any updates are on the United Way’s website: https://unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/about-us/community-impact-grants/2021-granting-call/
  • The Ontario government has announced a new $1.6 million Anti-Racism Anti-Hate Grant Program. Eligible organizations, including community-based, not-for-profit organizations, can apply for grants of $40,000 over 2 years for independent projects, or $100,000 over 2 years for partnerships between two or more organizations.

 Stay well, Jill 

Poverty Task Force/United Way Community Update #24

Dear Colleagues, 

The Ontario government has recognized the work of non-profit organizations and volunteers to deliver vital services under COVID19 and the economic challenges of keeping services in place. 

  • The Ontario government announced a new one-time Resilient Communities Fund to invest in the recovery and rebuilding efforts of the non-profit sector impacted by COVID-19.   
  • The Ontario government is investing $83 million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to provide grants to help eligible non-profit organizations, including food banks, child and youth programs and Royal Canadian Legion branches, recover from COVID-19 and continue the delivery of vital programming in their communities  

Organizations can apply for one or more of the following, to: 

  • Equip board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, prepare for change and build resiliency (e.g. organizational training and coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research & development; mental and physical health and wellbeing supports) 
  • Improve and increase ability to access financial resources and develop new and/or alternative sources of revenues (e.g. develop fundraising plans, identify fundraising and financial technology resources, seek opportunities for public-private partnerships and social finance) 
  • Adapt or re-imagine the delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees and volunteers (e.g. identify new health and safety processes and required personal protective equipment; technology supports; staffing and volunteer recruitment and training). 
  • Procure equipment or renovate spaces to meet the changing needs of the organization; its programs and services, and adapt to new ways of working (e.g. equipment and/or renovations to meet changing technology health and safety, and service delivery requirements). 
  • Create and/or adopt new approaches for organizations to work together to meet the needs of communities (e.g. peer learning, professional development, networking, resource, knowledge and data sharing)
  • Request amount: From $5,000 to $150,000 for up to 1 year. 
  • Application Deadlines*: September 2, 2020 at 5 pm ET. and December 2, 2020 at 5 pm.    

HOUSING SUPPORTS

  • Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic: with the COVID19 eviction ban ending on August 4th, we anticipate that tenants will be seeking the services of various agencies in Grey Bruce. The Landlord-Tenant Board is open and taking new applicants but we encourage people to contact local agencies to support them with rental issues. 
  • The Grey Bruce Community Legal Clinic supports tenants to mediate disputes.  However, Funding for Legal Aid has already been negatively impacted by Covid 19 and there is concern that services will be negatively impacted without additional support from the government. 
  • YMCA Housing:  the YMCA also assists people who are having difficulties in their current housing through landlord mediation, and they provide landlord and tenant education, or coaching for those who simply need information to help them in their own housing search. Their website provides landlords resources and tenants resources.
  • Community Housing Supports List has been updated
  • Ontario Non-Profit Housing Corporation has provided a useful analysis of Bill 184.   

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SUPPORTS

  • On July 21st, Grey Bruce Public Health issued an overdose alert after receiving confirmation from county paramedic services of 6 opioid poisonings within 5 days across the Grey-Bruce region. There are now at least 9 cases reported recently for a total of 16 confirmed deaths in 2020. 
  • For more information about harm reduction practices and addiction services, visit the Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy website at www.drugstrategy.org.  
  • CMHA Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addiction Services is pleased to resume group services at Community Connections.  Verify the re-opening weekly schedules on their website.  

INCOME & EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

  • Community Income Supports List has been updated
  • Seniors Income Supports: If you are 65 or older and receive Old Age Security (OAS), you may be eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS). 
  • Find our more at https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/old-age-security/guaranteed-income-supplement.html  and at https://www.ontario.ca/page/guaranteed-annual-income-system-payments-seniors#section-3 
  • You must complete your taxes each year to reapply for GIS and GAINS. Call 211 for information about your closest free community volunteer income tax clinic. 
  • Library services in Bruce County and Grey County are re-opening branches to the public for regular in-person services. 
    • Bruce County: as of Monday, August 17th, all 17 branches of the Bruce County Public Library will be open to the public. For those who would prefer to not come inside the branches, their curbside pickup service will continue to be offered.
    • Public computers will be available for patron use by appointment, and patrons are asked to wear a face covering and must maintain proper social distancing while visiting the branches.
    • Programming will remain online. Digital materials and services are always available 24/7 at library.brucecounty.on.ca.
    • Grey County:  The Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library is set to reopen to the public on August 11th, with capacity and visit time limits in place.  
    • The library has been offering curbside pickup since June 16th.It will be open Tuesdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays to Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. as the first stage of its reopening plan. Library capacity will be initially capped at 20 people at a time, not including staff, and each person can visit for up to 30 minutes per day,
    • A limited number of public computers will be available for use with a computer pass, which will be available at the information desk. Public printing and photocopying will be available with staff assistance.  

Stay well, Jill 

YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce requires a Housing Support Worker

YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce requires a:
Housing Support Worker (Part Time, July ‐ December 2013)
Responsibilities: Assist youth and adults to secure and/or maintain housing within their local area. Work
with other organizations to coordinate housing supports. Conduct client assessments to determine
housing support needs.
Qualifications:
• Post‐secondary degree/diploma in Social Services or related discipline
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Self‐motivated, a strong team player
• Works independently with minimal supervision and is disciplined in setting priorities and outcomes
• Minimum Class G Driver’s License; able to travel throughout Bruce and Grey Counties; must have
own vehicle
Location – Hanover, with travel throughout Grey and Bruce counties
Hours: 21 hours per week
Wage Range: Commensurate with education and experience

Please submit resume and cover letter by Thursday, July 10, 2013 to:
Program Coordinator, Community Services
YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce
1450 1st Ave. West, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 6W2 or email to:
employmentservices@ymcaowensound.on.ca
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.