The Peacock Papers: March 2010

“Lunch with The People’s Blueprint”

We are proud to bring you the story of the People’s Blueprint for Social Assistance Review in Ontario from a Grassroots and “on the ground” perspective because that is what the Panel is and intends to be: outside of agency agenda or scripting, our voices, our Blueprint.

please see part 2 of  Lunch with The People`s Panel on the Blueprint page along the top of the site.

Lunch with The People recently was industrious- just like the people, full of passion and desirous of change. The atmosphere was hopeful, uplifting and buzzing with work. Peacock hopes to interview the rest of the panel in the coming weeks and looks forward to meeting again as the research phase begins and as this project unfolds. May this work result in change that rewards us all. May real change occur.

Background: (courtesy Daily Bread Food Bank)

The People’s Blueprint for Social Assistance Review is a Recipient-Led Review enabled by a partnership between Voices from the Street and the Daily Bread Food Bank.

• Voices from the Street – Pat Capponi, Michael Creek

Engaging people with lived experience in poverty and nurturing them into activism and leadership

• Daily Bread Food Bank – Michael Oliphant, Richard Matern

Experience using community based research to make change in public policy

Context:

• Provincial commitment to reviewing social assistance system in Ontario
• Promise to develop a “person centered” approach to programs
• Desire of advocacy community to have people who are currently affected by poverty have a key role in reviewing the system
• Provincial advisory council announced in early December 2009
• A multistage process which will span both short term changes and long term reform

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fa·cil·i·tate /fəˈsɪlɪˌteɪt/ [fuh-sil-i-teyt]

–verb (used with object),-tat·ed, -tat·ing.

*to make easier or less difficult; help forward (an action, a process, etc.)

*to assist the progress of (a person/project).

*freedom from difficulty, controversy, misunderstanding, etc.: facility of understanding.

*something that permits the easier performance of an action, course of conduct, etc.: to provide someone with every facility for accomplishing a task

THE PEOPLES’ BLUEPRINT

by Pat Capponi

This is new and different.  This is not about powerless people demonstrating, this is about people taking power, being role models, engaging with government and media and one another.  It is about responsibility, passion, learning, proposing, empathy and respect.  It’s about taking risks, daring to do new things, being courageous and patient and real.  It’s about understanding self, it’s about forgiveness and challenging one another, it’s about taking the reins of one’s life.

It’s about transformation, both as individuals and as a group.

Some of us may be more fearful than others, harboring doubts about our ability to learn, to produce.  Early experiences with school and ridicule and teachers who weren’t there for us have shaped our view of our “smarts”, but we are not children or teenagers anymore, we have grown in ways we could never have imagined and those trials and tribulations have taught us lessons that few ever learn.  They are ours to share.

And it starts simply, with stories, our stories, in a room filled with others who know poverty and shame and despair and hopelessness.  Who understand what its like to be left behind, to be invisible, to be considered a failure, or a problem, or a screw-up.  We each will get to know one another very well, we will feel each others experiences, walk in each others shoes.  We will expand our knowledge of poverty in ways the “experts” will never know it.

First hand, we’ve experienced everything that poverty brings with it, the loss of hope, of opportunity, the constant anxiety, the hyper vigilance.  That sense of being trapped in a maze of rules and forced to deal with strangers whose cold accusing eyes reduce us to silence, who can make our lives even more miserable with a simple stroke of the pen, cut us off from any income, endanger our housing, our families, our futures.

Together we will explode stereotypes,  that  too commonly held view that those on welfare are living high on the hog, having a gay old time on people’s hard earned tax money, partying day and night and happily sleeping over warm grates on city streets, that “life style choice” we’ve been told the homeless make.

We will battle for hearts and minds, at a time when financial unsettledness and fear is causing a backlash against the poor, as it always does: when things are tough, society has a tendency to look for those to blame, to point at, to curse.  This time will be different, because we will be speaking for ourselves, not just waiting to be interpreted by reporters or agency staff or politicians: we will be speaking our truths in ways that will be heard and felt. And we will bring with us the voices of our peers, bring their truths, their struggles to the forefront, so that they will know the power they possess.

We will get to go beyond the usual interactions of the poor and their advocates:  where solutions, tactics, and slogans are presented to us, without depth or background or input.      We will see the “man behind the curtain”, we will understand the way things work, how policy is formulated, how decisions get made.  We will learn from other jurisdictions that have significantly reduced poverty, we will present our findings where they will have the most impact, we will be listened to.

How to begin?  It begins with learning from each other.  There are many pathways into poverty, very few roads out.  We need to understand all the ways poverty snatches lives and replaces them with drudgery and need. Some of us have endured mental illnesses that marginalized us, others have physical disabilities that try hard to limit our productivity, our creativity, some have been raised on welfare by single mothers and are now raising their children on the same meager dollars, some were caught up in addictions that stole their hope and enslaved them to the streets, some fled countries that had no respect for their citizens, some fled husbands who hurt them.

We will hear one another, through our stories, through guided discussions.  We will work on listening hard, listening with our whole beings.   We will understand what its like to be poor in a small town, to do that walk of shame into food banks as the whole neighborhood watches with interest.  We will understand how anonymous and lost a person can be, bedding down for the night in a big city park. How it is to be dismissed as a vibrant, intelligent, capable person simply because one’s in a wheelchair, or has trouble with English as a second language.

As individuals, we will move from the “I” to the “we”, as we listen, as we recognize ourselves in others.  We will work together to prepare each other for the research we will conduct in our communities, to decide on the questions we will be asking. We will meet strangers who won’t seem so strange, because of what we’ve learned together. We will help them to speak by listening with empathy, with experience, without judgment, by sharing even before we begin that we too know the road that people are on, we’ve walked those steps.  We believe that this will free up conversations that would be stifled if people were faced with a traditional interviewer, brought in cold, knowing nothing of the neighborhood, and less about the day to day challenges that confront the so many of us.

We have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a real difference in the lives and hopes of the poor. It demands from us that we step up, that we approach this task with the gravity and seriousness it deserves, that we laugh and cry and keep moving the project forward, that we help and encourage one another along the way.

Pat Capponi, Facilitator

Micheal Creek, Facilitator

(Mike does “garbage duty” too!)

INTRODUCING The PEOPLE’S BLUEPRINT:

“My name is Danielle and I’m from Toronto.

I was drawn to this work because I strive to make change, to make it better for people with disabilities, and not only for them but for everyone. I like to make change. I have facilitated, interviewed, educated people about (physical) disabilities. I like to share my experiences; it educates people about “disability awareness”. Glad to have been chosen to be the voices of so many people.

The panel means to me that a group of people have been chosen to tell and share our stories and experiences with/on social assistance, and to tell other people’s stories, in order to change the lives of those receiving social assistance.

We are in the training phase right now, so we’re sharing our stories, why we’re here and what our individual purpose is. At some point, we’ll get out in the community and I will be able to interview people that have been on ODSP and then bring back to the blueprint table their recommendations.

We then present it to the legislature, and from there we can make changes. I am feeling really hopeful. It’s a nice group. They’re very supportive. Even though each is here from different experiences and places, we have a lot in common and have gone through a lot of the same things. It’s nice that we can all identify with each other.”

“My name is Mark and I’m from Aurora.

My parents don’t have a lot of money. I was diagnosed with bi-polar when I was 17. While in hospital at 18, I applied for and have been on ODSP ever since. As you know, that’s not a lot of money. I jumped at the opportunity to tell the stories of myself and others. There is so much lacking in the present system.

We are sharing our experiences from all the different angles. And we’re talking about solutions, the stuff we want to implement. We are talking about systemic issues and we’ve discovered major themes.

Finally, we will present to the provincial government those changes that are necessary and somehow get them put in to law so the problem is solved for once and for all; permanently.

It’s always an uphill battle but I think with the people here, who are sincere and passionate, along with other good fortune, we stand a pretty good chance. A lot of people seem interested in what we’re doing, even people in government.

I don’t see anything negative; it’s all positive what’s going on here.”

“My name is Miriam and I’m from St Catherine’s.

I just moved to St Catherine’s 3 years ago from Montreal. I’m a single parent (12 and 18 at home). It’s horrible here for people like me who’ve got the education and cannot find a job. It’s harder for immigrants. I run a business program for immigrants teaching them how to start their own business; if you can’t find a job, may as well do your own business.

I teach the whole nine yards of business. I’m the facilitator and yet I can’t find a fulltime job? I have two degrees and a lot of experience. I even went to school in Canada for two years; I served over seas representing Canada for eight years. I speak many languages.

What drew me to this was the opportunity to bring awareness to people in power.

I have to work two jobs for $10 dollars an hour to make ends meet. Maybe sometimes you don’t qualify for UI because all you have is part time work. They want 1000 hrs. to qualify for UI. Impossible with part time work so even though you work you are disqualified from the benefit.

If you seek social assistance they ask: “are you a single parent?” and expect me to go find him after ten years. We went to court in Quebec and he didn’t pay. They ask you again to go to court here in Ontario after ten years. Would you want to go back to court?

Maybe you’ve moved forward with your life and your kids, and to have to all go back to that…

So they give me $200 mthly, but not the basic needs allowance because it’s supposed to be covered by child support. You can’t even pay rent with $200. How are you going to live with two children?

And then there’s student loans, and they’re not telling you, “ because you have no money you don’t have to pay this right now”; they want their money. They hound you for it.

I have seen a lot of immigrants here for ten years but they are not able to move forward because there are all these road blocks around them. They become hopeless. They don’t know what to do.

People say what a nice life I have. I just smile. I’m always thinking about money. Taking it from here and putting it there. It is always on my mind. How can I pay the next one, you know. It’s difficult.

My oldest son moved out and that’s even worse because the family allowance is gone. He’s in college. Being poor doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have dreams. I have dreams for myself and for my children. They grow up; you raise them and you have dreams for them. OK, maybe I’m an immigrant but they are born here. They are Canadian. Their lives should be good.

A lot of single parents have dreams for their children. It is not what the perception seems to be: oh, she has nothing, she doesn’t care, she has no dreams, no motivation. It’s not like that. Everybody has dreams.”

Robin cat-napping on her break

My name is Awesome. (Awesome was given his name by the group) I’m from Jordon originally and I live in Toronto

I came to Canada almost two years back.

I’m a qualified dentist. I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in dentistry. I was trying to fit into my profession but I couldn’t because I needed to sit for an eligibility exam, which I did, and which I passed, but I did not get the score that the University of Toronto wants, which is 99%; although, when I got here I got my papers assessed by the U of T and they determined that the degrees that I have are equal to what they offer their students.

The Dental Association will not accept me and wants me to sit another two years at U of T, who say that I am already as qualified as their graduates. This is the dilemma.

So I went to George Brown College and I used all the money I had when I came to do a Dental Assistant program. I did a level two and I was on the honours list for the whole year. I finished and I tried to look for a job and I couldn’t find one. It’s female dominated and I couldn’t find a job in my own community because of my orientation.

So, I’m still looking for a job. When I applied for assistance I had a horrible time because they kept on asking me about papers and documents to say that I need assistance. I showed them my credentials. Why would I go and look for $500 per mth instead of looking for a job?

I found a seasonal job at Banana Republic. I worked for two months and then they said, “Thank-you, but the season is over…” When I go and apply as a dental assistant, they see my papers, but they say, “this job has been taken…” maybe because of my colour, I don’t know.

It feels horrible. I feel so helpless, stupid, and (wrong), I don’t know what to do. I feel lost. Is this the dream that I was dreaming about? Is this what I wanted? Where are my skills? Are they down the drain? Why can’t they see my skills and use them because I know they need them.

I hope two things from this panel. What I really wish to happen for immigrant and refugee people who come to this country with all their dreams and all their skills and credentials, that the people here would find every way they could think of to use these skills, not every way to put people down.

And the second thing is that those who have to look for assistance, especially the newcomers, are not treated badly. They didn’t leave their roots to come looking for $300 a month, that people who seek it, need it.

My name is Stacey and I’m from Toronto.

I like it. I like this panel. I like the people. It’s almost like we’re one big family. Very interesting. I’m learning a lot about other people, what they’re going through, their disabilities, the problems, the issues, what they want. Common theme? We’re all poor!

I’m a single mother with two kids. I’ve always been on assistance. My mother was on assistance. The way that we lived, I think I’m doing a little bit better, because I don’t have as many kids, for one, and the way we are now fighting for our rights. In my mom’s day, they just accepted things.

I’m in college right now. I’m struggling but I’m not giving up. I’m taking an Assaulted Women and Youth Advocate program, to help them and people in general. Build up their self-esteem and help them know “You can do this!”

My hope for the panel is that people get what they want. I would like to be heard, just like everybody else and to actually see the changes being made. I just hope this isn’t something that happens but nothing happens. I really want to see the change.

I go into my background with addiction and find where changes need to be made as we help people. And also, now that I’m in college, I’d like to see more support for people like me.

I’m in co-op housing, so it’s about rent going up or coming down (the Linda Chamberlain syndrome).

My children, I just got my daughter a uniform for school and I thought that would be covered. But it’s not. And TTC for the children, that’s not covered either. I don’t know why they took it away. I still have kids.

They have cut a lot, (even under McGuinty)

My name is Melissa and I’m from Toronto.

I went to school and got my degree in psychology. I was doing a job search in our resource centre and found this opportunity and thought, you know, I’d really like to accomplish something on this panel. And so I applied and was accepted.

I’ve been a single parent for twenty years. I finally graduated and now I can’t find a job. I’m still struggling. I have a relief job so it’s very difficult to survive. Welfare cut me off. They don’t give me any money because I’m working. But the relief work varies every month, sometimes 3 shifts a month, sometimes 5, 7, so it makes it very difficult.

In my relief work with women I have found some of them to be quite talented in different ways- some wonderful artwork and so on…

My children are 17 and 19. I can’t remember the last time I bought clothes for myself. If I have a little extra money, I give it to my kids.

If I can do something on this panel to make some changes, if I can have a voice, then yes- I want to make a difference.

My name is Opal and I’m from Toronto.

I’m really excited about being on this project. What’s really moving  and encouraging me are the strengths and the skills that people are bringing to this table. It’s a really strong, informed and industrious group. They really give me a run for my money.

The scope of the panel is being directed by the members of the panel: the issues that they bring and the initiatives they want to start or support. I’m seeing a lot of interest around social policy as it corresponds to our own personal lives and how we want changes made around renting, mental health, support issues, accessibility, and ageism to name a few. These are some of the things I’m learning about. And the stigmas that we face.

I’m learning a lot about mental health services and the way we’ve been treated, immigration, refugee status, the various types of immigrants that come here and why and the process itself.

I’m learning that Wow! I’m not the only one.

Some common themes emerging are housing, low income and nutrition with respect to mental health issues and physiology. Some people are discussing how their physiology changes according to nutrition, their ability to buy what they need or go without, that’s emerging big time.

And also with respect to physical challenges, like myself and others who face these challenges, we’re talking about things like supplements, massage and acupuncture. These are some of the things that need to be brought to the table, but will probably be left out. There are a myriad of things that need to be brought to the table so of course, some things will be left out.

The portable housing subsidy has been discussed a lot. With a portable housing subsidy people have the freedom and ability to live in the private market, outside of agency supervision and  support. Sometimes people are outside of the venue of supportive housing. A roommate in the private market might provide some support rather than living in a squalid rooming house.

I have a lot of friends living in rooming houses, and I know the dire straights they’re in. They can’t put food away, keep things clean so they’re not sick all the time with infections, and on and on…

My name is Tesha and I’m from Toronto, Jane and Finch

(Tesha has done a lot of work in her Jane/Finch neighbourhood which has yet to be clarified and will be by Peacock)

It’s great! I love it!

I’m very interested in making the system a better place and reforming welfare. Dealing with social issues, that’s one of the things I like to do.

I had my first daughter when I was 17. I was introduced to the system early because I wasn’t really able to support her on my own.

I was in school. I was on student finance, but then, I was on welfare as well… so a lot of years. And so even now, I’m still trying to gain financial independence. Sometimes I feel stuck: I want an education, I want a job but I feel like it’s taking a long time. I’m trying to recognize the barriers and bring them down.

When I was asked what were the things I would change about welfare, one of the things I said was that it would provide training and education and empowerment for the people that were on it.

Every case is different but try to find some ways of making people self-sufficient, independent. Boost their self-esteem by giving them opportunities.

My name is Rob and I’m from Sudbury.

The whole idea is that it is a learning experience. It’s an opportunity to learn and go out as a person (into community) and bring that (what you hear) back. And then there’s always the possibility of engineering change with collective ideas of how to make the system better.

My situation right now is, I’m on ODSP and I was working part time, and basically 50% of your income is taken off your cheque. Then my geared to income housing takes off another 30% and they base it on the gross. So I’m only working for twenty dollars on the hundred. Twenty cents on the dollar. So a lot of people in my building for instance just don’t want to work because they’re not willing to put that extra effort for .20 on the $1.00.

There’s got to be a way to come up with an alternative.

You ask anybody on the street if they want to work for .20 on the $1.00.

They’ll tell you where to go.

There’s got to be a way to make it fair for people.

My name is George and I’m from Hamilton.

I got ill back in the early ‘90’s. Spent time in and out of the hospital, through OW (welfare) and ODSP (Ontario Disability).

I’m a peer support worker in Hamilton. I heard about the work through my boss. It gives me an opportunity to be able to express some of the difficulties I’ve had with the Social Services system.

I find that the people here have a lot to say. Together, we can come up with some good ideas.

Lunch #2 now available on the Blueprint page

A seat has been set for you at this table.  We need your experience, insight and ideas for change. Comment here or submit to peacockpoverty@yahoo.ca.

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