yvonne kelly « Sweet & Loveable

You’re Invited: Public Consultation & Review of Canadian Social Assistance in Ontario March 7, 2012

February 29th, 2012CommunityComment

This is an update to my previous blogs:

2012! Happy New Year!

Please Give the Gift of Dignity to Canadians This Holiday Season!

Here is a letter from Yvonne Kelly of The PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN inviting you to attend a public consultation re: the Options Paper just released from the Commissioners reviewing our Social Assistance System (both OW – Ontario Works - and ODSP – Ontario Disability Support Program) in Ontario, Canada:

“Hello Everyone

Please find the invitation below to attend a public consultation re: the Options Paper just released from the Commissioners reviewing our Social Assistance System in Ontario. One concern is that given the direction of the paper, that we may not see adequacy of rates being addressed in the final recommendations they make in the final report to the Ontario government in June. Please do review the paper (link below) and join us on March 7th as the Human Services Planning Board hosts this community consultation.

The Commissioners have been invited to attend and have not sent a final confirmation. Nonetheless, this consultation with the community, service providers and community based groups can yield important feedback on the review thus far that will be compiled and provided to the Commission as part of their overall review of the system (both OW and ODSP) in Ontario.

Please RSVP as noted below and if you are able to attend and assist by taking notes in a small group or leading the discussion in a small group please reply to me. We are looking for about 8 individuals to help out in this way.

Bye for now.
Yvonne”
yvonnek@yrfn.ca

Your invitation:

Tags: carie barrieau, commissioners reviewing our social assistance system in ontario canada, human services planning board of york region, odsp (ontario disability support program), ow (ontario works), put food in the budget campaign, yvonne kelly

Launch of Poverty Free Ontario Campaign in Newmarket September 15

September 13th, 2011Community, Frugal Crowd, Health & WellnessComment

$Launch of Poverty Free Ontario Campaign in Newmarket September 15$

Launch of Poverty Free Ontario Campaign in Newmarket September 15

Here is a letter to Canadians in Ontario from the York Region Do the Math Working Group:

“Friends and Colleagues -

Join us for the Launch of the Poverty Free Ontario Campaign in Newmarket at 510 Penrose on Thursday September 15th at 10:30 am

Tags: adam duff, buttons: we are working for a poverty free ontario, crisis of poverty, how to talk about poverty with others as well as candidates in the provincial election, john taylor, launch of the poverty free ontario campaign, lawn and window signs, marvin novick and peter clutterbuck, movement for a poverty free ontario, pat taylor, poverty being on the platform for the upcoming election, provincial election about poverty, reverse canvassing leaflets, social planning network of ontario, york region do the math working group, yvonne kelly

National Volunteer Week and PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET’s Plea

April 16th, 2011Community, Health & Wellness, VideosComment

National Volunteer Week and PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET's Plea

National Volunteer Week, April 10 to 16, is Canada’s largest celebration of volunteers, volunteerism, and civic participation.

To Canadian volunteers everywhere,
Thank you!

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is one of Canada’s leading grantmaking foundations.

As an agency of the Government of Ontario, the mission of the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is building healthy and vibrant communities throughout Ontario by strengthening the capacity of the voluntary sector, through investments in community-based initiatives.

To all volunteers and volunteer organizations in Ontario, Canada, Put Food in the Budget has the following important plea for reducing reliance on overburdened food banks and meal programs across Ontario.

National Volunteer Week and PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET's Plea

Tags: $100 healthy food supplement (hfs), $100/month healthy food supplement, 45% of food bank visitors in Ontario rely on social assistance, do the math challenge, emergency assistance from the food banks will increase, emergency food programmes, endorsement form, gis for seniors, hunger count 2010 report, hunger crisis in ontario, issues of basic need, national volunteer week, number of people on low and fixed income, ontario association of food banks, ontario trillium foundation (otf), ontario’s food banks, purchasing power of the donations will decrease, put food in the budget, put food in the budget campaign, reducing reliance on overburdened food banks and meal programs, social assistance, survey monkey, the challenge on posterous and on twitter, volunteer sector in ontario, york region food network, yvonne kelly

First Ever York Region (Ontario, Canada) Social Audit Report Released

September 23rd, 2010CommunityComment

ISARC The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition 2010 Social Audit

Behind The Masks...testimonials from those marginalized by income

For Immediate Release – Thursday September 23, 2010

Re: The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) – Social Audit – York Region Report Release

Contact for interviews: 289-221-0928

Date: September 23, 2010 Media contact: 289-221-0928

First Ever York Region Social Audit Report Released

“Behind The Masks”

….testimonials from those marginalized by income

“When anyone is hungry while others have too much to eat, when anyone has no shelter while others live in luxury, or when anyone lives in poverty while others enjoy affluence, justice is not present. Where justice is not present, the quality of all of our lives and communities disappears. ISARC believes that justice is the mutual responsibility of individuals, communities, and government, working together for a better future.”

The above quote is repeated in the Introduction section of the newly released 80 page social audit report on York Region, which is entitled – Behind The Masks – testimonials from those marginalized by income as per ISARC’s previously published 2007 province-wide report.

ISARC has been conducting social audits across Ontario since 1986. ISARC – The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition – is a provincial wide network of faith groups working together for greater social justice. ISARC meets and works with leaders from all political parties to develop and support legislation to provide help to those most in need via province-wide hearings, consultations and briefings, presentations to legislative committees, and through publications and resources that give a voice to those in poverty.

REPORT RELEASE: York Region’s recent participation – for the first time ever – has resulted in the release of this report - Behind The Masks ….testimonials from those marginalized by income – made possible through the lobbying efforts of the Poverty Action for Change Coalition with the support and participation of others. As the host group, the key was to form a collaborative planning team from organizations and individuals across York Region; co-conveners Tom Pearson (Poverty Action for Change Coalition, PACC) and Yvonne Kelly (York Region Food Network, YRFN) then worked to achieve this; putting together a diverse collaborative planning team and players, including front-line workers, church members, anti-poverty advocates, concerned residents, and included representation from those with lived experience – which laid the foundation for a successful social audit. York Region’s version included recording video statements, which were edited into a documentary-style format, and was also very well received.