homeless Archives — Lindsay Advocate

The 4 key ways basic income changed people’s work lives for the better

Published on February 6, 2019 in Community/Education/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

While the federal government may be considering the merits of a basic income for Canadians, those participating in the Ontario pilot know already how it was changing their lives for the better.

In fact, there were four key ways basic income directly affected people’s work lives, according to survey information – more learning and education; affordability of transportation; starting or maintaining a business; and childcare.

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Poverty to hope and back again: Study reveals why basic income held such promise

Published on January 22, 2019 in Community/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

Study results from the Ontario Basic Income Pilot’s baseline survey have now been released, revealing the stories of participants who were hoping to break the cycle of poverty, find better jobs and opportunities, stabilize their housing, and improve their health and well-being.

The baseline survey was conducted by an arms-length, independent evaluation team led by St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Under the initial agreement signed by enrollees, the descriptive statistics were to be made available to pilot participants who requested the survey results (no personal information was included).

When entering the basic income pilot, a large majority (81 per cent of participants) were in moderate or severe psychological distress. Inadequate access to health care was also identified by many: 40 per cent had unmet health care needs (most often because of costs, such as for medication) and less than half of participants had visited a dentist in the year prior to joining the basic income pilot. Chronic pain, mental health illness and mobility challenges were some of the disabilities basic income enrollees listed.

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‘Crisis’ in Lindsay as homeless diverted elsewhere; food bank says ‘we need help’

Published on June 7, 2018 in Community/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

With Kawartha Lakes’ homeless shelter, A Place Called Home, at full capacity for the better part of a week, homeless people are being diverted to Peterborough or Oshawa.

Meanwhile, one of the founding volunteers of Lindsay’s food bank, Bev Gimbel, says “we’re at a crisis.”

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Four new programs to increase availability of affordable housing

Published on March 27, 2018 in Community/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

In keeping with the goal to improve community access to safe, affordable housing, the City of Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton are pleased to open registration for four programs on April 1.

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The week before Christmas at A Place Called Home

Published on December 21, 2017 in Around Town/Community/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

As families settle into holiday mode its worth reflecting on the fact that not everyone has a place to live – even in a small town like Lindsay.

Just four days before Christmas, there are 17 people in town – three of them children under 12 – who are homeless. Fortunately, they’ve got A Place Called Home to get them through what is hopefully a temporary situation.

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Need a basic income guarantee? Province continues to take applicants

Published on November 15, 2017 in Around Town/Community/Poverty Reduction by Roderick Benns

After basic income, ‘rapid reinstatement’ back to previous program: Province

The Province is encouraging people in Lindsay who may be in need of a basic income guarantee for the next three years to call or email so they can enroll.

Kristen Tedesco, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Community and Social Services, says throughout October the government has been holding “in-person enrollment sessions in Lindsay.”