Poverty Awareness in York Region

Next PACC meeting Thursday Aug 5...6:45 - 7:45 PM Fairy Lake Park Pavilion Newmarket!


Hello everyone hope the summer's going well as can be!

Our next meeting is as listed above...we decided to meet at Fairy lake so we can get a good look/see feel as to the shaping of this years Oct 17 event which we will discuss and visualize!

Also on our agenda is holding a 'stand-up" meeting / MPH event for Sept 16,17,or 18

Discuss attending the YR transit info session

Do The Math update - Ontario wide strategy - we are to come up with a wish list of local "celebs" to have live a poverty diet for 5 days and shadow someone.

Social Audit update - to be released September via news conference - those who participated can participate in the media conference at any level they wish - anonymous helper, speaker, or just be available to speak to the media whichever level people want.

• new news and updates - Tom
• schools yrdsb activity - kristine
• new funds pledged - Tom
• Operation sparrow update - childrens art classes still avail starts Oct, Aurora Karate spots still available immediately
• web update

Hope to see you there!

Tom

After a lot of discussion at the global level, Stand Up has been moved to September 17, 18 and 19th 2010 this year. This is because there is a huge UN meeting in New York around the Millennium Development Goals from September 20 - 22nd. Stand Up was moved to the weekend just before the Summit so that we can put last minute pressure on world leaders before they head to New York for the UN meeting.

We've got some info posted on our new MPH website at www.makepovertyhistory.ca/standup.

We encourage people to stand-up or organize a "stand-up" event near you on any of those September dates. We will of course still be hosting Oct 17 Int Day for the Eradication of Poverty at Fairy Lake Park in Newmarket.

Tom Pearson
Chair, Make Poverty History YR,
P.A.C.C.
http://www.povertyacc.com/

PACC and Make Poverty History YR have been hosting an annual event in Newmarket alongside events held world-wide on Oct 17, International Day for The Eradication of Poverty for the past 5 years - last year those attending helped set a new world record for those standing at one time against poverty. We hope to do even better in 2010!


This growing event would like to grow even more this year by adding information booths, activity area for kids, path-side singers/performers and the inclusion of some native cultural history representation.We also hope to have more talent/art/media displayed this year as well.The event also typically attracts politicians, concerned residents, anti-poverty advocates, those living in poverty and random passersbies!

We would also like to strike up a collaborative committee made up of concerned residents and organizations to help shape the event this year and help plan and execute it.

As PACC receives no government funding we will look to accept donations to help pay our costs and think a donation of a minimum of $50 per booth(payable to P.A.C.C.).is reasonable for those interested to set up a display - considering PACC fights not only for the rights of low incomers but also lobbies for funding directly and indirectly for numerous groups and non-profits. Spots will be made available only to those groups assisting in those lives of people in poverty or marginalized by low income.

Please let us know how you would like to assist!

Tom Pearson
http://www.povertyacc.com/
tpearson61@rogers.com

Reminder to those interested there is a "Do the Math" meeting tomorrow July 22 2010 at 1:30 PM 510 Penrose St Newmarket...focusing on the direction this collaborative grouping takes next...also some Oct 17 Int Day for the eradication of poverty ideas to be bantered about...


There is also ..rally being held at 900 Bay St in toronto in support of saving the special diet and for raising welfare rates to allow people the basics for survival...for anyone interested... the rally includes a march I'm told, it's organized by OCAP.

Tom

United Way, McMaster University and a number of other community agencies are conducting a survey on precarious employment issues. If you work for low wages, low hours etc. you may qualify for a small honorarium for a 60 minute interview.

The application form is available here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZSZNK98

From the Application:

"... United Way Toronto and McMaster University have formed an important research partnership with a number of academic and community partners to examine the issue of precarious employment. Precarious employment is characterized by:

• Low pay
• Limited benefits
• Limited control over work schedules
• Limited job security
• Limited career advancement
• Economic insecurity ..."

We've heard that used free clothing depot that has been operating out of Newmarket's King George school has been asked to vacate. There's many low income residents of this region, including lots of single moms that need this resource to remain available for their used clothing and other items. There seems to be some petitioning going on but we aren't aware of who or what. Tom's and PACC have been asked to help save it.

We suppose the first thing is to appeal to the community for a new location rent free. Anyone that has any ideas on how we can help this long established Newmarket clothing bank?

Please be advised that social services has apparently had a procedural change (this must be that "transparency" I heard tell about ha) regarding special diet wherein the worker used to send out the forms and information to clients on special diet reminding them that to continue they had to fill out the forms because their eligibility date was approaching - they have stopped this reminder routine without notice. In this case I believe a 'review" was twice yearly, and when she had not sent in the information (that she usually received in the past from social services in advance in the mail) she was cut off the diet without warning. Should you be on special diet I'd suggest you check your dates so you are not just cut off without warning.


Instead they just send you sent a cheque without the diet on it (in this case over $160 for a single parent with 2 small kids) and make you start the process of application from scratch and expect people to deal with the unaccounted income without notice and next they are eliminating it completely (they - your provincial government that is - claim to be realigning it but have stated it is not 'sustainable") ... this seems to be a great way to get people off the diet en-mass now and show them saving $ (by simply changing the routine in procedure) which they likely will say was done before as a courtesy and that it's not mandated that they do so - again is the message they are delivering about about caring and helping people here or finding ways to................

The next Do The Math YR meeting is July 21st..510 Penrose St in Newmarket 1:30 PM ..learn of a possible plan to help fight this ....

Tom Out!
http://www.povertyacc.com/