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The income assistance provided by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) is nowhere near enough for individuals to cover essentials such as food and rent. The most that a single person on ODSP can receive is $1,408 per month – that’s less than $17,000 per year. The most that a single person on OW can receive is $733 per month, which is under $9,000 per year. We must call on elected officials to align social assistance rates and benefits with cost of living and inflation, modernize the rules for these programs to ensure resiliency and dignity, and extend benefit coverage, and reduce barriers to accessing OW and ODSP.

Housing is often an individual’s single largest expense, and unaffordable housing continues to be a top reason why folks are visiting food banks more frequently and for longer.
77% of food bank visitors pay market rent, and Mississauga ranks 10^th in Canada for the highest average rent for a one-bedroom unit at $2,165 per month. To invest in affordable housing, the government must build more social housing, implement real rent control, and expand the number of households that can receive the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit.

While a low unemployment rate is one way to assess what percentage of Ontario’s total labour force is unemployed, it doesn’t tell the story of the quality of jobs, with more individuals relying on low-wage, precarious ‘gig’ work to get by. 18% of food bank visitors shared that employment is their primary source of income and with minimum wage ($17.60) falling far below a living wage ($26 in the GTA), those with employment will continue to be dependent on a food bank. To contribute to a stronger workforce, the government must develop and protect labour laws that benefit workers, allow low-income workers to keep more of their income by increasing earning exemptions and reducing clawbacks, and enhance programs like WSIB and EI.

Our neighbours who have experience living in poverty are the experts on the realities of the challenges they face. To truly meet their needs, their perspectives must be included when elected officials make investments and policy changes. Consulting with people who have lived experiences of poverty, defining poverty and the outcomes we are working towards, and supporting the work of community organizations are key next steps.