Tag: Poverty

GUELPH POLITICAST #470 – The Poverty Elimination Gut Check (feat. Dominica McPherson)

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We have a weird situation: We’ve elected two new governments at both upper levels in the last four months and the hope is that they can turn things around, and yet, these are also, essentially, the old governments. How can we possibly expect better results from the new old people in charge, and are we even more alone than ever here on the local level? We’ll put this to one of the people whose job it is to advocate. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #470 – The Poverty Elimination Gut Check (feat. Dominica McPherson)” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #448 – Christmas With Kevin (feat. Kevin Coghill)

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It makes sense spending Christmas with a Kevin. The Kevin we’re talking to this Christmas though sits at the intersection of fighting poverty practically and fighting a growing spiritual malaise. In fact, he was the first and most obvious choice for this year’s holiday chat by the fireside, and he joins us this week to not only talk about the crisis around homelessness, but also the accompanying crisis of compassion. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #448 – Christmas With Kevin (feat. Kevin Coghill)” →

MEETING PREVIEW: Board of Health Meeting for September 6, 2023

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September arrives, and that means it’s back to school and back to work for the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Board of Health! It looks like the public health staff spent their summer writing some pretty big reports on the health effects of poverty, the lingering effects of the pandemic, increasing immunizations and vaping. Plus, we’re getting ready for cold and flu and COVID season this fall. Get ready, because there’s a lot of ground to cover Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Board of Health Meeting for September 6, 2023” →

A Living Wage in Guelph is Now Nearly $20 Per Hour

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Coming off a municipal election that was, in many way, about affordability, comes a reminder of the stakes when it comes to what “affordability” really means. At the start of Living Wage Week 2022, the Ontario Living Wage Network has announced, perhaps unsurprisingly, that the living wage in Ontario has gone up once again. In Guelph and Wellington, that number is now $19.95, one of the largest in the province. Continue reading “A Living Wage in Guelph is Now Nearly $20 Per Hour” →

Over 200 Advocacy Groups Demand Immediate Increase to Social Assistance

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A coalition of 230 social services and community groups have called on the Provincial government and Premier Doug Ford to double Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates. In an open letter, the group says that current crises around poverty, homelessness and mental health can all be tied to years of under-funding in social services, and doubling the rates would be a good start to begin a redress. Continue reading “Over 200 Advocacy Groups Demand Immediate Increase to Social Assistance” →

HOPE House Celebrates the End of a Successful Capital Campaign

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An in-person ceremony commemorated the completion of the capital campaign to buy and renovate the old Norfolk United Church, which you may know as the headquarters for HOPE House. Part of that ceremony was the official rename of the church as the David Barr Memorial Building, a rechristening of sorts that marked both the beginning of a new era at HOPE House and the continuation of their efforts to help Guelph’s most vulnerable. Continue reading “HOPE House Celebrates the End of a Successful Capital Campaign” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #298 – What About Your Friends?

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There are a lot of groups and organizations in Guelph that are dedicated to helping the poor, the homeless and the disenfranchised, but there are maybe only one or two groups that are doing that work without the formal or financial backing of governments, non-profits or institutions. One of them is Your Downtown Guelph Friends, and they’re now crowdfunding for assistance, so what makes this group of young people so dedicated? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #298 – What About Your Friends?” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #239 – On COVID-19 and Local Poverty

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Eliminating poverty has been made more difficult because of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the increased number of people who have found themselves jobless, and the difficulty in delivering services to people when physical distancing being a priority. But no matter how complicated you think your life is now because of the pandemic, it’s made the life and routine of people living in poverty in Guelph almost twice as hard. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #239 – On COVID-19 and Local Poverty” →

Downtown Friends Want More Done on Homelessness

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Winter is coming. It’s a cheap joke and a reference to one of TV’s biggest hits, but to a group called Your Downtown Guelph Friends it’s a reminder that there are a lot of people who fear the winter months because they live on the street. On Saturday, the Keep Our Friends Warm Rally sought to made the idea loud and clear, that the City’s not doing enough to get people the shelter they need. Continue reading “Downtown Friends Want More Done on Homelessness” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #160 – Paul Tavares, Homelessness Advocate

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Homelessness is a hot issue right now. In the midst of an incredible winter cold spell, it’s probably quite timely that we should think about the people who have no choice but to live out in the elements. But one man is living out in the cold voluntarily, and he’s hoping that his example will galvanize more attention to the plight of homelessness in Ontario. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #160 – Paul Tavares, Homelessness Advocate” →