1,000 signatures reached
To: Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
Raise ODSP OW Shelter and Basic Needs Allowances Now
We call on Premier Ford to commit to Tripling the Ontario Disability Support ODSP Shelter Allowance, doubling the ODSP Basic Needs Allowance, and doubling the Ontario Works (OW) Basic Needs and Shelter Allowances.
The cost of living is rising all across Ontario — and people on ODSP and OW are getting poorer every day.
Ford is making pre-election promises worth millions of dollars — but he has yet to make a single promise about ODSP. With Ford under fire for his party’s shameful neglect of those on social assistance, this is our best chance to force him to commit to double ODSP funding in Ontario. Will you send an email to Doug Ford now?
Why is this important?
The ongoing pandemic and skyrocketing cost of living — coupled with high inflation rates — all mean that more people than ever are relying on support from the government to help us pay rent and keep food on the table.
Many single Disabled ODSP (disability benefits) clients only receive $497 a month for rent and $672 a month for their basic needs, and single OW clients currently only receive $390 a month for their rent and $343 a month for their basic needs.
This is important so that homeless ODSP and OW clients have a shot at renting somewhere to live at average market rent since affordable, subsidized, rent geared to income housing is unavailable at this time and may be unavailable for the next 10 to 20 years due to a huge waiting list and zero vacancies.
Clients need to eat as well as pay rent and since clients would still have to dip into their Basic Needs Allowances to cover rent because even doubling the Shelter Allowance still won't cover all of the rent at today's prices.
Much needed medication and other things not covered by the MSN forms have to be paid for out of Basic Needs and some of these items are very expensive. Along with needing healthy food a huge increase in support is called for here as well.