Report
to/Rapport au:
Health,
Recreation and Social Services Committee/
Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services
sociaux
and Council/et au Conseil
27 January 2004/le 27 janvier 2004
Submitted
by/Soumis par: Chair, Poverty Issues
Advisory Committee/
Présidente, Comité consultatif sur les questions liées à la pauvreté
Contact/Personne-ressource: Brenda Emond
Advisory Committee Coordinator, Corporate Services Department
Coordonnatrice de comités consultatifs, Services généraux
|
|
|
Ref N°:
ACS2004-CCV-POI-0003 |
SUBJECT: POVERTY ISSUES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE – BASIC NEEDS
OBJET: COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR LES QUESTIONS
LIÉES À LA PAUVRETÉ – BESOINS ESSENTIELS
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee recommend Council:
1. Adopt the attached definition of what are considered basic needs.
2. Direct staff
to develop ongoing plans of action to ensure these basic needs are met.
Que le
Comité de la santé, des loisirs et des services sociaux recommande au
Conseil :
1.
d’adopter la définition
ci-jointe des besoins essentiels;
2.
d’enjoindre le personnel d’élaborer des plans d’action
suivis afin d’assurer que l’on répond à ces besoins.
On 26 January 2004, Poverty Issues Advisory Committee (PIAC) considered a report from the Income Adequacy and Social Support Sub-committee with respect to basic needs. The recently adopted Human Services Plan (Council, 23 April 2003) acknowledges that the City is committed to ensuring that all of its residents have “access to the basics”.
DISCUSSION
The committee maintains that the City and other
levels of government do not have a comprehensive definition of what constitutes
basic needs. It believes that such a
definition establishes a minimum standard which is necessary to enable people
living in poverty in Ottawa to better participate and contribute to the
economic, political, physical, spiritual, artistic and intellectual life of the
city.
Based on committee members’ own lived experiences and
research[1],
the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee believe the definition of Basic Needs can
best be reflected in Document 1.
Whether one uses the federal government’s Market Basket Measure of
poverty (MBM), the Liveable Income Estimates prepared by the Regional
Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton in October 2000 or the definition of basic
needs identified in the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee - Basic Needs
report, it is clear that many individuals and families in Ottawa have
inadequate income and are experiencing hardship. Social assistance rates do not meet the criteria for a level of
income required for individuals or families to be fully participating members
of society, as defined by any one of these tools. Many working people living on low income experience similar
levels of exclusion. Between 1996 and
2001, the number of families in Ottawa living with income of less than $20,000
almost doubled.
The City does not
have the mandate to set the rates for the minimum wage or for income support
programs such as social assistance and old age security. These responsibilities are the mandate of
higher levels of government.
Nevertheless, the City does recognize the level of hardship being
experienced. For example, the City has
been actively participating on a task force, led by the Association of
Municipalities of Ontario, to propose the introduction of an Ontario Child
Supplement, funded by the province, to increase the adequacy of social
assistance benefits for families. Some
encouraging developments include recent announcements by the provincial
government to raise the minimum wage and to end the lifetime ban for welfare
fraud as well as the federal government’s commitment, in February’s Throne
Speech, to improving disability supports, possibly through a system of enhanced
tax credits.
The City supports participation of people living on low income through a
range of programs such as recreation subsidies, public access to the internet,
and programs which help people gain skills, find employment, or build assets to
save for education, to name only a few examples. These programs can only be provided on the basis of the City’s
ability to pay. The City is unable to
guarantee universal access or service on demand for these programs.
The City provides additional supports for essential health and social service needs through both cost-sharing with the Province and 100% City funds. Any expansion to this list of essential supports would have major cost implications for the City. Many of these supports are not currently cost-shared with the Province.
Document 1 – Definition of Basic Needs according to
the PIAC
The Coordinator, Health, Recreation and
Social Services Committee will inform the PIAC of the disposition of this item.
Document 1
DEFINITION OF BASIC NEEDS
Shelter:
- Sufficient affordable, adequate and accessible when required (e.g. for using wheelchairs, walkers etc.)
- dwelling and contents insurance
Food:
- healthy balanced meals (e.g. fruit and vegetables, grains, dairy, meat, and alternatives) in necessary amounts to maintain well being
- seasonally available foods, especially locally produced when possible
- culturally appropriate
- school lunches (e.g. pizza days) and milk programs
Utilities:
- telephone, hydro, gas, oil
- All utilities based on current rates.
Cleaning
Supplies:
- for floors, walls, windows, carpets, bathroom, dishes and laundry
-
brooms,
mops etc.
Household Linen:
-towels, face cloths, dish cloths
- adequate bedding for all seasons
General:
- Furniture, appliances, cooking ware, light bulbs, fuses, batteries, candles, emergency supplies
- gardening supplies where needed
- contingency fund for emergency repairs
- radio & T.V. for survival information
Personal
Care:
- hair dressing or barber shop services
- hygienic supplies
- soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, diapers (as required for infants or adults), shaving supplies, tissues, cosmetics, toothbrush, toilet paper
Health Care:
- over the counter drugs (e.g. pain relievers, decongestants, antihistamines, antacids, cough and cold remedies)
- prescribed medication as required
- complete eye care needs
- pain relievers
- proper dental care (e.g. cleaning and filling as required)
- vitamin and mineral supplements as required
- quality foot care
- sunscreen
- bug repellant
- housekeeping services for frail, elderly and disabled
Clothing:
- business attire (if needed)
- underwear, pants, shirts, PJs
- school clothing (e.g. two pairs of shoes for children)
- footwear to meet all needs and all seasons
- mitts, scarves
- appropriate clothing for all occasions
Mental
Health:
- access to mental health workers as needed
- access to adequate and appropriate supports for people living with a mental illness in shelters and housing communities
- supports for family and friends who are living with a mental illness
- support and education pertaining to mental illness
Transportation:
- access to public transportation
- sufficient means for each family member to take public transportation;
- the ability to take taxi when the situation demands it for for those whose needs are not served by public transportation (eg. safety emergencies etc..)
- bicycle and other environmental forms of transportation
- appropriate transportation for the disabled at all times
- car insurance, gas, licensing and plate fees as needed
- car, bicycle, wheelchair and scooter maintenance as needed
Recreation:
- opportunities for age-appropriate social interaction
- sports and games for healthy, active living
Intellectual
Stimulation:
- books, movies, theatre,
- access to computers and internet
- use of toy lending library and bookmobiles
Education:
- home schooling
- ongoing cost-free schooling ( Junior Kindergarden to high-school, college and or university)
- appropriate and adequate support for special needs children and adults
- opportunities for life-long learning
- language training ESL/FSL
- Long distance training (e.g. by correspondence, etc.)
- affordable and accessible childcare
- access to 24 hour services and emergency back-up
- $ for field trips and related costs
- toys, games for social and educational development
Miscellaneous:
- money for postage and gifts
- funds for replacement costs (eg. lost bus pass, SIN or health cards etc..)
- monetary contributions to community-based activities (eg. contribution to mosque, church or giving money to a non-profit organization)
- pets for emotional needs, social support and security
2. City of Ottawa, Human Services Plan, 2003
3. Social Assistance, Pension and Tax Credit Rates
4. Food Security
in Ottawa: A Community Profile, Ottawa Food Security Group and City of Ottawa
5. Phone calls to offices of ODSP, Ontario Works and People Services
6. Low-income cut-off, 2002, Statistics Canada