Seeking Youth Volunteers in Toronto for
WITNESSES TO POVERTY PROJECT
“When you see an injustice, you have the responsibility to act.” June Callwood
We are recruiting youth volunteers for our Witnesses to Poverty Project, Summer 2013.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain community service hours for high school students
The Witnesses to Poverty project offers youth an opportunity to learn about and reflect on key poverty issues and to contribute creative artwork to a multi-media display. Under the guidance of Campaign 2000 and Family Service Toronto staff, youth volunteers will be able to apply and develop their artistic and creative skills to create reflections on poverty in Toronto. Participants will also learn what they can do to influence positive social change to address poverty through art and other actions. Art pieces from the project may be put on display at Family Service Toronto (FST) and/or other public events. Photographs, videos and art submissions may be used in future Campaign 2000 work. Find out more details here.
Want to get involved? Contact us by June 26, 2013!
Budget 2013: Strong Steps Forward but Still Missing the Target
TORONTO-The 2013 Ontario budget makes strong steps forward in some areas but does not fully increase the Ontario Child Benefit, the cornerstone of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy. At the same time, the budget starts the process of social assistance reform. Further action is still required in other areas that will reduce child poverty in the province. Read full press release
Campaign 2000 Releases its 2012 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Ontario
Campaign 2000 released its annual Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Ontario on Thursday, February 28th 2013 in Toronto. The 2012 report card, entitled Strengthening Families for Ontario’s Future, calls on Ontario’s minority government to reduce child and family poverty in the 2013 Budget. Policy recommendations are offered to all political parties to redress the persistence of child poverty in Ontario.
Read our Press Releases - in English and in French
To read or download a copy of the provincial Report Card in English or French, please click on the following links:
2012 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Ontario: Strengthening Families for Ontario’s Future in English; and
Renforcer les familles pour l'avenir de l'Ontario - Rapport 2012 sur la pauvreté des enfants et des familles en Ontario in French
Ontario Liberal party candidates urged to make child & family poverty a priority
On the eve of the Ontario Liberal party leadership convention and the selection of Ontario’s next Premier, Ontario Campaign 2000 writes each candidate urging them to make ending family & child poverty their priority as Premier.
Read full letter
Responding to the Social Assistance Report
Ontario Campaign 2000 has reviewed the final report released by the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario on Wednesday October 24th under Commissioners Frances Lankin and Dr. Munir. Read OntC2000 recommendations in response to the report.
Modernizing Child Care in Ontario
Ontario Campaign 2000 welcomes the Ministry of Education's discussion paper that acknowledges the need to continue the public discussions about a system of early learning and childcare for Ontario. Read our submission on Modernizing Child Care in Ontario.
It’s time to build dignity into Ontario social assistance
The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario is preparing its final report containing specific recommendations and a concrete action plan for reforming the province’s social assistance system. The Toronto Star published on Oct. 9 an op-ed outlining five tests that a broad coalition of groups from across the province, including Ontario Campaign 2000, developed over the summer to review the Commission’s findings. The full text of the piece can be accessed online.
Another Toronto Star article is dedicated to community start-up and maintenance benefit - a benefit available to low-income which is going to be cut off by the end of this year.
Join Income Security Advocacy Centre's "Call-in Coffee Break" to save the CSUMB!
On Friday, Sept. 28th take 5 minutes to tell your MPP to reverse the cuts to housing benefits for people on OW and ODSP!
Every month, thousands of people in Ontario need the Community Start-up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) and the Home Repairs Benefit (HRB) to stay housed or establish a new home. These benefits work because:
- They are targeted to people on social assistance (OW and ODSP) who are among the most vulnerable in Ontario. People on assistance have very low incomes and cannot afford these expenses otherwise.
- They provide direct assistance. The benefits help people move into a new home, pay rent or utility arrears, get major repairs done to their home, or help them move to safer or more secure housing.
- If CSUMB is denied, there is a right to appeal. This ensures fairness, accountability and transparency so that people in need will not be unfairly turned away.
The provincial government’s budget measures have eliminated these critically important programs.
Read full event announcement
Witnesses of Poverty - Youth Art Gallery
Ontario Campaign 2000 presents the Witnesses of Poverty Youth Art Gallery on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 from 6-8pm. The event is being held at The 519 Community Centre located at 519 Church Street. The exhibition includes art pieces created this summer by youth volunteers that represent their experiences witnessing poverty in Toronto. Through this event the volunteers will raise awareness of poverty through various art mediums including film, photography and paintings.
Youth Day 2012: Artistic expressions of poverty
Volunteers from left: Thuvaragan Subramaniapillai, Shevon Kepple, Shawna Luff, Trevor Janega and Mounizha Zainullah join FST's Stefanie Morra.
Art was the medium as Serve! Youth volunteers focused on the state of child and family poverty in Ontario at Youth Day on July 22nd at Dundas Square in downtown Toronto. The volunteers staffed a booth sponsored by Campaign 2000 and organized by Family Service Toronto’s Social Reform unit.