Community Initiatives on Homelessness
November 2, 2001 The Community Advisory Board (CAB) of the Hamilton Supporting Community Initiatives Program (SCPI) hosted a community forum at LIUNA Station, James St. North. This forum provided up to date information on the work of the CAB and the projects they have supported with funding allocations. The Social Planning and Research Council staff provided new information on the plans for preparing an updated community "report card" on homelessness. SPRC staff also provided updated information on quarterly community forums now being planned to inform and involve community members in our response to homelessness in the Hamilton community over the next two years.
April 2001 The Solutions for Housing Action Committee (SHAC) organized a Housing Conference/Workshop for the new City Council.
For more information please contact Tom Cooper at (905)545-0442 or coopert@olap.org.
February 2001
The Homelessness Initiative Campaign For Adequate Welfare (HICFAW) organized a community meeting for April 3rd at the Self-Help Centre in Hamilton (255 West Ave. N. at Barton St.). The meeting and HICFAW grew from The Community Action Plan, which recommended that the 21.6% cuts that occurred to social assistance in 1995 be reinstated and indexed for inflation, and that a formula be created so that the shelter portion of social assistance reflects actual vacant market rents in the community.
The meeting provided a forum for those who have experience with Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program. It was open to the community, but closed to the media to allow a full and open discussion. If you would like to learn more about the meeting or HICFAW, please contact Peter Hutton at (905)527-4572 or huttonp@olap.org.
February 2001
The Homelessness Steering Committee, in conjunction with Social & Public Health Services, the community legal clinics, and the SPRC, organized an education/information session with regard to the regulations surrounding social assistance and those who are hospitalized or incarcerated for a short period of time. After the education/information session, there was a workshop for those interested in advocating around this issue.
The Community Action Plan recommends that "social assistance procedures should be changed to allow a resident who is temporarily hospitalized, or incarcerated, to continue to pay their rent and hold their apartment until discharge (some limits will apply)".
For more information please contact Jeff Wingard or Mark Williams at (905)522-1148 or sprc_hw@yahoo.com