Regional Municipality of Waterloo to Save CSUMB

Dec 20 2012

The Regional Council requests that the Province reverse its decision to terminate the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit, or at minimum provide transitional funding for at least two years during which the program and policy alternatives may be developed that will help address the termination of the CSUMB. This is an example of initiatives happening across Ontario. The Ontario Communities Uniting have endorsed a Joint Statement on December 14th in Hamilton, and mobilize a common response to government cuts to critical programs for individuals on social assistance.

"Twelve communities from across the Province met in Hamilton on Dec 14, 2012 to deal with the consequences of the cuts to CSUMB and discretionary benefits.

On January 1st there will be a devastating impact on people in Ontario.

The Province’s 1% increase to Social Assistance Rates is not enough to mitigate the damage. Uploading social services is appreciated, but is not going to stop the devastation. While it is correct the programs have been moved to another Ministry, the funding has been cut in half. These facts are not in dispute.

To help people get the jobs that will lift them out of poverty, they need these benefits. In a time when our economy is still struggling, adding barriers to those who are able to gain employment and better quality of life is counterproductive to building a stronger Ontario.

It is far more cost effective to keep people in affordable housing than to deal with the costs and negative health effects of homelessness.

It is bad social policy. It is bad housing policy. It is bad economic policy.

We DEMAND this policy be reversed. We need long term stability. Poverty can be reduced.

Stop legislating homelessness - every person in Ontario deserves a safe place to call home. Stop using the hysteria of the austerity platform to rationalize these inhumane cuts.

The consequences are too great for ALL of us.

Reverse the termination of the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit and reinstate discretionary benefits.

Help the people of Ontario and our economy.

Eliminating Poverty is THE Priority."

Representatives from community anti-poverty organizations from Windsor, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Brant, Niagara, Cambridge, Toronto, Belleville, Peterborough, Halton, Peel and York Regions endorsed the Joint Statement.

The count down to the end of the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit has started.
You can learn more about the mobilization to save the CSUMB on the Ontario Communities Unite Facebook Page.