34 year old Kevin has just been evicted.
Kevin has had many struggles in his young life but through sheer determination and hard work things started to turn around. Kevin is 34 years old, single and was diagnosed four years ago with manic depression. The years leading up to the diagnosis were very rocky and Kevin's unpredictable behaviour made it impossible to hang on to a job or maintain relationships. With the help of medication to balance the episodes of manic depression and the help of a mental health worker life became more stable and Kevin happier. Kevin found part-time work with a small industrial company. He worked hard, was always on time and willing to learn new job skills. The employer told him when work orders increased he would consider taking him on full time. Kevin rented a room rather than take on the full responsibilities of an apartment. He was close to work and within walking distance to shopping. Kevin was very proud of his home and felt safe when he closed his door at night. His rent was always paid on time and he carefully budgeted to cover expenses.
Kevin's world turned up side down when his employer had to lay him off until work started to get busier then he would be called back. Everyday Kevin waited for that phone call. He was not eligible for Employment Insurance and did not want to apply for Ontario Works - he expected to be called back to work any day. There was no phone call and no money for rent or food. Gradually Kevin slipped in to a depression. He felt he had lost everything that was important to him and closed himself off from the world. The next week Kevin found an Eviction Notice on his door - with no money to pay his rent Kevin will have to leave. Where does he go?
Meet Millie, a widow in her 50's
Millie is 56 years old. She has worked at a secretarial job for the past 8 years, ever since she was widowed. She receives a very small pension from her husband of $145 every month. She has been looking for work for the past 12 months and she believes that she is being turned down because of her age. She always reminds potential employers of her life skills and work ethic and she makes sure that they know that she is in good health. Even still, she is consistently unsuccessful at landing a job and she has pursued retail and service sector jobs also. Her unemployment benefits have run out and she is living on the pension of $145 plus a top up each month of $375 from Ontario Works (welfare). Her rent for a bachelor apartment is $500 a month and luckily, the utilities are included. She is very careful about how she spends her money but she requires a phone for emergencies and pays $30 per month. This includes a weekly long distance call to her sister out of town, who is her only family. As you can see, she is already overspent by $10 each month and she hasn't eaten or bought any personal hygiene items.
How does Millie get by? How does she handle an emergency or buy a prescription? How does she not lose all hope? Luckily she can walk long distances because she couldn't afford bus fare. If she were to reveal how she can afford food and other basics, then she would be putting her social assistance in jeopardy but she could be doing housekeeping jobs or small babysitting jobs. She needs to have full time work in these areas if she is to not rely on assistance. She is in a very precarious position.
If you think this is a unique story, it's not! It is an example of a growing trend of people who are at great risk of becoming homeless. All that has to happen is an illness, or an increase in the rent or the utilities. The population of people in Simcoe County who are over the age of 50 years and who are living in poverty and squalor is growing. It leaves a great deal of room for seniors and vulnerable, aging women and men, to be taken advantage of. Are there really people like this is your community, your neighbourhood? The answer is yes.
A family of 5 struggle to make ends meet.
A family of 5 is struggling to meet all of the expenses each month. Dad works driving cab after he was laid off from the manufacturing job he had worked at since leaving high school. The company moved from his town to the United States. He is working 6 days each week, 10 hours a day, at the minimum wage of $6.85/hour. His weekly wage is $411 and monthly he gets $1644 before deductions . He does get a small amount of tips but he only ever makes a maximum of $1600 a month take home.
His wife works at a convenience store 20 hours a week and she does this when the children are in school and therefore she saves on daycare. She comes home with $500 a month. How does this family cope with unexpected emergencies, a lay-off or illness, or a car repair? This family is at great risk of becoming homeless. Are they uncommon? The answer is no.
