I think every politician should have to sit in a welfare office and apply for social assistance.
If you’ve never done it, the experience can be very enlightening.
I had to do this, sit in a welfare office. I was supporting Roger, who is someone close to me, and I went with him to provide guidance and moral support.
The entire experience was confusing and frustrating. The amount of information he had to provide, just to qualify to see someone about getting social assistance, was overwhelming.
Navigating the entire process was beyond the abilities of Roger — he couldn’t have managed without me and I wondered, while sitting in the welfare office waiting, how others, who are in crisis or have barriers, manage to get through this arduous system.
The journey of enlightenment at the welfare office began when we pulled into the parking lot and discovered that the only way to pay for parking was by phone.
Roger didn’t have a phone, or, for that matter, a credit card. He had some change to pay for parking but couldn’t — he needed a phone and credit card to park at the social assistance office (what?!).
So, I paid for his parking and judging by the look on his face, he was embarrassed about having to accept my help.
Roger was required to expend all his financial resources prior to applying for social assistance. He had maxed out his credit, sold what he could, borrowed from his parents until they couldn’t give any more, and finally ended up having to apply for welfare. He certainly didn’t have a phone or credit card to pay for parking.
Sitting in the welfare office was a very low moment for him. Through no fault of his own, he had become unable to work. He had recently lost his job, then his family, and now he was losing his self-respect, piece by piece.
All I could think about was how applying for social assistance was adding to his feelings of hopelessness, loss of control and how it was impacting his self-esteem. But he had no choice. He needed to pay rent and eat.
Some people might say, “Suck it up, buttercup — at least social assistance is available, and you don’t have to go hungry or live in your car.”
Those who think like this need to go sit in a welfare office and go through the application process. Then they need to try and live on the amount allotted to them.
Actually, I’d like to personally meet someone who can live in Richmond on the $610 per month provided for living expenses (that would be rent, food, utilities, gas, insurance, etc).
So, yes, we’re lucky to have social assistance, but isn’t that one of the reasons we pay taxes? So that we can help others that need it? And because one day that person just might be us?
Roger told me that before he became disabled and unemployed, he was a painter. He identified with his profession.
Now, he doesn’t know what to say so he calls himself a derogatory term (I can’t even say it, it bothers me too much).
I realize there are those who abuse the system, but for those people who are legitimately in need, the welfare system requires some fixing.
It’s a time-consuming, difficult-to-navigate process that does nothing for a person’s self-respect and much to make people in crisis feel overwhelmed.
Yes, we’re fortunate in Canada to have social assistance available. It’s part of why we pay taxes. But, personally, I’d be more comfortable knowing my taxes were going towards a more streamlined and positive system; a social investment rather than a review of a person’s life through their monthly income/expenses.
The current system doesn’t serve the person needing help nor the taxpayer.
The process of applying for welfare is demeaning for many and the amount they receive is not enough for even basic survival.
How can we expect people to become productive taxpayers when they spend every waking moment trying to survive?
Diane Sugars is the executive director of Chimo Community Services
