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Take
Action
Raise
the shelter allowance portion of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability
Support Program to average rent levels.
 Phone,
fax or email your MPPs on July 17 and August 7
to deliver the message that social assistance
rates must be raised so that everyone can pay the rent, feed themselves
and if they have children, feed the kids.
Below are sample
scripts and letters you can use. Choose the one that means the most
to you, or better yet write a letter of your own, in your own hand.
Politicians want to hear what YOU have to say about this issue and that’s
what we are asking you to tell them.
Flood their phones,
faxes and email accounts - it's time to Raise the Rates!
Name and contact
information for your MPP is available at:
Sample Letters
en français
Sample Phone Scripts
Sample Letters
Date:
MPP Name:
Riding:
Street Address:
City, Province, Postal Code:
Fax Number:
Dear________________,
As one of your constituents, I am writing to stress the importance of
raising the social assistance rates. People in Ontario are looking for
a change, and I'm hoping you're going to be part of that change.
The average price of a two-bedroom apartment in the Ontario is $883,
but a family of three living on social assistance receives only $554
to cover the cost of rent. Without enough money to pay for basic needs,
families must make the terrible decision whether to pay the rent or
feed the kids.
Children are going to school hungry and are unable to concentrate on
learning in the classroom. Families with children are among the fastest
growing groups of homeless. I believe strongly that the provincial government
must take a leading role in addressing poverty in our communities. Raising
social assistance rates is a small step in the right direction. I respectfully
ask that you and your party commit to making this an issue in the provincial
election, and commit to ensuring that people in Ontario don't have to
choose between eating and keeping a roof over their head.
Sincerely,
Name:
Signature:
Address:
Date:
MPP Name:
Riding:
Street Address:
City, Province, Postal Code:
Fax Number:
Dear________________,
As a citizen living in your riding, I am concerned with the small amount
of money people on social assistance are given to live on.
The cost of rent has gone up substantially in Ontario since 1995, while
social assistance rates remain frozen. The average price of a two bedroom
apartment in Ontario is $883, but a family of three living on Ontario
Works receives only $554 to cover the cost of rent. Without enough money
to pay for basic needs, families must make the terrible decision whether
to pay the rent or feed the kids.
Over 40% of those requiring food banks in Ontario are children. This
amounts to over 121,000 children in Ontario who live in such acute poverty
that their families cannot afford food for them to eat.
I believe strongly that the provincial government needs to take a leading
role in addressing poverty in our communities by raising social assistance
rates to meet the cost of living. I respectfully ask that you and your
party commit to making this an issue in the next provincial election.
Sincerely,
Name:
Signature:
Address:
Date:
MPP Name:
Riding:
Street Address:
City, Province, Postal Code:
Fax Number:
Dear________________,
As a citizen living in your riding, I am concerned with the small amount
of money people on social assistance are given to live on.
The cost of rent
has gone up substantially in Toronto since 1995, while social assistance
rates remain frozen. The average price of a two bedroom apartment in
the GTA is $1,047, but a family of three living on Ontario Works receives
only $554 to cover the cost of rent.
Without enough money
to pay for basic needs, families must make the terrible decision whether
to pay the rent or feed the kids.
Children are going
to school hungry and are unable to concentrate on learning in the classroom.
Families with children are among the fastest growing groups of homeless
in Toronto. Each month over 50,000 children rely on food banks.
I believe strongly
that the provincial government needs to take a leading role in addressing
poverty in our communities by raising social assistance rates to meet
the cost of living. We also need to restore rent controls so that all
people on fixed incomes can afford to live in this city. I respectfully
ask that you and your party commit to making this an issue in the provincial
election expected in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Name:
Signature:
Address:
Date:
MPP Name:
Riding:
Street Address:
City, Province, Postal Code:
Fax Number:
Dear________________,
I am writing this letter to you to express how difficult it is for me
and my family to survive on social assistance. It is a struggle for
me to pay my rent and have enough money left over to buy food.
This government
has failed to ensure a decent income for those on assistance forcing
many in the province to struggle to find food and basic necessities.
It is important for me to be able to pay my rent, eat every day, and
purchase basic necessities, which I am currently unable to do comfortably.
What would be valuable
to me is to know that I have enough money from social assistance to
pay my rent and have money left over for other expenses. In 1995, social
assistance was reduced by 22% and has not increased since even though
living expenses have increased dramatically since this time, especially
the cost of rent. My rent takes up approximately _______% of my assistance
cheque, which leaves little money left for anything else. It is
important to me that social assistance be increased to reflect the real
cost of rent and living.
Thank you for taking
the time to read this letter. I understand how valuable your time is
and I ask you to take this letter into consideration to ensure a decent
future for myself and my family.
Sincerely,
Name:
Signature:
Address:
Date:
MPP Name:
Riding:
Street Address:
City, Province, Postal Code:
Fax Number:
Dear________________,
As a citizen living in your riding, I am concerned with the small amount
of money people on social assistance are given to live on.
The average price of a two bedroom apartment in Ontario is $883, but
a family of three living on social assistance receives only $554 to
cover the cost of rent. Without enough money to pay for basic needs,
families must make the terrible decision whether to pay the rent or
feed the kids.
Children are going to school hungry and are unable to concentrate on
learning in the classroom. Families with children are among the fastest
growing groups of homeless.
In recent editorials, both the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun urged
the provincial government to re-evaluate social assistance rates because
of the increased cost of living in the last seven years.
I believe strongly that the provincial government needs to take a leading
role in addressing poverty in our communities by raising social assistance
rates to meet the cost of living. I respectfully ask that you and your
party commit to making this an issue in the provincial election expected
in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Name:
Signature:
Address:
Date:
MPP Name:
Riding:
Street Address:
City, Province, Postal Code:
Fax Number:
Dear________________,
I am writing this letter to you to express how difficult it is for me
and my family to survive on social assistance. It has been a struggle
for me to pay my rent and have enough money left over to buy food.
The current government has failed to ensure a decent income for those
on assistance forcing many in the province to struggle to find food
and basic necessities. It is important for me to be able to pay my rent,
eat every day, and purchase basic necessities, which I am currently
unable to do comfortably.
What would be valuable to me is the security of knowing that I have
enough money from social assistance to pay my rent and meet my other
basic living expenses. In 1995, social assistance was reduced by 22%
and has not increased since, even though living expenses have increased
dramatically since that time, especially the cost of rent. Currently,
the average price of a two bedroom apartment in greater Toronto is $1,047
a month, and in Ontario is $883. Yet, a family of three living on social
assistance receives only $554 each month to cover the cost of rent.
With high rents
taking up most of my assistance cheque I have little money for anything
else. It is important to me that social assistance be increased to reflect
the real cost of rent and living.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I understand how
valuable your time is and I ask you to take this letter into consideration
to ensure a decent future for myself and my family.
Sincerely,
Name:
Signature:
Address:
Date:
Nom de votre député(e):
Nom de votre circonscription:
Adresse du/de la député(e):
Ville, province et code postal:
Numéro de télécopieur:
Madame ou Monsieur __________,
J’aimerais que cette lettre vous aide à comprendre les difficultés
que ma famille et moi devons affronter pour survivre avec nos prestations
d’aide sociale. Nous devons nous débrouiller chaque mois
pour payer le loyer et pour acheter de la nourriture avec le peu d’argent
qui reste.
Le gouvernement actuel n’a pas réussi à assurer un
revenu suffisant aux bénéficiaires d’aide sociale
de notre province. Plusieurs d’entre nous avons grand’peine
à trouver de la nourriture, un logement et les choses essentielles
à la vie. Il est essentiel pour moi d’arriver à payer
mon loyer, à manger chaque jour et à combler mes autres
besoins essentiels.
J’aurais vraiment besoin de pouvoir compter sur un montant d’aide
sociale suffisant pour payer le loyer ET avoir de l’argent pour
couvrir d’autres dépenses. Les coupures de 22% imposées
à l’aide sociale en 1995 n’ont été
suivies d’aucune mise à jour des prestations. Pourtant,
le coût de la vie n’a cessé d’augmenter depuis,
en particulier le coût des loyers. Je reçois $______ par
mois en allocation logement, et mon loyer est de $______. Cela
me force à dépenser l’argent de la nourriture pour
mon loyer. J’ai absolument besoin que les prestations d’aide
sociale soient rajustées pour refléter le coût réel
des loyers.
Merci d’avoir pris le temps de lire ma lettre. Je comprends que
votre temps est précieux et je vous demande d’accorder à
ma demande l’attention nécessaire, afin de nous assurer
à moi et ma famille un avenir décent.
Sincèrement,
Nom:
Adresse:
Ville:
Code postal:
Sample Phone Scripts
For OW or ODSP recipients:
Hello. My name
is and I am a voter in this riding. I also receive social assistance
benefits in the form of (mention Ontario Works or Ontario Disability
Support Plan). I am very concerned about the current government’s
decision not to increase the social assistance rates. Shelter allowances
need to be immediately raised to reflect the real cost of rent in
each Ontario city. If elected, I expect your government to treat all
Ontarians with dignity and respect, and I ask that you take my concerns
back to your party and let your party know that increasing the social
assistance rates will win them support in the next election.
For Everyone
Concerned
Hi, my name is
and I am a voter in this riding. I am very concerned about the current
government’s decision not to increase the social assistance rates
in Ontario. Shelter allowances need to be immediately raised to reflect
the real cost of rent in each Ontario city. If elected, I expect your
government to treat all Ontarians with dignity and respect, and I
ask that you take my concerns back to your party and let your party
know that increasing the social assistance rates will win them support
in the next election.
If you would
like a response from your MPP, finish with:
…Please let
me know how you intend to support social assistance recipients. (Leave
a number where you can be reached)
After the first week, simply call back and say:
Hi, this is _______
. I called last week and I want you to
know that I am still concerned about social assistance
rates in Ontario.
Above sample letters
and telephone script were converted to HTML from the Pay The Rent
Lobby Kit distributed as a PDF file.
For more information
or to request a copy of the Pay The Rent Lobby Kit, please contact
Tracy at Daily Bread
Food Bank:
Tel: 416 203 0050 Ext 289
Email: lobby@paytherent.ca
URL: www.paytherent.ca
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