Ford’s government is reviewing ODSP and OW right now. We’re going to deliver this petition to them on Monday — but with so many issues on the table during COVID-19, we need to make it massive to catch their attention. Will you add your name now?

We call on Premier Ford to double Ontario Disability Support (ODSP) or Ontario Works (OW) rates to bring them in line with the CERB, because if laid-off workers need $2000 a month to get by — so do people who receive ODSP and OW.

The COVID-19 crisis means that more people than ever are relying on support from the government to help us pay rent, and keep food on the table.

But most people in Ontario who receive social assistance aren’t eligible for the new $2000 a month Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) — they’re expected to get by on as little as $650 a month.

This is important so that homeless ODSP and OW clients have a shot at renting somewhere to live at average market rent since affordable, subsidized, rent geared to income housing is unavailable at this time and may be unavailable for the next 10 to 20 years due to a huge waiting list and zero vacancies. Clients need to eat as well as pay rent and since clients would still have to dip into their Basic Needs Allowances to cover rent because even doubling the Shelter Allowance still won't cover all of the rent at today's prices. Needed meds and other things not covered by the MSN forms have to be paid for out if Basic Needs and some of these items are very expensive, like medical cannabis, so along with needing healthy food a huge increase is called for here as well.