Edmonton Social Planning Council

Author: Susan Morrissey

  • Request for Services: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Audit

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    Overview:

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council has a bold vision to work towards “a community in which all people are full and valued participants.” Recognizing this vision, the Council has prioritized conducting an equity, diversity, and inclusion audit to review the current programs, policies, processes, practices and governance model of the Council.  The successful consultant will work with the Council to develop a strategy that identifies areas where the organization can make sustainable and incremental improvements.

     

    The Council is seeking an EDI consultant to support the Council by conducting an audit and, based on the audit findings, making recommendations for EDI strategies the Council should consider going forward.  To that end, the Council will be approaching several vendors to request proposals. We will also be posting this Request on the Council’s website.

     

    Background on the Edmonton Social Planning Council:

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan social research organization that has existed for over 80 years. Our focus is social research in areas related to poverty, food security and housing. As a source of knowledge and expertise on social issues within our community, the Council is dedicated to encouraging the adoption of equitable social policy, supporting the work of other organizations who are striving to improve the lives of Edmontonians, and educating the public on the social issues that impact them daily.

     

    The Council is a registered charity and incorporated under the Societies Act with an annual operating budget of $500,000.00 and five full-time staff. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

     

    The Council researches and reports on a broad range of issues related to poverty, housing, and food security. The reports, blog posts, research reviews, policy statements are prepared by the Council and occasionally with partner organizations and volunteers, including the Edmonton Community Foundation’s Vital Signs series. The Council is also a founding member of the provincial Living Wage Network and calculates Edmonton’s living wage on an annual basis.

     

    Since its inception, the Council’s research assistance services have provided valuable information to many organizations in the Edmonton area helping them to make informed decisions and develop programs addressing social challenges facing our community. The Council offers these services to non-profit organizations, researchers, public sector entities, and other community stakeholders.

     

    Scope of Work:

    The Council sees the need for and benefit of an independent view of the organization as a whole, in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion activities.  We hope that an EDI audit will provide the Council with a baseline from which we can select strategies and measure progress going forward.  The audit should be able to guide us in our allocation of resources and choice of EDI strategies, so that the Council gains the full advantages that come from embracing diversity and inclusion.

     

    Given this, the major tasks (and deliverables) which fall within the scope of this Request include:

    1. Provide the Council’s Board and Staff with a basic level of knowledge and understanding around EDI through the delivery of training or series of workshops (ideally these will be somewhat interactive in nature, offering the added bonus of a positive team building experience as board and staff reflect on various aspects of policies, practices and structures of the organization).
    2. Conduct an EDI audit that examines best practices, the Councils current governance and practices with an EDI lens at both the governance and operational level. The proposal should clearly identify the process and deliverables from this phase. The findings will be collected and reported to the Board of Directors.
    3. Based on the outcomes of the EDI audit, provide specific and actionable recommendations to guide the organization including but not limited to:
      1. Recommend Board recruitment and hiring practices consistent with a commitment to EDI
      2. Specific policy, practice, operations and governance changes the Council should consider
      3. Recommendations for strategies or actions moving forward to advance this work and maintain the type of organization we want to be. Include timelines and costs where appropriate.
      4. Any additional recommendation or deliverables the Consultant feels would be beneficial.

     

    The consultant is requested to provide a detailed breakdown of activities, including anticipated deliverables and engagement with the Council’s staff and board as well as cost-breakdowns for the project.

     

    Budget:

    The Council’s overall operational budget is set out above.  At this point, the Council does not have a specific budget item or secured grant funding for an EDI audit.  However, the Council believes it is important to do this and plans to dip into the Council’s reserve funds to pay for it.

     

    Timelines:

    While the Council realizes that any timelines must be realistic, we would like to have this work completed as soon as practicable so that we can determine and implement strategies going forward.  Ideally, we would like the work in the proposal to begin in May or June of 2022.

     

    The proposal must include timelines for each of the five major tasks (i.e., start and end dates).

     

    Vendor Selection Timelines:

    The vendor selection process for this opportunity will unfold relatively briskly while allowing for dialogue with potential vendors as well as appropriate internal deliberation. Vendor selection timelines are as follows:

     

    Opportunity posted on ESPC website March 7, 2022
    Deadline for EDI consultants to proposal 17:00 on March 18, 2022
    Review of proposals by the Council March 21-April 1, 2022
    Offer to preferred EDI consultant By April 5, 2022
    Communication to unsuccessful EDI consultants By April 8, 2022

     

    Requested Proposal:

    Proposals submitted in response to this request must include:

    • a proposed work plan outlining deliverables, major tasks and milestones to achieve the deliverables identified above, with costing for each major task and the project as a whole;
    • concise information on the expertise/knowledge of the vendor, which could include descriptions of the consultant’s previous completed projects and their outcomes related to EDI work in the non-profit sector;
    • biographical information detailing the qualifications and experience of the consultant(s) who will be doing the work;
    • a primary contact person(s) and contact information for the proposal; and
    • a confirmation the consultant can complete the deliverable within the parameters of the budget.

     

    The proposal should be formatted as follows:

    • the total page count of the proposal, including supplementary information but not the cover page, must be no more than fifteen (15) pages (12 point font, 1” margins);
    • two references, with contact information, must be provided; and
    • electronic copies of the proposal must be submitted, in PDF, to the following e-mail address: info@edmontonsocialplanning.ca.

     

    Proposal Assessment:

    The Council will review proposals based on the following considerations:

     

    Fit/compatibility Does the applicant demonstrate an ability to work successfully with the Council’s Board and staff? Does the applicant demonstrate an ability to work with a non-profit organization and volunteer board members?
    Expertise Does the applicant demonstrate considerable subject matter expertise, and experience in supporting organizations with equity, diversity and inclusion audits, particularly in the context of smaller organizations?
    Proposed work plan Is the work plan reasonable, feasible and realistic to achieve? Is the applicant prepared to answer probing questions about its proposed work plan?
    Client knowledge Does the applicant demonstrate knowledge of the Council and its role? Can the applicant demonstrate that its approach reflects this knowledge?
    References Do references from previous clients speak positively of the applicants work?
    Cost Does the proposal set out costs for each major task and for the project overall, including sales tax and disbursements, if any? Is there a contingency amount included? Are the costs reasonable given the overall proposal?

     

    Contacts for Additional Information and Question:

    Additional questions can be directed to:

     

    Susan Morrissey

    Executive Director

    E: susanm@edmontonsocialplanning.ca

     

    Bill Howe

    Chair, Board Membership and Engagement Committee & Executive Committee Member

    Board of Directors

    E: wrhowe@ualberta.ca

     

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  • Letter to the Editor: City’s plan for homeless applauded

    Letter to the Editor: City’s plan for homeless applauded

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    Note: This letter to the editor was originally published in the Edmonton Journal on October 15, 2020.

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council applauds Edmonton’s rapid plan to end homelessness in the city. With winter on the horizon and the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable and marginalized populations, quick action to address those living without stable housing is an ongoing and pressing concern.

    Although a lot of progress has been made ​— homelessness has been cut in half since 2008 — 1,931 people are still experiencing homelessness as of September. This number has increased by about 20 per cent since August 2019 (when it was 1,607), which has placed Edmonton short of achieving the original 10-year plan to end homelessness (now in year 11) as laid out by the city and Homeward Trust.

    Setting up a 24/7 accommodation site at the Edmonton Convention Centre followed by plans to transition recipients to bridge housing and permanent supportive housing has the potential to make up for lost ground in a relatively short period of time, if implemented correctly. This plan must be accompanied by ​​​measures that address root causes of homelessness, such as more affordable housing units with necessary supports for mental health and trauma-informed solutions.

    We urge the municipal government to continue to work collaboratively with the provincial and federal governments, alongside community organizations delivering crucial frontline supports, to secure necessary funding and see this plan come to fruition.

    Susan Morrissey, Executive Director
    Edmonton Social Planning Council

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  • Submission to the Government of Alberta’s Affordable Housing Review Panel

    Submission to the Government of Alberta’s Affordable Housing Review Panel

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    Note: this is a written submission the Edmonton Social Planning Council provided to the Government of Alberta’s Affordable Housing Review Panel. Submissions are being accepted until August 31, 2020. More information on the panel and how to contribute a submission is available on their website.

    August 13, 2020

    Mickey Amery, chair of the Affordable Housing Review Panel
    Affordable Housing Review Panel c/o
    Ministry of Seniors and Housing
    404 Legislature Building
    10800 – 97 Avenue
    Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

    Dear Mickey Amery, chair of the Affordable Housing Review Panel:

    Reference:    Written Submission to the Affordable Housing Review Panel


    Thank you for the opportunity to contribute a submission to the Affordable Housing Review Panel. The Edmonton Social Planning Council is pleased to see this work being conducted by the provincial government. The Council has been operating in Edmonton for 80 years, and the issue of affordable housing has been a source of concern for our organization for much of our history.

    Since our work focuses on community research in the areas of low-income and poverty, access to affordable housing is indispensable towards building a community in which all people are full and valued participants. It is important that any approach governments take towards the affordable housing portfolio – be it municipal, provincial, and federal – prioritize a human rights-based approach where access to safe and stable housing is an integral component of providing an adequate standard of living to all Albertans.

    When it comes to affordable housing, our research has identified excessively long waits for affordable rental accommodation as one of the most intractable challenges facing low-income Edmonton households. These households are waiting to receive assistance for which they qualify for and are legally entitled to. Funding should be sufficient to allow all households who qualify based on their household income receive rental assistance on a timely basis, similar to what is currently the norm for existing programs like child benefits, retirement benefits, child care subsidies, and income support.

    Our recent report (which is also attached to our submission), The High Cost of Waiting: Tenant-Focused Solutions to Enhance Housing Affordability, provided comprehensive research on the subject by conducting a literature review, interviews with key informants with expertise in the affordable housing landscape in Alberta, as well as focus groups involving a number of households who were on these wait lists. The report also provides a number of recommendations governments can adopt to address this situation, which includes a number of measures for how a housing benefit can be designed, measured, and monitored to achieve the goals of making housing more affordable and accessible.

    Focus group participants (many of whom had been waiting for years) spoke candidly about the financial and emotional hardship the process has put them through and spoke of the real risk they could end up homeless without a roof over their heads.

    We found that strong support was expressed for a cost-matched federal/provincial housing benefit. The federal government’s proposed Canada Housing Benefit (which is a portable rent subsidy) was met with almost universal approval. This benefit would deliver an average of $2,500 per year to qualifying households, which would expand the number of Edmonton households receiving direct rent subsidies. A joint federal-provincial rent subsidy program with full and fair funding commitments from both orders of government could be set up so that all who apply and qualify for the benefit receive it on a timely basis. In order for it to be effective, it would need equal cost-matching by the provinces and the federal government delivering the benefit through the Canada Revenue Agency in single monthly payments to qualifying households.

    Portable housing benefits have been identified by major Canadian affordable housing organizations as an indispensable component of ending homelessness and addressing affordability challenges. Portability means basing rental assistance on household income, rather than tying it to a specific rental unit or a building. This enables prospective tenants to obtain rental accommodation more quickly rather than having to wait for affordable units to become available. It also provides renters greater choice with regards to location and building type based on their own needs and preferences. Our research going back as far as 2007 has shown many low-income renters have expressed a preference for receiving subsidies directly rather than having subsidies tied to specific units and buildings. Those who receive a portable housing benefit experience long-term improvements to their quality of life.

    A portable housing benefit would prevent eviction due to non-affordability of market rents and help those precariously housed to stay housed. This would need to be correctly applied to the Edmonton context to complement existing programs and approaches. Adequate and stable funding helps reduce waitlists for affordable housing and effectively prevents homelessness.

    When it comes to affordable housing, the ideal role of government is to provide a robust safety net, especially when it comes to supporting Albertans in need of housing. This requires full investments in affordable housing programs. Direct to rent subsidies in its current form have not been able to keep up with high demand and high need.

    While funding efforts to end homelessness has increased significantly over the last 10 years (this has enabled the development of an extensive province-wide infrastructure to deliver Housing First programs), funding for rental assistance for low-income households has been largely frozen for many years.

    Albertans who experience homelessness and poverty face a number of other challenges, which include mental illness, addictions, domestic violence, aging, physical and mental disabilities, and more. These struggles require targeted support to effectively rehouse participants. Supportive housing – where individuals can access services linked to their housing, such as job training, or mental health treatment lead to long-term socioeconomic improvements for participants – is integral to this. Vulnerable individuals who struggle to retain safe, adequate, affordable, and stable housing often end up interacting with other parts of the system, such as the justice system, emergency health services, law enforcement, and others. Governments investing in housing programs and their supports would see decreased costs and pressures on the health care and criminal justice system. In short, investing in affordable housing produces positive dividends which includes reduced costs in other areas of government spending. This measure is not only fiscally prudent but also brings us closer to fully realizing a more just and equitable society.

    While a portable housing benefit could solve a lot of affordability and accessibility issues, this also will need to be balanced with making sure the supply of affordable housing units continues to be made available. The utilization of vacant, surplus, or underutilized sites represents a significant opportunity to increase affordable housing supply and decrease waitlists. In the city of Edmonton alone, 850 additional units could be created on 5 large city-owned sites under current zoning. Vacant or underutilized buildings could be redeveloped or repurposed to increase the supply of affordable housing, providing beautification and activation of these spaces that can improve the neighbourhood as a whole.

    An example of such a program is the Raising the Roof’s Reside initiative in Toronto, which is a pilot program that provides individuals at-risk of homelessness with affordable and safe housing in a repurposed vacant home. This has been shown to be effective at decreasing affordable housing waitlists by using vacant homes for affordable housing. The project partners with the Building Up enterprise that trains youth to complete the renovations, helping them gain valuable skills. The renovated homes are leased to non-profit housing organizations to use as supportive or long-term housing. This model represents a significant opportunity to increase the quality and supply of affordable housing in a cost-effective manner.

    In closing, investing in affordable housing programs with a human-rights approach is not only a benefit to vulnerable individuals finding stable housing, but it benefits communities as a whole. The standard of living and quality of life improves markedly, helps to improve neighbourhoods, decreases the burden on health care and criminal justice systems, and reduces social disorder. The Edmonton Social Planning Council is hopeful that common-sense actions like these will help re-build Alberta after a challenging period of economic uncertainty associated with the decline in oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Our office continues to be available should you wish to engage on this matter further.

    Regards,

     

    Susan Morrissey, Executive Director
    Edmonton Social Planning Council

     

    Attachment(s): Kolkman, John (2020). “The High Cost of Waiting: Tenant-Focused Solutions to Enhance Housing Affordability.” Edmonton Social Planning Council.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.4″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • Letter to Premier Jason Kenney: call on the provincial government to extend the eviction ban for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic

    Letter to Premier Jason Kenney: call on the provincial government to extend the eviction ban for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.4″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”100px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px||5px|||” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/boxes_1.gif” title_text=”boxes_1″ align=”center” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”-2px||-1px||false|false” custom_padding=”||7px|||”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”37px|0px|44px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ custom_padding=”||32px|||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”95%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”44px|0px|2px|-96px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]Read the Letter to Premier to extend the eviction ban.

    May 1, 2020

     

    Honourable Jason Kenney
    Premier of Alberta
    307 Legislature Building
    10800 – 97 Avenue
    Edmonton, AB
    T5K 2B6

     

    Dear Premier Kenney: 

    We are writing to you regarding the expiration of the eviction ban your government announced on March 27, 2020.

    As you are aware, the ban on evictions for non-payment of rent and/or utilities ended yesterday. Starting May 1st, landlords can begin eviction proceedings through the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) if the landlord and tenant do not come to an agreement regarding the repayment of late rent and/or utilities.

    While we hope every landlord and tenant in the province will form a repayment agreement, we know this is an unrealistic assumption. Many tenants and landlords are likely to come to some type of agreement, but it is also quite likely there will be instances where no agreement can be reached. As a result, landlords can begin the eviction process. While we know the eviction process can take time, there is still a very good chance people will be evicted from their homes in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    In the Edmonton Social Planning Council’s recent report, “The High Cost of Waiting: Tenant-Focused Solutions to Enhance Housing Affordability,” released earlier this year, we heard extensively of the heavy toll – financial, psychological, and mental – from those who were placed on the bottom of a year’s long wait list to access rental assistance programs for which they were qualified to receive.

    They were faced with very strong financial burdens – having to access food banks to meet their basic needs and still having a tough time paying for other living expenses, such as heating or medications. No matter what prudent steps they took to live on a tight budget, they were always one emergency expense away from falling completely behind and slipping through the cracks. As a result of these excruciating wait times, some people became homeless while waiting and many more were at severe risk of becoming homeless.

    We are requesting the Government of Alberta provide financial support to renters who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will allow Albertans to stay in their homes and ensure landlords are able to pay their bills too. This is a win-win for both parties, and our province.

    We are also urging you to extend the eviction ban, at the very earliest, until the public health emergency is lifted. British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec have all taken this step and not doing so makes Alberta an outlier in the country.

    Evicting Albertans at a time like this could have disastrous effects for Albertans and the broader public health of our province. Public health officials have advised everyone to stay home during the pandemic, but evicting people during this time could force them into a friend or family member’s house, or possibly even a shelter. This could result in the further spread of COVID-19, threatening the health and safety of our entire province.

    To protect the health and safety of Albertans, I urge you to act now.

    Sincerely,

     

     

     

    Michael Phair
    Former City Councillor, Ward 4

    Susan Morrissey, ED
    Edmonton Social Planning Council   

     

     

    Cc:

    Nate Glubish, Minister of Service Alberta

    Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing

    Rachel Notley, Leader of the Official Opposition[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.4″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • Opinion: Budget is a setback for lower-income Albertans

    Opinion: Budget is a setback for lower-income Albertans

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.3″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px||5px|||” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/boxes_1.gif” title_text=”boxes_1″ align=”center” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”-2px||-1px||false|false” custom_padding=”||7px|||”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”37px|0px|44px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ custom_padding=”||32px|||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.4″ text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”95%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”44px|0px|2px|-96px|false|false” locked=”off”]Susan Morrissey, Executive Director of the Edmonton Social Planning Council provided the recent Op-Ed in the Edmonton Journal.

    Read the full version here: https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-budget-is-a-setback-for-lower-income-albertans

    Download the Fact Sheet here: 2019 Alberta Budget fACTsheet

    Excerpt from the Edmonton Journal:

    With the UCP tabling their first budget, there is a lot of talk of what this means. Depending on who you ask, this budget is either an attempt to get Alberta’s fiscal house in order or a ruthless act of austerity.

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council took a deep dive and produced a fact sheet to inform the public on what this latest budget means for social services and what some of the most vulnerable Albertans living in poverty can expect from our provincial government.

    First, the good news. It is heartening to see the Government of Alberta continue to support investments in affordable public transportation with $9.5 million per year in funding for a low-income transit pass. In 2018, this pass was purchased by over 100,000 Albertans in Edmonton and Calgary, many of whom reported better access to education, jobs, and other opportunities. Staying the course will improve the quality of life for low-income Albertans and enable their further economic and social participation.

    For school-age children, a 20-per-cent funding increase to the existing school nutrition program is welcome. Research has shown that students enrolled in schools with a universal breakfast program had fewer discipline problems, better attendance, and improved psychosocial well-being. Investing in our children’s welfare is simply the right thing to do and strengthens our communities.

    Also commendable is the additional funding going toward a mental health and addiction strategy, an opioid response, palliative care, and a new sexual assault hotline. This shows a commitment to support the most vulnerable and we applaud that.

    Nevertheless, there are a number of other areas in the budget that are deeply concerning and could threaten to set people back, especially after all the progress that has been made in alleviating poverty over the past few years.

    The Alberta Child Benefit and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit, two programs designed to support lower- and middle-income working families, have shown themselves to be important tools for poverty reduction. However, they will now be rolled into a single program, the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, starting in July 2020.

    While benefits for the lowest-income families will increase by 15 per cent, the benefit will be phased out more quickly as incomes rise. As a result, $40 million less will be delivered to Alberta families. While it’s encouraging to see the lowest incomes receive more supports, it still leaves out many other working families in need and struggling to make ends meet.

    We are alarmed to see a 24-per-cent reduction in the Rental Assistance Program. These programs help households find affordable rental accommodations by providing rent subsidies in eligible rental projects. According to the 2016 census, more than 164,000 households in Alberta are living in unsafe, crowded, and unaffordable housing. Approximately 6,000 households in Edmonton alone are currently on the Capital Region Housing rent-subsidy program wait list, many of whom have been waiting for years.

    Finally, the de-indexing of Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), the Alberta Seniors Benefit, Income Support, and Special Needs Assistance programs from the consumer price index (CPI) is perhaps cause for the greatest concern.

    While current levels for these income assistance programs remain the same, the fact that they will not increase with the rising cost of living places many of our most vulnerable citizens with the burden of having to choose between purchasing nutritious food or heating their homes.

    Despite additional investments in some key areas, the overall impact of the budget puts many low- and modest-income Albertans at greater risk. The four-year strategy outlined in the budget fails to account for either inflation or population growth.

    This means that Albertans will face real and growing cuts to health, education, and social programs. As was pointed out in their fiscal plan, households and businesses would pay at least $13.4 billion more in taxes if Alberta had the same tax system as any other province. There is ample room to address this revenue shortfall without sacrificing the vital services on which Albertans rely.

    We are hopeful that finding common ground and working towards a prosperous future for all will result in the desired outcomes that benefit all Albertans.

    Susan Morrissey is executive director of the Edmonton Social Planning Council.

     

     

     [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.4″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • 2012 Cyberbullying Reality Check

    Title:Cyberbullying: reality check.
    Author(s):Knighton, Lila|split|Simon, Alisa|split|Kelly, Janice|split|Kimball, Dr. Alexandra
    Corporate Author: Kids Help Phone
    Subject:Children – abuse, prevention|split|Social inclusion, exclusion
    Publisher:Kids Help Phone
    Place of Publication:Toronto
    Date of Publication:2012
    Abstract:

    In April of 2007, Kids Help Phone published Cyber-bullying: Our Kids’ New Reality. The report collected responses from over 2,500 young people on the topic of cyberbullying, which was at that time, a very new phenomenon. Since then, cyberbullying has gained significant attention in research, counselling, and educational settings. It has also become a well-known issue among the general public in Canada, particularly after online harassment was implicated in the suicides of several young people in late 2010 and early 2011.

    This document is a follow-up to our 2007 report. In it, we will discuss the most recent research-based information on cyberbullying, and provide a short “then and now” overview of a more recent cyberbullying survey that we posted to our website in order to highlight some of the trends in online behaviour that our users have shared with us. The report will conclude with revisited recommendations on what adults can do to support young people as they navigate an increasingly technologically mediated social reality. [Taken from Introduction].

    Language:English
    Series:Kids Help Phone Research Update
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.07 CHILDREN/2012 Cyberbullying-reality-check.pdf