Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: Blog: Miscellaneous

  • Blog post: “Play (your) Cards Right”

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    Written by Susanne Urbina, Capacity Support Assistant

    If you’re not familiar with this gambling idiom, it refers to “leveraging a situation to your best possible advantage to increase the likelihood of a positive result” (Translation Royal, 2020).

    If we play our cards right by recruiting enthusiastic, passionate volunteers to work at our upcoming casino, we will raise the much-needed funds to continue the good work Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) does for our community.

    Operating a casino to fundraise is known as charitable gaming. Charity gambling is a “form of incentivized giving” where a charity (or a group of charities), rather than a municipality or private casino, oversees gambling activities such as bingo, roulette, lottery, and slot machine then uses a portion of the proceeds to further its charitable aim. In Alberta, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) also includes bingo, raffles, pull tickets and casinos in its gaming activities.

    Thousands of charities in Alberta have earned nearly $7 billion through charity gambling since 1995. Even through the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, $137.2 million was earned by charitable organizations. The revenues from gaming benefit everybody in Alberta by supporting programs such as healthcare, education, community development and youth programs (AGLC, 2024).

    Being a volunteer may not consume a lot of your time, especially when some organizations offer one-time or episodic activities, during specific times or events.

    Our fundraising casino takes place on June 3rd and June 4th, 2024. We need volunteers for shifts that range throughout the day, evening, night and into the early morning hours. This is a great one-off opportunity where you may discover you want to investigate volunteering further.

    Individuals returning to the work force and newcomers are encouraged to volunteer to add the experience to their resumes as volunteering can give you valuable skills and experiences for professional growth. In addition to having fun and meeting people, it improves your mental and physical health and by bringing people together, volunteering builds trust, increases social inclusion, as well as enhances understanding within diverse populations (Government of Alberta, 2020).

    Play your cards right and volunteer for our casino. The likelihood of a positive result is a sure bet as you will meet friends, have fun, and contribute to our organization’s overall success.

    References

    AGLC (2024). aglc.ca/gaming/charitablegaming

    Government of Alberta (2020), as cited by Amethyst Zapisocky (2023). edmontonsocialplanning.ca/2023/12/01/international-volunteer-day-2023-celebrating-how- volunteers-uplift-our-lives-and-communities/

    Government of Alberta (2020), as cited by Amethyst Zapisocky (2023).

    The Government of Alberta. (2020). Profiling volunteerism: An Alberta nonprofit/voluntary sector initiative discussion paper of the value and contribution of Alberta volunteers. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ab4480ca-ece9-4e1d-93e1- 6607ceec1ade/resource/cc32c020-dee5-48db-bd7b-6617e42f334a/download/cmsw- profiling-volunteerism-alberta-nonprofit-voluntary-sector-initiative-discussion-paper-  2020.pdf

    Translation Royal (2020). translationroyal.com

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  • Blog post: International Day Of Education January 24, 2024

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    Written by Susanne Urbina, Capacity Support Assistant

    Endorsed by the United Nations, the International Day of Education celebrates and promotes the importance of education for peace and development.  This signification also highlights that education is a basic human right. 

    We understand the role that quality education and higher education play in enhancing social progress (meeting the basic human needs of citizens and communities), but not every individual has the luxury of attaining both quality and higher education.  

    According to the World Literacy Foundation (WLF) “around 1 in 5 people are completely illiterate. Additionally, around 3 billion people around the world struggle with basic-level reading and writing”. “This has significant economic, social, and health impacts at both an individual level and societal level” (WLF, 2018). They go on to say that with our emerging knowledge economy, low-literacy levels prevent individuals from competing in the global economy. Individuals with low literacy skills are most likely to be employed where they’ll earn less income. These individuals are more likely to be more dependent on social agencies, have lower levels of self-esteem and may be victims of crime (WLF, 2018). In addition to those with low literacy levels, new immigrants with limited English language skills have challenges in everyday life filling out forms and applications, understanding civic, provincial, and federal government policies, as well as understanding labels on medicine and food.  

    When looking at literacy more locally, Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) reported that 40% of Albertans have literacy levels below the completion of high school (ESPC, 2015).  However, the most recent numbers for the country according to the Adult Literacy Skills for Success Report, are that 49% of our adult population scored below high school literacy levels and 17% in the lowest level (United for Literacy, 2022).  

    One of the options available to empower individuals to lead healthier, more productive lives by increasing their literacy is through continuing education programs. Our province believes that “continuing education programs are designed to help Albertans become learners for life” and that everyone can participate in short-term, part-time classes for fun, to learn a new skill or hobby, prepare to return to school, receive certification to gain employment or explore new career options (Government of Alberta, 2024).  

    The Community Adult Learning Program (CALP) which is funded and supported by the Government of Alberta, supports over 80 community-based learning organizations that provide Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning opportunities in communities throughout the province (CALP, 2023). CALP organizations support foundational learners in many ways. A Work Literacy Course, UP Skills for Work that ABC Life Literacy Canada offers to organizations that promote and engage with adult learners, has a series of workbooks on time management, attitude, presentation, confidence, and more (ABC Life Literacy Canada, 2024). These “soft skills” (social-emotional skills) can positively affect a person in both their work and personal lives. A benefit employers see from their employees participating in the Up Skills for Work courses is a reported 25% reduction in employee work-related stress levels (ABC Life Literacy Canada, 2024).  

    The former Essential Skills (ES) program offered a similar course to help with attaining and growing the workforce (Skills Canada British Columbia, 2024). In late 2020, the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES), responded to the post-Covid-19 needs and rebranded their Essential Skills program to “Skills for Success” (SFS) to help adults improve their literacy through a blend of both foundational and soft skills. This newest version that Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) took to revamping, and overlaps some of the Up Skills program from ABC Literacy (Government of Canada, 2023). This program also introduces other skills to help people with further training and education, as it now includes technical and occupation-specific skills (Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education, 2021). 

    In this same Global Report on Learning and Education, Alberta’s Ministry of Education stated that foundational learning, which is synonymous with Adult Learning Education (ALE) prepares adult learners for post-secondary education and engaging employment. It also equips them to fulfill their potential and strengthen their communities (Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education, 2021). 

    Access to foundational learning can be found through adult education programs and centers. Some continuing education centers offer General Educational Development, also known as a General Education Diploma (GED), which qualifies as a high school equivalency certificate. There are providers to help students navigate the course contents and exams. Obtaining one’s GED is necessary before an individual can look at post-secondary education. Our province has a 10-year strategy for post-secondary education designed “to transform the adult learning system to focus on providing high quality education, skills and training needed for Alberta’s future” (Government of Alberta, 2024). This is a great initiative to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, but one must be able to enter a university first, which is difficult if one hasn’t graduated and/or developed the other necessary literacy skills.   

    Other forms of literacy education may be available through basic computer courses such as financial literacy classes, assistance in getting a Nursing Accreditation (perfect for newcomers with a nursing background), resume writing, job interview skills, English language classes, and more. 

    It only takes someone to check into community centers, public libraries, literacy centers, churches, and social agencies to find something of interest to engage in, to open the mind, to increase vocabulary, or to learn a new skill. This will be especially important to our youth who are experiencing learning challenges due to the COVID gap years, but also to anyone who wants to be a life-long learner. 

    To conclude, all learners are urged to take advantage of the programs highlighted in September for Literacy month and International Literacy Day on September 8th.  Be sure to look out for celebrations on January 27th, Family Literacy Day, to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Spring is around the corner; check out the upcoming community course offerings.  

     

     References 

    ABC Life Literacy Canada (2024). UP Skills for Work. https://abclifeliteracy.ca/all-programs/up-skills/ 

    ABC Life Literacy Canada (2019). Workplace Literacy Statistics. https://abclifeliteracy.ca/wp- content/uploads/2019/12/ABC-Workplace-Literacy-Infographic.jpg  

    Community Adult Learning Program (2023). https://calp.ca/ 

    Edmonton Social Planning Council (2015). Literacy fACT Sheet. edmontonsocialplanning.ca_joomlatools-files_docman-files_ESPC-Documents_Fact-Sheets_FACT_Sheet_Literacy_2015.pdf   

    Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (2021). Canada’s Submission to the Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education-GRALE V (Adult Learning and Education Policy pgs. 3 & 4). https://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/437/2021_GRALE%20V_FINAL_EN.pdf 

    Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (2021). Canada’s Submission to the Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education-GRALE V (Adult Learning and Education Policy pg. 5).  https://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/437/2021_GRALE%20V_FINAL_EN.pdf 

    Government of Alberta (2013). Adult Language and Literacy. https://www.alberta.ca/international-adult-literacy-survey-results#jumplinks-1 

    Government of Alberta (2024). Continuing Education. (https://www.alberta.ca/continuing-education) 

    Government of Alberta (2024). Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs. https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-2030-building-skills-for-jobs)   

    United for Literacy (2022). Adult Literacy Skills for Success, (National Report). https://www.unitedforliteracy.ca/getmedia/44cba824-0daf-4e29-8367-cbb3b4539aba/2022-United-for-Literacy-Adult-Report-EN_.pdf 

    World Literacy Foundation (2018). The Impact of Illiteracy and the Importance of Early Intervention. https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/early-intervention-reduces-illiteracy/   

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  • Blog post: “Let’s Talk” Day

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    Written by Myron Liew, ESPC Volunteer

    Introduction

    “Let’s talk”- about the corporations profiting from mental health while not meeting the bare minimum.

    As the awareness of mental health struggles grows year after year, many corporations have seemingly capitalized on this phenomenon by creating mental health-related campaigns under the guise of altruism. While this is not to say that corporation-created mental health campaigns are strictly ineffectual or malicious, other intentions must be considered and evaluated. Bell Canada’s annual “Let’s Talk” mental health campaign is at the forefront of this controversy.

    This post is divided into three parts: Bell Canada’s history of employee mistreatment, the corporatization of mental health, and the inadequacies of the campaign.

     

    Bell Canada’s Rocky History

    Beginning in 2011, Bell Canada promoted the “Let’s Talk” campaign as an opportunity for all to tell their struggles with mental health, reduce the negative stigma of mental health, and raise awareness of mental illnesses in Canada (Vido, 2019). The “Let’s Talk” campaign is seemingly well-intentioned in bringing the challenges and struggles of mental health to attention in all digital mediums, especially through social media with the hashtag #letstalk. There is no doubt that hundreds of thousands of Canadians suffering from mental health challenges may have benefitted from the nationwide campaign funded by Bell. Since its inception the campaign has raised more than $129 million for mental-health-related non-profit groups (Evans, 2023).

    However, the irony of the campaign is that Bell Canada has been subjected to numerous allegations of toxic work culture and discrimination, which undermines the corporation’s credibility in promoting mental health support and mental illness awareness. Erica Johnson of CBC News (2017) published an article that featured testimonies from previous Bell Canada employees alleging overly harsh and stress-inducing workplace culture (Johnson, 2017). Testimonies from the employees noted that they experience severe anxiety, depression, and stress while working at Bell, forcing them to take stress leave and medical leave (Johnson, 2017). Additionally, some employees noted that they experienced stress-related physical symptoms such as weight loss, vomiting, panic attacks, and diarrhea (Johnson, 2017). This phenomenon is so widespread among Bell employees that it was termed “The Bell Effect” by physicians (Johnson, 2017). Most employees commented that the stresses came from upper management (Johnson, 2017). Employees said that concerns were repeatedly brought up to upper management, but remained ignored (Johnson, 2017). In addition, Bell Canada has come under fire for alleged discrimination in the firing of multiple employees and laying off staff weeks before the “Let’s Talk” Campaign (Johnson, 2017), (ThoroldToday Staff, 2023). For a corporation that has made mental health and illness awareness one of its largest campaigns, mental health is not taken as seriously with the same amount of enthusiasm from within.

     

    Let’s Talk – The Corporatization of Mental Health

    “Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception” – Sophocles

    Since its conception, many news and opinion articles have criticized the Bell’s “Let’s Talk” campaign for corporatizing mental health. The general theme of the criticism focuses on the corporation profiting from the campaign by capitalizing on mental health awareness and using it to construct a positive image of their company, all while failing to support their own staff.

    Bell Canada is a business when we get right down to it. The “Let’s Talk” campaign has been criticized for presenting a front to get tax breaks and exploiting people suffering from mental health. Lukas Redmond’s (2022) article from The Fulcrum highlights how Bell Canada receives a tax credit from their donations, in addition to receiving free advertising on social media. Redmond also explains how most people keep quiet on the matter as the donations go directly to various academic institutions across Canada (2022).

    Elianna Lev’s article on Yahoo! News compiled a series of tweets criticizing the campaign for its excessive branding and empty words. The criticisms consisted of annoyance with the ads, the ineffectiveness of the campaign, lack of accountability, triggering shock value, and obvious brand marketing and awareness (Lev, 2023). Jasmine Vido (2019) in her Master Thesis on the critical investigation of Bell’s “Let’s Talk” says it best: “Let’s Talk Day exploits social media users with mental health illnesses by profiting from their troubles”.

    Upon investigation into Bell Canada’s corporatization of mental health, there was a fair amount of branding on their free resources. Available on their “Let’s Talk” website, their mental health toolkit is a resource to share with family, friends, and colleagues to create positive change for mental health. The toolbox contains resources such as stickers, conversation starters, and crafts to facilitate mental health and mental illness discussion and support. In isolation, these are potentially a great resource to facilitate some dialogue. However, the Bell branding features prominently in every resource within this toolkit. For instance, the Bell “Let’s Talk” Kindness Box craft requires users to craft the box with the Bell “Let’s Talk” Logo on the front of the box. The concept of the box has good intentions; it can help people easily access a pick-me-up through creative crafts when needed. The question is, is the branding necessary to achieve this effect, or is it just a way for free advertising? In some ways, the “free” resources may be a way to acquire free advertising while maintaining a positive brand image.

     

    Playing It Too Safe – The Inadequate Bare Minimum

    The Bell “Let’s Talk” campaign sets an example of standing up and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health while not even meeting the bare minimum.

    While the campaign does address challenges such as suicide, anxiety, and substance abuse, there are many more serious and still-stigmatized mental illnesses that the company chooses to exclude. For instance, the campaign does not address the stigma associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). According to the Canadian Mental Health Association 2.2% of Canadians live with BPD, which roughly translates to 840,000 people (CMHA, 2023). The campaign overlooks nearly a million people in their quest to reduce mental illness stigma. Additionally, the campaign ignores schizophrenia, which 1/100 Canadians are diagnosed with (Government of Canada, 2020). Again, a substantial number of people who live with a heavily stigmatized and debilitating mental illness is ignored once again by Bell. It appears that Bell attempts to do enough to gain public approval by only addressing “safer” mental illnesses.

    In their 2024 campaign, Bell attempts to address the topic of Indigenous communities experiencing difficulty in finding mental health support. However, nothing is offered beyond the simple acknowledgment. Factors such as systemic racism, colonialism, and intergenerational trauma are ignored. Instead, their challenges are reduced to “there are barriers”. The video ends with a short text about the National Association of Friendship Centres. At most, this segment gives a nod to the existence of barriers to Indigenous mental health support and barely scratches the surface of a complex and significant issue. It seems that Bell attempts to show sincerity in addressing Indigenous mental health to improve its brand image. Yet, it falls short and instead highlights their insincerity in addressing the real challenges and causes affecting the mental health of Indigenous peoples.

    A common criticism of the Bell “Let’s Talk” campaign is the refusal to address intersectional identities that influence mental illnesses, such as racism and systemic discrimination. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, 9.6 million Canadians identify as members of a visible minority group. Minorities compose 26.53% of the population, yet obvious and common challenges such as racism are not acknowledged in the “Let’s Talk” campaign (Statistics Canada, 2021). Many more groups remain unacknowledged in the “Let’s Talk” campaign. What about the systemic discrimination that minorities and women face in acquiring employment or moving up in ranks? These are existing issues that create stressors that can lead to mental health challenges for women and minorities. What about the LGBTQIA2S+ communities who may face discrimination and prejudice daily? Nothing in the campaign addresses these crucial issues that affect a large part of our diverse population. For a campaign focused on mental health awareness, very few mental health-related problems are addressed.

     

    Conclusion

    “Let’s Talk” is about how the campaign inadequately addresses the intricacies of mental illness and mental health, while profiting from the struggles of people experiencing mental health challenges. The campaign may have achieved some good with their charitable donations, but much more needs to be done. The workplace culture of Bell Canada has proven that mental health support is not a priority. Many employees suffer from mental and physical symptoms caused by the workplace, and more alleged systemic discrimination. The campaign relies on excessive branding, corporatization of mental health, empty words, and selective coverage of mental illnesses as well as ignores intersectional identities. For these reasons, while it seems to come from a good place, it is wholly inadequate. Perhaps this year, Bell Canada should have a “talk” with members of the community and mental health professionals before pursuing an advocacy role in mental health awareness.

     

    References

    CMHA Nova Scotia Division. (2023). May is Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness. CMHA Nova Scotia Division. https://novascotia.cmha.ca/may-is-borderline-personality-disorder-awareness-month/

    Evans, P. (2023, January 9). Bell replaces pledge of 5 cents per text on let’s talk day with lump-sum $10m donation. CBC News. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bell-canada-let-s-talk-1.6708000#:~:text=Over%20the%20past%2013%20years,in%20the%20process%2C%20Bell%20says.

    Government of Canada. (2020). Schizophrenia in Canada. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia-canada.html

    Johnson, E. (2017). Bell’s ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign rings hollow for employees suffering panic attacks, vomiting and anxiety. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/bell-employees-stressed-by-sales-targets-1.4418876

    Lev, E. (2023). ‘We need action, not annual empty words’: Bell Let’s Talk campaign ads are ‘awful’, only for ‘shock value’, critics say. Yahoo! News. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/bell-lets-talk-criticism-commercials-suicide-anxiety-232641966.html

    Redmond, K. (2022). Opinion: Bell, let’s talk about Bell Let’s Talk Day. The Fulcrum. https://thefulcrum.ca/opinions/opinion-bell-lets-talk-about-bell-lets-talk-day/

    Statistics Canada. 2023. (table). Census Profile. 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Ottawa. Released November 15, 2023. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed January 23, 2024).

    ThoroldToday Staff. (2023). Bell hasn’t erased bad memories of Let’s Talk Day: Brock experts. Thorold Today. https://www.thoroldtoday.ca/local-news/bell-hasnt-erased-bad-memories-of-lets-talk-day-brock-experts-6428794

    Vido, J. (2019). “A critical investigation of Bell Let’s Talk”. Major Papers. 74. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/major-papers/74

     

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  • International Volunteer Day 2023: Celebrating How Volunteers Uplift Our Lives and Communities

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     Written by Amethyst Zapisocky, ESPC Volunteer

    Summary:

    International Volunteer Day is an international initiative to recognize and appreciate the work volunteers all over the world do to support others and various communities.

    December 5th is a day to honour the time, passion, and effort of millions of volunteers and service organizations worldwide. (1) The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (International Volunteer Day) was established in 1985 by the United Nations and has been annually observed to raise awareness of, acknowledge and promote volunteerism at the local, national, and international levels. (2) The theme this year is the power of collective action: if everyone did. (2) (3) Speaking to this theme, given the remarkable impact volunteering makes on the local and global community, if everyone was able to volunteer in some way the effects on the world would be immense. As the United Nations describes, if billions were able to donate their time to volunteering, there would be incredible opportunities for social, economic, and environmental development. (2)

    Impact of Volunteering

    There are many positive outcomes that volunteering provides, outcomes which greatly benefit individuals (volunteers and users), organizations, communities, and the world at large. Some ways in which volunteerism can be enriching are:

    • Facilitate collaboration and connection between citizens and governing authorities which can amplify the voices of marginalized communities, inform public policy, and help lessen unequal power structures. (4) (5)
    • Volunteering is imperative during individual, community and/or global crises as they are often the first to respond during emergency situations. (2)
    • Volunteers help connect those in need to available support. (4)
    • Volunteers can gain valuable skills and experiences for personal and professional growth. (5)
    • Volunteering improves mental and physical health. (5)
    • Volunteerism brings people together: Builds trust, increases social inclusion, and enhances understanding within diverse populations. (5)

    Just as there are many outcomes and reasons for volunteering, there are many different types of volunteerism. These opportunities range from formal (through an organization) to informal (work not attached to a specific organization) and can be one-time, episodic (for example, during specific times or events), or continuous. (5)

    Volunteerism in Alberta

    It is still undeniable that volunteering does a lot of positive and necessary work in the community. A 2020 report by the Government of Alberta outlines how Albertans volunteer and why. According to the report, 50% of Albertans volunteer and 85% donate, both of which are higher than the national average (44% and 82% respectively). (5) 1.6 million Albertans provide over 262 million hours of volunteer hours each year. (5) Nonprofits, which deliver vital services and programs that improve the well-being of Albertans, are majorly supported through volunteerism, with 50% of organizations in Alberta having no paid staff. The report also shows that most Albertan volunteers do so for altruistic reasons, to contribute to the health of our community. (5) Volunteerism also boosts Alberta’s economy, with volunteer work in Alberta being worth $5.6 billion annually. (5) Volunteerism in Alberta has led to great public service and quality-of-life improvements that would be otherwise impossible. For finding opportunities in Alberta, Volunteer Alberta has opportunities to consider. The City of Edmonton’s website also offers Edmonton-specific opportunities for those seeking ways to volunteer locally.

    Barriers to Volunteering

    While volunteerism is important and provides access to many benefits, there are social exclusions and gaps in opportunities that are in need of acknowledgement and action. These limitations are crucial to consider so we may address inequalities that exist within volunteerism, and identify solutions. It is widely understood that the post-pandemic world has been struggling in many ways. Economic instability, housing shortages, and increasing mental health and substance use concerns have complexified community needs and raised demand for support (i.e., non-profit) services. (6) Without sufficient support for nonprofits, the staff and volunteers within them experience increased fatigue, anxiety and frustration. (6) Additionall, those who are working full time or more and can barely make ends meet may not have the privilege to offer their time and attention to volunteering as easily as those with their basic financial and/or needs fully met. Thus, when considering the theme of collective action, we must ask: how can we ensure that individuals and service organizations are supported enough to offer volunteer services in the first place?

    Social inequities are also a factor in volunteerism. Not only have equity-seeking organizations (e.g., Black and Indigenous-focused groups) been more underserved (e.g., less funding), (7) but there are disparities among volunteer populations as well. That is, marginalized individuals are less likely to be able to access volunteer opportunities. (6) (8) According to a report authored by Mutamba & Rock (2022, p. 5), all parts of the volunteer screening process impose barriers to BIPOC applicants. (8) Women are more likely to volunteer, particularly informally, but access is often limited by caregiving responsibilities and their work is often under-valued. (4) (6) Physical accessibility is also a concern, particularly for older persons and for those with diverse-abilities (5) Addressing and working on these inequalities necessitates making sure the diverse individuals and groups are aware of ways they can volunteer and feel welcomed and accommodated doing so. (4) (5) The needs of marginalized communities should be acknowledged and met, and it should be ensured that their contributions are regarded equally–for example, given access to decision-making roles. (4) As a report by Briggs et al. (2022) writes, awareness and equity-seeking efforts should be maintained; increasing inclusivity in volunteering, and recognizing various systemic and socio-economic barriers, can help broaden the potential volunteering has for doing amazing work in our communities. To learn more, Volunteer Canada has resources, legislation, and learning modules on inclusive volunteerism.

    Conclusion and How to Honour International Volunteer Day

    Despite the barriers and gaps present in the system, volunteerism greatly enriches the lives of everyone within local and global communities. Through crisis or joys, volunteers are there to offer support which is what December 5th, International Volunteer Day, aims to acknowledge, advocate for, and celebrate. The theme of collective action: if everyone did expresses the fantastic outcomes volunteers and service organizations provide through their work. It also gives us a way to consider the inclusivity of volunteerism, who has time to give and why. Looking forward, it will be important to explore those barriers so that collective action can happen.

    There are many ways to participate in International Volunteer Day. Some ideas for getting involved are as follows:

    • Social media: Spread awareness for volunteers and the work they do
    1. Can use the UN’s hashtags #IfEveryoneDid and #IVD2023.  (3)
    2. Read and share stories from volunteers and service organizations.
      • Taking the time to thank a volunteer for their service. (1)
      • Consider opportunities to volunteer or donate.

      References

      1. Awareness Days. (n.d.). International Volunteers Day 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-volunteers-day-2023/

      2. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme. (2023, September 26). An overview of International Volunteer Day (IVD). Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.unv.org/Basic-Page/International-Volunteer-Day-overview

      3. United Nations. (n.d.). 2023 Theme: the power of collective action: if everyone did. Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/volunteer-day

      4. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme. (2021). 2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report: Building equal and inclusive societies. Bonn.  https://swvr2022.unv.org/

      5. The Government of Alberta. (2020). Profiling volunteerism: An Alberta nonprofit/voluntary sector initiative discussion paper of the value and contribution of Alberta volunteers. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ab4480ca-ece9-4e1d-93e1-6607ceec1ade/resource/cc32c020-dee5-48db-bd7b-6617e42f334a/download/cmsw-profiling-volunteerism-alberta-nonprofit-voluntary-sector-initiative-discussion-paper-2020.pdf

      6. Briggs, A., Ball, K., Boda, K., Little, J., & Lee, C. (2022). Alberta’s nonprofit sector: Too essential to fail. Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations.https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5aef5b46cef3728571e6c46c/t/637fa15fb9941d0aa267f2a4/1669308769500/CCVO_TooEssentialToFailReport.pdf

      7. The Centre for Young Black Professionals. (2022, May 30). The current climate: What is happening in the B3 sector?. Imagine Canada. Retrieved November 29, 2023, from https://www.imaginecanada.ca/en/360/current-climate-what-happening-b3-sector

      8. Mutamba, M. & Rock, J. (2022). An anti-racist approach to volunteering. Volunteer Connector (Volunteer Centre of Calgary). https://www.volunteerconnector.org/content/ck-editor-uploads/2022/01/20/an-anti-racist-approach-to-volunteering_3JnSJFc.pdf

      [/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _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” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _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|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

    • Blog Post: Impacts of Parental Rights Movement on 2SLGBTQ+ Youth

      [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” 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=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

      Written by Janell Uden, Research Services and Capacity Building Coordinator  

      There is a lot of controversy surrounding a recent bill passed in Saskatchewan, which requires that schools obtain parental consent before a child under sixteen years old can use a preferred name, pronoun or gender expression at school. One take that has been building momentum during this new wave movement of prioritizing “parental rights” in education- are those who feel that parents need to protect their children from the indoctrination of the government in schools. Those opposing this parental rights bill say that schools should be protecting 2SLGBTQ+ youth from the negative risk factors they could face if they do not live in a supportive home. The priority of the debate gets lost when both sides argue, as both children’s families and schools should be safe, supportive, and protective places. It draws away attention from the children, who are the subject of concern.

      To further explain, some are worried that allowing children to change their gender, name, or pronouns at school without parental consent is violating the parental right to know what is going on with their child, especially something as important as this. Some of these parents want to be informed and be the ones to educate their child on this subject. This could be concerning, if some of these parents want to teach their children that their identity is wrong. Other parents know that not all 2SLGBTQ+ youth have parents who are accepting of their child’s gender expression, sexual orientation, or gender identity and when this is the case, youth’s lives are negatively altered. As a result of the seriousness of these potential risks, some parents don’t think they’re worth taking, and the disclosure of this information should be left up to the youth. This law prioritizes “parental rights” to know what is going on with their child, when that child is trying to explore their gender and sexuality. Rather than creating a safe and comfortable environment for their children to talk to them, one might wonder if this failing of familial communication is a priority for this government? In situations where parents don’t know their child’s gender, pronoun, name change in school it is likely because the child either hasn’t told their parents yet because they are not ready, or they may be scared to do so.

      As mentioned, 2SLGBTQ+ youth who do not live in supportive homes face increased risks.

      One of these risks is youth homelessness.

      Past research shows that up to 40% of young people who experience homelessness are 2SLGBTQ+, (Abramovich & Shelton, 2017).

      Meanwhile, 2SLGBTQ+ youth only make up as estimated 5-10% of housed youth (Abramovich & Shelton, 2017).

      Compared to 2SLGBTQ+ youth who receive familial support, those whose families reject them are (Côté & Blais, 202; Ryan et al., 2009):

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      The greatest predictor of future involvement with the juvenile justice system for 2SLGBTQ+ youth is having to leave home because of family rejection (Fedders, 2006). Being without basic needs such as housing and food, these youth are forced to commit “survival crimes” or to leave school so they can earn an income (Majd et al., 2006). While we all can agree that parents should know what is going on in their child’s life, keeping the facts above in mind, it raises the question of is it worth placing child’s rights, below “parental rights”?

      To pass this law in Saskatchewan, the premier has had to invoke the notwithstanding clause to override the children’s chart rights and rush the passing of this bill, instead of taking it through the normal legislative process (Hunter, 2023). The notwithstanding clause can override certain sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code (Hunter, 2023). Is it just for a law to have to use this clause to violate both provincial and federal human rights codes, as well as Canada’s agreement to the United Nation’s Convention on Rights to the Child to prioritize parent’s rights over their children’s rights? Saskatchewan and New Brunswick may be the minority in trying to push these bills as far as all the provinces go, however Alberta may not be far behind.

      This weekend at the United Conservative Party Annual General Meeting, there was an overwhelming majority of support for a resolution that proposes the same school pronoun bill as Saskatchewan (Johnson, 2023). This attendance of this weekend’s UCP AGM set a record for the largest provincial party meeting in Alberta’s history (Kury de Castillo, 2023). The Premier also made a clear statement in her address supporting parental rights and choices in education, while condemning the far left for ‘undermining’ the role of parents.

      When this bill was brought up in Saskatchewan, the government took nine days to draft its pronoun policy and released it to the public four days later (Simes, 2023). School boards were not consulted, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth certainly were not consulted. As discussions of this happening in other provinces and a resolution vote happening at a political party’s AGM are not surefire signs that this will happen here, there is certainly already discussion. Even the rumblings of this bill passing in other provinces will lead to household discussions where 2SLGBTQ+ youth find out if their house is a safe place for them or not.

      In 2014, an MLA tried to pass a bill that would require that students get permission to join a Gay Straight Alliance Group at school (GSA) at school. This bill was shut down due to a lot of public pushback, and we here at ESPC had a role in hosting public consultations surrounding this bill. This suggests that with proper advocacy and public education, the gender, pronoun and name bill could meet the same fate. Currently, students in Alberta do not have to obtain parental permission to participate in a GSA group at school due to concerns of the potential of familial discrimination and lack of support (Alberta Teachers Association, 2018). The Alberta Teachers Association also states that unwanted breaches of sexual orientation and gender identity to a parent without the express consent of the student can have potentially devastating and life-threatening consequences (Alberta Teachers Association, 2018). If this is the agreed upon best practice for teachers and schools navigating youth’s involvement in GSA’s, why would the reasoning differ for pronoun, name or gender changes? Hopefully the Alberta school board will be consulted if this policy proposal moves any further past this AGM, and although the youth likely won’t be consulted due to the nature of the bill, perhaps the rest of us can centre the youth’s needs as this conversation is just beginning.

       

      References  

      Abramovich, A., & Shelton, J. (Eds.). (2017). Where Am I Going to Go? Intersectional Approaches to Ending LGBTQ2S Youth Homelessness in Canada & the U.S. Toronto: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.

      Alberta Teachers’ Association. (2018, August). GSAs and QSAs in Alberta Schools – A Guide for Teachers. The Alberta Teachers Association. https://legacy.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/Human-Rights-Issues/PD-80-6%20GSA-QSA%20Guide%202018.pdf

      Côté, P.-B., & Blais, M. (2020). “the least loved, that’s what I was”: A qualitative analysis of the pathways to homelessness by lgbtq+youth. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 33(2), 137–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2020.1850388

      Fedders, Barbara (2006) “Coming Out for Kids: Recognizing, Respecting, and Representing LGBTQ Youth,” Nevada Law Journal: Vol. 6: Iss. 3, Article 15.
      Available at: https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/nlj/vol6/iss3/15

      Hunter, A. (2023, October 14). Sask. government use of notwithstanding clause, school policy could overshadow fall legislative sitting. CBC News. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-notwithstanding-clause-1.6995293.

      Johnson, L. (2023, November 4). Alberta UCP members approve party policy pushing for parental consent on pronouns. Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 5, 2023, from https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/nine-months-on-still-no-alberta-sovereignty-act-inspired-suit-from-onion-lake-cree-nation

      Kury de Castillo, C. (2023, November 5). Alberta’s UCP AGM givces party a ‘sense of direction’: expert. Global News. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://globalnews.ca/news/10072206/alberta-ucp-agm-sense-of-direction/

      Majd, K., Marksamer, J., Reyes, C. (2009). Hidden Injustice: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Juvenille Courts. Legal Services for Chilren, National Juvenille Defender Center, and National Center for Lesbian Rights. https://www.modelsforchange.net/publications/237/Hidden_Injustice_Lesbian_Gay_Bisexual_and_Transgender_Youth_in_Juvenile_Courts.pdf

      Ryan, C., Huebner, D., Diaz, R. M., & Sanchez, J. (2009). Family rejection as a predictor of negative health outcomes in white and Latino Lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Pediatrics, 123(1), 346–352. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3524

      Simes, J. (2023, October 18). Saskatchewan’s pronoun and naming changes at school part of larger trend: professor. The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/saskatchewans-pronoun-and-naming-changes-at-school-part-of-larger-trend-professor/article_232094bd-5a46-5f3b-9e2a-976fbdb2644e.html

       

      [/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _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” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _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|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

    • Research Review: UBC Study on Unconditional Cash Transfers and Public Perception

      [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#008ac1″ custom_margin=”||19px|||” custom_padding=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” 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=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

      By Olivia Neufeldt

      A recent publication by University of British Columbia researchers Dwyer et al., (2023) explores the impact of a one-time, unconditional cash transfer of $7,500 on people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the public response to this program. Using three distinct studies, the researchers focus on the impact of cash transfers on people experiencing homelessness, public perception of how people experiencing homelessness would spend cash transfers, and the public perception of a cash transfer policy and its perceived impact on society.

      Study 1

      In Study 1, the researchers examined how people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver were impacted by a one-time, unconditional cash transfer over the course of one year (Dwyer et al., 2023). Some participants also participated in workshops every three months for a year which focused on self-affirmation, goal setting, and plan-making; and also received coaching which took the form of three 45-minute calls per month for six months aimed to increase self-efficacy and life skills. Participants in this study were between 19 and 65 years of age, homeless for less than two years, Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and had nonsevere levels of substance use, alcohol use, and mental health symptoms. All participants were given surveys throughout the year that measured housing stability, employment, education, income, spending, executive function, fluid intelligence, subjective well-being, food security, substance use severity, and social service use.

      Participants were divided into 4 groups:
      • Condition 1 (25 participants):
      o Given a one-time cash transfer of $7,500.
      o Participated in workshops and received coaching.
      • Condition 2 (25 participants):
      o Given a one-time cash transfer of $7,500.
      o Participated in workshops.
      o Did not receive coaching.
      • Condition 3 (19 participants):
      o Did not receive a cash transfer.
      o Participated in workshops and received coaching.
      • Condition 4 (46 participants):
      o Did not receive a cash transfer.
      o Did not participate in workshops or coaching.

      The researchers developed three hypotheses related to cognitive and subjective well-being outcomes (Dwyer et al., 2023). Cognitive outcomes included fluid intelligence and executive function, while subjective well-being outcomes included life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, and self-efficacy. The researchers predicted that at the one-month check-in, cash recipients would show better cognitive and subjective well-being outcomes than control participants; cash recipients who received coaching would have better cognitive and subjective well-being outcomes than the cash recipients who did not receive coaching; and control participants who participated in the workshops and coaching would have better cognitive and subjective well-being outcomes than control participants who did not participate in any workshops or coaching. The researchers’ hypotheses were challenged as they found no difference in cognitive function or subjective well-being when comparing the groups in each hypothesis.

      Using exploratory analyses, the researchers found that participants who were given the cash transfer spent 99 fewer days homeless and 55 more days in stable housing on average than control participants (Dwyer et al., 2023). The cash recipients kept more money in savings and also spent more money than control participants. Through self-reports, the researchers found that cash recipients spent more of their money than control participants on durable goods (i.e., furniture, car), rent, food, and transit. Cash recipients and control participants both spent similar amounts of money on temptation goods (i.e., drugs, alcohol, cigarettes), and the amount each group spent on temptation goods did not increase during the study. The researchers note that the benefits of the cash transfer appeared primarily within the first three months of the transfer.

      The participants in conditions 1, 2, and 3 who took part in workshops and/or received coaching support did not benefit from these resources (Dwyer et al., 2023). Instead, the participants indicated that instrumental resources, such as assistance in obtaining an ID, creating a resume, setting up a chequing account, and finding affordable housing were more useful to them. This suggests that there was a gap between the need that was present, and the support being provided in the form of workshops and training.

      Study 2

      In Study 2, the researchers examined potential public mistrust of homeless individuals’ spending abilities by asking members of the public what they thought people experiencing homelessness would spend money on if given an unconditional cash transfer of $7,500 (Dwyer et al., 2023). Participants in this study were more likely to predict that a person experiencing homelessness would spend the cash transfer on temptation goods than a person who was stably housed or if the participant themselves was homeless. These results suggest that there are stereotypes and negative beliefs about people experiencing homelessness, specifically a perceived lack of responsibility regarding money. The researchers note that mistrust in people experiencing homelessness may hinder support for cash transfer programs or policies for people experiencing homelessness.

      Study 3

      In Study 3, the researchers explored public perception of the results from Study 1. Participants were members of the public who were provided with different descriptions of the results of Study 1 and then asked to share their level of support for a cash transfer policy (Dwyer et al., 2023). Participants in the study were more receptive to the messages that people experiencing homelessness used the cash transfers to purchase essential goods, increased their self-reliance, and created a net savings for society by relying less on shelters. The researchers suggest that when stereotypes are challenged with evidence or when cash transfers are presented as generating a net savings for society and helping people experiencing homelessness become more independent, members of the public may be more supportive of cash transfer programs.

      Limitations

      There are limitations of this study, particularly in Study 1, which are important to acknowledge to better understand the results and their implications. The researchers recognize these limitations but present their results as overwhelmingly successful despite the potential impact of these limitations.

      Study 1 was faced with issues with participant attrition, meaning that as the study progressed, the number of participants decreased. Firstly, after applying the inclusion criteria and removing participants who declined to participate or were unable to contact, and maintaining a reserve list, 115 participants were chosen to participate in one of four groups (Dwyer et al., 2023). During each subsequent check-in stage, the number of participants decreased. By the final 12-month check-in, there were 79 participants who actively participated in the study, 35 in the two cash groups and 44 in the two control groups (Dwyer et al., 2023). Since the number of participants varied throughout the study, this challenges the researchers’ ability to compare participant results across each follow-up period.

      Secondly, to manage the loss of participants, the researchers recruited additional control participants during the course of the study to replace those who had dropped out (Dwyer et al., 2023). This raises questions about the reliability of the control participant results as the replacement participants may have had different experiences from those who left the study and thus, may impact what results and conclusions are reached.

      Thirdly, the small sample size of participants throughout the study suggests that the conclusions drawn from the data may not reflect the diverse experiences of people experiencing homelessness. The small sample size also impacted the researchers’ ability to find a significant effect for each individual group and led to the extrapolation of the data (Dwyer et al., 2023).

      However, it is important to note that researchers often face challenges locating and maintaining contact with participants experiencing homelessness (Becker et al., 2014), suggesting that the small sample size in Study 1 may reflect the difficulties in retaining participants experiencing homelessness.

      Where Do We Go from Here?

      Keeping these limitations in mind, the discussion that the researchers present regarding the potential benefits of cash transfers, stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness, and public perception of the efficacy of cash transfers present an opportunity for the community, those in government, and policy makers to reexamine what steps are being taken to support people experiencing homelessness and what beliefs they have about people experiencing homelessness. There are a number of questions that arise from this study that future research should consider.

      Key Questions for Further Study

      • Do cash transfers have a significant impact on people experiencing homelessness who belong to varying demographics (e.g., people experiencing homelessness and are: newcomers, of different ages, unemployed, experiencing hidden homelessness, homeless for more than two years, living in encampments, and/or experiencing substance use and/or mental health challenges)?
      • What impact would a larger cash transfer have? Study 1 provided participants with $7,500; however, the researchers recognized that this was not much money for someone living in Vancouver (Dwyer et al., 2023).
      • Do one-time, unconditional cash transfers have long-term impacts? Study 1 examined effects over the course of one year, but this does not show whether these cash transfers had a significant impact on people experiencing homelessness after a year.
      • How do cash transfers compare to the short- and long-term impacts of other services and support, such as food banks, shelters, and emergency services? Are the societal savings that come with an unconditional transfer consistent over time?
      • What impact do cash transfers have during times of static housing development? Study 1 took place during a time of modular housing development in Vancouver, but this type of development varies from year to year (Dwyer et al., 2023).
      • Are the current workshops and coaching supports available to people experiencing homelessness meeting their needs?
      • Given the stereotypes that exist about people experiencing homelessness, what can be done to challenge these stereotypes?
      • How do stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness impact the development and implementation of government policies and community support intended to help people experiencing homelessness?

      References

      Becker, K., Berry, S. H., Orr, N., & Perlman, J. (2014). Finding the hard to reach and keeping them engaged in research. In R. Tourangeau, B. Edwards, T. P. Johnson, K. M. Wolter, & N. Bates (Eds.), Hard-to-survey populations (pp. 619–641). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139381635.036

      Dwyer, R., Palepu, A., Williams, C., Daly-Grafstein, D., & Zhao, J. (2023). Unconditional cash transfers reduce homelessness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(36), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2222103120

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