OW and ODSP allowance will be cut...sort of

This is what I've been told.

OCB= Ontario Child Benefit
NCBs= National Child Benefit Supplement

The OCB starts July 1 2008 and it does include the Back to School Allowance and the Winter Clothing Allowance. The full OCB implementation is being phased in over a couple of years and there will be transitional funding in the interim.

Ultimately, all families will be better off. They will keep their NCBS funds and they will receive OCB as well. The Province is still working on transitional plans for 2008 and there is a commitment to ensure that families are not worse off.

There is a lot of active discussion over issuing Back to School and Winter Clothing in 2008 as the implementation of OCB closely coincides with Back to School. I am expecting to see an Interim Directive addressing this issue before August 2008. There will also be an information package which will be sent to all agencies in Bruce/Grey with explanations around OCB and the impact on our clients.

The first year of OCB has the potential to cost families money.

The transitional plan will address these issues and it is expected that the Province will respond in a positive fashion. Municipal Delivery Agents are strongly advocating for a transitional package which will address all financial matters. All of us want to make sure that our clients receive their full benefits and that no one is penalized during the implementation period.

Not just my voice

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=903114&auth=Doug+Edgar



Local women who are physically abused by their partners are almost three times as likely to face either a weapon or the threat of a weapon than the national average, according to a new two-year study.

“It’s something I think is a very important finding that we as a community really need to look into more deeply, what this is about, because the use or the threat of a weapon is also linked to a much higher level of fear,” said research co-ordinator May Tettero. “It just ups the ante quite a bit.”

Feelings of shame, concerns about losing control over their life if the social and legal systems get involved and a lack of anonymity in small communities may also prevent some women from seeking help or even talking about such abuse, she said.
The study group, made up of 95 women whose partners were registered with The Men’s Program, were divided into one group of 30 women who live in Owen Sound; the rest were included in a group considered rural for the purposes of the study.

“We found that the use or threat with a weapon was significantly higher in the rural area,” Tettero said. “That doesn’t prove anything, but it makes us think that perhaps there is a relationship between that form of abuse within a relationship and abuse in rural areas.”

Is Feminism unreasonable?

The following discussion has taken place in the Sun Times, primarily between myself and Jim Merriam, a bi weekly columnist and editor.

It should be noted that I was a columnist for htis paper for 5 years, but my 'services' were no longer required in November. Actually I was the first female columnist when I started writing "Running With Scissors" 5 years ago. They told me they were trying to keep the paper 'fresh' but they kept all the old boys. But my issue is trying to change the attitudes in a rural community.

A Column he wrote

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=856114&auth=jim+merriam

My letter to the editor in response

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=868579

He buries a response in here (Sisterhood of Perpetual Victim)

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=870001&auth=Merriam%2C+Jim

Someone else wades into the debate

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=879770

Jim full responds here

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=895188&auth=Merriam%2c+Jim

I am formulating a response to the last column but have nothing submitted as of yet.

From my letter to the editor I got 2 phone calls and 2 emails the morning it was in the paper, all from men, all telling me to keep battling on, and how I was right.

Joachim's letter has also gotten a huge response to people connecting with him.

We're not letting this go.

Focus group rescheduled

The United Way of Bruce Grey and the Rural Women Take Action on Poverty Committee extends an invitation to you, to join February 1st 2008, for a networking focus group for rural women experiencing poverty.

There is no cost to attend this even and we are hoping to have as many women who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, poverty in the region.

Details: February 1st 2008
United Way Centre 380 9th Street East, Owen Sound

Agenda

12 noon lunch – soup and sandwiches (Please advise if vegetarian or food allergies)
1 pm discussion

Please indicate you attendance (we need numbers to ensure we have enough lunch) by calling the United Way of Bruce Grey at 376 1560 or emailing me at eduwbg@bmts.com.

Women's poverty focus group

The United Way of Bruce Grey and the Rural Women Take Action on Poverty Committee extends an invitation to you, to join January 18th 2008, for a networking focus group for rural women experiencing poverty.

There is no cost to attend this even and we are hoping to have as many women who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, poverty in the region.

Details

January 18th 2008, United Way Centre 380 9th Street East, Owen Sound

Agenda

12 noon lunch – soup and sandwiches (Please advise if vegetarian or food allergies)

1 pm discussion

Please indicate you attendance (we need numbers to ensure we have enough lunch) by calling the United Way of Bruce Grey at 376 1560 or emailing me at eduwbg@bmts.com.

Francesca

Forgive me readers....

...it has been many weeks since my last post.

OK I did take 2 weeks off at Christmas, I was trying to get my overtime hours under 150 before the year ended. I had some success.

I also have to realize that failure to post, is not failure in life. It's ok if this gets updated once a week rather than the once a day I'd set myself up for. If I need to post more often I will, but lets focus on at least once a week.

I have been reading around the Internet, at personal blogs, political blogs and just general discussion blogs, for inspiration.

So what is new in the world of the United Way. Well we're still closing out our 2007 campaign, digging for those final dollars etc.

I'm finally getting my office walls at the United Way Centre, I've picked a new colour for my walls - a light white/pink that I call "compassion flower". Oh I crack myself up sometimes.

We're working hard on our budget, but I'm frustrated that the things I want to do are going to be held back due to financial constraints. But that's what a budget is for.

So we'll keep going and plugging away at the issues and the needs of our community, as always.

UNITED WAY AND UNION GAS TEAM UP FOR 2007-2008 WINTER WARMTH FUND

Fund release: Owen Sound December 3, 2007 – United Way and Union Gas today announced the 2006-2007 Winter Warmth Fund, providing financial assistance to low-income families and individuals struggling to pay their heating and hydro bills.

The fund was initially established in Toronto during the winter of 2004 and has expanded to include five utilities, local United Ways and community agencies throughout Ontario. The five utility companies – Enbridge Gas Distribution, Enersource Corporation, Hydro Ottawa, Toronto Hydro and Union Gas Limited – will combine efforts with United Way to coordinate the fund through over 45 community agencies across the province.

Funds for the annual program are contributed by the participating utility companies and are available to their eligible customers.

In the winter of 2006-7 The United Way assisted 19 households representing 21 adults and 20 children with their Union Gas utility bill, in addition many were referred to other resources in the community. “This program helps families that have hit a “bump in the road” explained United Way of Bruce Grey Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn. The ability to sustain the utility payment after the ‘hand-up” is a requirement of the program. “We had people who had unexpected car repair bills, children with medical needs and such” added Dobbyn.

“Union Gas is pleased to work with the United Way again this year to deliver the Winter Warmth Fund to communities across our service territory,” said Greg Ebel, President of Union Gas Limited. “This is one of the many initiatives through which Union Gas gives back to the community.”

How the Fund Works

Families and individuals needing financial assistance to pay their heating and hydro bills can find information about the Winter Warmth Fund at the United Way of Bruce Grey

After a successful application process, one-time funding will be credited directly to the applicant’s utilities account.

Eligibility

Eligible grant recipients include low-income households who are in arrears or at risk of going into arrears on their energy bills and have exhausted all other sources of financial support.

Customers can contact the United Way to determine funding eligibility and to submit an application. The United Way can be reached at 519 376 1560 Monday to Friday 8:30 – 4:30, or on site at the United Way Centre at 380 9th Street East Owen Sound

For further information: United Way of Bruce Grey 519 376 1560