Poverty in Ontario---Voices from a Neighbourhood: Gayle Valeriote
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[Over my 20 odd years of work in the Green Party and the green movement,
I've found few things generate as much heat and are based on such
profound ignorance as our social assistance system. Since Mike Harris
originally came to power in an election that prominently displayed
advertisements specifically attacking welfare recipients, I've decided
that I would like OGN readers to develop a relationship with some
of Ontario's poor folks. To this end, I've invited Gayle Valeriot
to introduce us to what is---for far too many of us---an "undiscovered
country". This is the first of a series of letters that will
help us understand a little better what it is to be poor. WDH]
This article is about a hidden face of poverty in Canada. Why is
it important that greens read it? Because, by and large, Canada's
poorest families are not members of the green movement, the Green
Party or (or any party, for that matter), do not get written about
in newspapers as if they are real people, and rarely have opportunity
to speak about what life looks like from their patch of the earth.
What qualifies me to scribe these lines? I'm white, middle-class,
educated, female---these are all words that define aspects of my point
of view. But I believe that what counts is my desire to bring to your
attention the voices of people who have much to say, to teach, and
to expect from Canadians - including readers of "the Ontario
Green News".
The Willow Road area of Guelph (commonly called "the neighbourhood")
is at least two things: it is a family of families who take care of
one another. And it is the setting for deep, painful poverty. Especially
for the kids. I've worked in the neighbourhood for 7 years, and have
witnessed the ups and downs of many families during that time. Here
is what I see people experience on a day-to-day basis:
- you are only 1 month's rent away from homelessness at any given
time. Any unexpected expenditure - prescriptions for your kids, repayment
of someone else's clerical error on your social assistance cheque,
a doctor's appointment out of town (because Guelph doesn't have enough
doctors, many people have to go to Kitchener, Hamilton or Toronto
to see a doctor)
- these or a hundred other unplanned costs could potentially put
you so far behind in paying your rent that eviction is only a short
step away. Even if you live in public housing.
- you are expected to be grateful for charity when it comes to feeding
your kids and yourself. Most people I know have just enough income
to pay the months' rent and maybe keep up with hydro and phone. There
often isn't enough to cover the basics, let alone anything beyond.
To feed your family, you go to the Food Bank and any other church
or agency that gives food away. And you better behave like you're
thankful for the handouts, or you can be cut off without notice. Few
people care that you're stressed about not making it, even fewer care
that you surrender your dignity every day just to survive.
- no matter what your level of education, professional service providers
of all sorts regard you with an unchecked class bias that is often
breathtaking to behold. If you happen to be new to Canada, you can
factor in an unchecked racial bias on top of that. This includes the
assumption that because you are poor, you probably aren't a great
parent either.
These "factoids" are only a part of the story, though.
There is another view of things, one that reflects the hidden strength
of the neighbourhood:
- there's a strong sense of community among the people who live in
the Willow Road area. In spite of the barriers - no, maybe because
of them - people tend to take care of one another. It is common to
hear that a neighbour has shared whatever food is in their cupboard
with someone who's in need, to make sure their kids eat supper.
- there's a pretty good contact network in the neighbourhood. You're
likely to know at least one other person close by, who can help you
in some small (or big) way. If you need stuff, there's a guy who distributes
household goods for free (he even delivers!). If you need a ride,
there is often someone with a car who will take you somewhere. And
if you just need an ear, there is someone to listen.
- people reach out to welcome those who are new to Canada. On Friday
night you can go to a friendship group for Chinese-speaking people,
led by dedicated neighbourhood mothers and grandmothers. On Wednesday
night, you can go to the South Asian Women's group to meet people
and practice your English. And so on for every other day of the week.
- you can be involved in the neighbourhood organization as a leader.
You might learn a new skill to take to a new job, you might contribute
to the growth of your neighourhood at the very time when you have
the greatest crisis in your life. You're called a community builder,
not just a volunteer. And it feels good.
Living in the Willow Road neighbourhood is a bit like living in a
nest. Good things are happening, and you can be involved in them.
But by and large, the rest of the city knows very little about the
what's going on ... until something bad happens, and then it's splashed
all over the local papers. Reporters don't come looking for "good
news" stories about poor folk.
And that's the hidden nature of poverty: the astounding lack of curiousity
that exists in mainstream Canada to become acquainted with low-income
people, either up close or from afar. Getting to know the neighbours
in the Willow Road area is an enriching experience, one that leads
to amazing outcomes, one that is a priviledge to be acknowledged by
us all.
Money is not a determinant of good character, good will or good judgement.
The lack of it is only a detail when it comes to the hard work of
community building. In fact, when you think of the affluent areas
of town where people don't even know their next door neighbour, it
could be argued that a community like Willow Road has much to teach
the rest of us. I want us to start listening.
Gayle Valeriote has worked for seven years as a full-time
staff member for "Onward Willow", Guelph's
award-winning self-help organization by and for the folks who live
in "the neighbourhood". Look forward to future letters from
"the Neighbourhood" in "the Ontario Green News".
Issue
1, Volume 1