I went to experience binning with two of my new friends in the DTES today [January 28]. Binning? Many of you – like me, must be wondering what “binning” is. Binning is when you go through the dumpsters and garbage cans in alleys looking for bottles and any other goodies that you may be able to salvage and sell for money. All of the “binners” I have met here in the DTES do “binning” to supplement their incomes as they cannot make ends meet.
I was surprised to learn that there are people who spend about 8 hours a day binning to make a meagre $35 – that’s if they’re lucky. This works out to around $4.50 an hour. Binning is really dirty and you put your health at risk. Some of the bins are full of garbage or materials from the SRO’s as they are being cleaned out. Items with cockroaches, bedbugs, etc are tossed into the dumpsters. It’s not uncommon to contract a health issue through binning. I am now fully aware at this point that for those people who are on welfare, under the expected to work category – that if they try to earn extra monies to help supplement their incomes, such as selling bottles or other items that can be salvaged, whatever money is made will be deducted from their welfare cheque – dollar for dollar. If this amount is not declared to welfare – it is considered to be welfare fraud.
This also means that if someone gets a part time job, any money earned will be deducted dollar for dollar. I know many of you will be thinking what is he talking about as you read this. What I am talking about is very true. I have often heard that these people need to get off of welfare and need to get a job. But, what I have learned is that these people most times seem to get caught in a vicious cycle and can’t get off welfare. They make a bit of money and it’s deducted. Instead of a hand up or supplementation they are left frustrated and feeling as if the system is just a trap – as that’s what it really is for some.
The interesting thing is that those people with disabilities have earning exemptions of up to $500. That means that they can earn up to $500 by binning or other means and not have it deducted from their welfare cheque. For people with disabilities, earning extra money is encouraged. For those defined as single employable – it is not.
Whenever I would run into a friend (before I took the MLA Welfare Challenge) we would usually end up talking about kids, sports, cars, politics, etc. We never talked about where to find free food or where the nearest shelter is. Obviously, that is because we have not had the need to find free food or go to a shelter.
Here in the DTES I have learned that it is the complete opposite. What I have experienced is that when two people meet here, the conversation usually revolves around where to go for the next free meal or where to find shelter for the night. The talk here is constantly entered around food and shelter because for those who live in poverty or on welfare it’s their struggle in day to day life. Information from an organization offering free food on a certain day spreads like wildfire! A large majority of people who I have met know the names and addresses of places by heart where free food is provided.
I am amazed to have had the good fortune of living in this tight knit community where everyone looks out for one another and helps each other. I don’t believe I have ever witnessed such a tight knit, helpful and accepting community.
I will never forget the generosity, help and guidance I have been offered by this wonderful community.
Jagrup you certainly have opened the eyes and hopefully the hearts of many who are fortunate enough to have enough! You have taken the challenge and come out a richer man. And I beleive a better advocate for those who you met on this journey!
Jagrup you did it, you made it the whole month. How about willing welfare workers (WWW) a special group where people can meet up each weekday to work for minimum wage and it can be their stepping stone out of welfare. They could do painting, sweeping sidewalks, weeding empty lots, etc (use your imagination)and it would not take away jobs from city workers. They would be able to attend the program for a certain length of time, which would be assessed by a worker on a case per case basis. Some rules would be in place(like any work place) and it would be flexible to client(they would come and work only when they wanted to or were capable of). It would sort of be like the program they have at schools(individual learning plan for students with differing needs). It would be a opportunity and provide much needed income. It would give people a hand out of poverty and give them work satisfaction. You would be surprised how simple programs can have a big ripple effect in the lives of individuals and their comminities. Just a thought Jagrup.
Excellent idea
MLA…..
Thank-you for taking it to the end even when your whole being was saying something like “no more…”.
Those on Welfare…
Our hope at voteonit is to see a realistic number that does work and that the Welfare department can work with and then to act on this information so the real people that are there now can be helped. Even if it never accomplishes the goal at least you can say to yourself. I did everything I could for change & that alone is what you should be PROUD about that
You and your 1 vote and waht is your number Helps !
You are 500,000 strong
120,000 of those are mere children
Just another compassionate heart trying to help in the way they can.