The Pay the Rent and Feed the Kids campaign is an effort to challenge the Ontario provincial government to raise social assistance rates to reflect the actual cost of living.

Too many people in our community are forced to choose between paying the rent and eating, and for those with children, the ultimate choice is often between paying the rent or feeding the kids. Inadequate shelter allowance rates are leading to increased hunger and homelessness.

The solutions we propose: Raise the shelter allowance portion of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program benefits to average rent levels. Increase the basic needs portion of these benefits to 1994 levels. Index social assistance benefits to the cost of living. Many communities in Ontario added other demands such as: Reinstate rent control. Expand rent geared to income programs that provide affordable housing.

The Pay the Rent AND Feed the Kids Campaign is supported by a wide range of community organizations across Ontario concerned with poverty and housing issues. These organizations include:

Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario
Campaign 2000
Canadian Buddhist Women's Association
Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
Children's Aid Society of Toronto
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre
Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
Daily Bread Food Bank
Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre
DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
Family Services Association of Toronto
Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations
Flemingdon Neighborhood Services
Homelessness Action Group
Housing and Homelessness Network of Ontario
Income Security Advocacy Centre
Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition
Karuna Community Services
Kensington Bellwoods Community Legal Services
Low Income Families Together
Metro Network for Social Justice
Nellie's
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
Ontario Association of Food Banks
Ontario Coalition for Social Justice
Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association
Ontario Federation of Labour
Ontario Social Safety Network
Ontario Non - Profit Housing Association
Parkdale Community Legal Services
Sistering
Somerset West Action Network
The Stop
Toronto Disaster Relief Committee
Toronto Network of Engaged Buddhists
UNITE Ontario Council
YWCA of Greater Toronto

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For more information e-mail info@paytherent.ca with your questions.