29 members today were present in person and 1 by Zoom.

Patrick MacLean was the guest speaker, a manager from Prince Edward, Lennox & Addington Social Services PELASS. He described the programs for assistance with housing, child care, Ontario Works, ODSP & homelessness.

The largest of these is Ontario Works that provides:

• Basic financial assistance of a monthly payment that is means tested ($733 for a single, $1,030 for a small family) paid by the province, and a monthly payment by the municipality for some discretionary items.
• Employment assistance in getting to work such as work boots, tools, certificates.
• Stability supports and counselling, such as with mental issues or addiction.

There are 900 singles or family units receiving Ontario Works at the moment. The average duration of receiving this benefit is 25 months. They sign a “Participation Agreement” that describes what they have to do to get off assistance.

ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) of $1,300/month is provided to 3,000 people.

Homeless Prevention Benefit is provided if an applicant is about to lose their home due to being laid off work or other reason. It is a one-time payment of $1,000-$1,500.

Housing support is provided by a rent-geared -to-income program for those in the 414 units owned by PELASS. The rent, including services, is set at 30% of the family gross income. The wait list for this benefit is years long. An additional program of rent supplements by PELASS for private housing is being phased out as the provincial government wants to encourage new construction of affordable housing.

Child care is subsidized direct to families and to child care centres.

Patrick encouraged the Club to call the Picton PELASS office or him directly if we have any questions about requests that the Club receives for assistance to see if PELASS has an applicable program.

Some member comments followed. Dawn lamented the inadequate support provided by the government. Shawn said it had been vital for him in the past. Ken said his family benefited from it when he was growing up. Michelle said that there are generational PEC families that just stay on welfare without getting off. Dave MacKinnon spoke about his experience in the Ontario government in the department that sets these rates, and the difficulty in choosing the right level when there was no appropriate benchmark to use.

Club Business

Lana thanked the members and businesses for support of the Curlathon that raised $50,000 to support Back the Build.

Trudy will deliver Lion’s chocolate bunnies this week to those who ordered them.

Yvonne reported that the maple syrup has been bottled with thanks to some Rotarians who helped her and Chris, and Kinsip. Only 19 bottles were unsold by the end of the meeting.

Margo reported progress on the Earthquake Relief Fund Raising project. She has found agents on the ground overseas that will sign certificates to satisfy our reporting requirements to CRA for donations to seven families. To date, $12,500 has been received, including the Rotary $3,000 seed money. The Rotary Foundation will meet after the members’ meeting to confirm distribution. For information, $1/day feeds one person.

Bill Pennell advised that the Rotary dinner/dance meeting has been moved to next week after the members’s meeting.

Today, Ken’s number was drawn for the 50:50 but he did not draw the ace of spades.