I don't normally speak using this kind of sweeping language, but I do want to encourage people to pay particular attention to the ways in which this crisis is revealing a deep-seated institutionalized hatred for the chronically poor (1/)

(2/?) The most obvious way this has been revealed is through the sweeping movements and reforms that are, quite suddenly, possible and necessary when they were not before. All levels of government now magically have a vested interested in reducing homelessness, covering wages, -

(3/) providing mortgage and student loan relief, and getting money to folks who've lost their jobs. Many of these things are arguably in the interest of reducing the need for folks to be outside/at work, and thus flattening the curve, but many are coming from/framed from a place-

(4/) of good-will, togetherness, and ensuring that 'everyone' has basic needs. But we need to look closer at who is included in this concept of 'everyone,' who is left out, and who was not included before. The federal government's narrative has been one of helping folks who are-

(5/) hit by the virus to continue to meet their needs. The focus-- in both policy and messaging-- is on middle class (white, generally) Canadians who were working in secure, salaried positions before the crisis. It's NOT on folks who are chronically un/under employed. It's NEVER-

(6/) been on those folks. This is why we see things like the CERB covering only those who were making money and lost it, and the appalling lack of support for those on ODSP/OW in Ontario. Poor folks are not supposed to think that they are the target of the messaging. They are-

(7/) not supposed to feel worthy of support. We have roots of the 'deserving/undeserving poor' that underpin the entire social welfare/safety net in Canada. Even 'progressives' live and breathe by this dichotomy. If you were already poor, you were doing something wrong, no one-

(8/) needs to help you. You're on your own. I'm seeing similar messaging around disabilities; "not everyone was born with a disability. some were good, hardworking Canadians until they were hit with tragedy. Do they deserve to be left in the cold?"

(9/)Most people have this bias, consciously or not. We feel the need to have criteria. If we don't, we realize very quickly that there is no good reason why people shouldn't be sheltered year round, why folks who can't pay the bills don't always deserve a $2000 check. What does-

(10/) this leave us with? Hopefully, sweeping, structural reform. Hopefully, with an innate belief in the worthiness of every person regardless of their 'productivity'/participation in capitalism. That's a big ask and it takes a lot of unlearning. It's hard to reconcile with the

(11/11) way things are currently. It leaves a lot of us feeling uncomfortable. But it's absolutely necessary. We can't congratulate ourselves for our goodwill during this crisis if we aren't willing to look chronic poverty (&racism, sexism, etc) in the face when we get out of it.