@fordnation @JustinTrudeau @theJagmeetSingh @PierrePoilievre @AndreaHorwath I’m going to apologize, this thread will be long, but I hope you’ll take the time to read it all. I am writing this for those who don’t understand why those of us on ODSP are fighting for a livable income

I am on ODSP, I have been for 2 years. Before ODSP, like many, I worked. I was able to pay bills, rent and groceries without blinking an eye, and still have a little to have fun. I rarely, if ever worried about feeding myself.

Like other Canadians, I paid into the system, even after a near deadly crash changed my life, the system I believed would be there for me if I could no longer work. I finally listened to my doctor and stopped when my conditions(there are several) became completely unmanageable.

It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, and not one I made lightly! I loved my job!

Before my disability, I was bringing home 2,000$/mo. That was a livable income, it worked for me! When I was accepted on disability, I had to learn how to live off 1,169$ /mo.

That was for rent, bills, food, transpo, clothing, shoes, toiletries, emergencies, and meds not covered by ODSP. It took time to figure out, and with the tightest of budgets I would need help from the food bank. I went from having my own place, to a room in a stranger's house.

I used to feed myself off 50$ a week, just basic meals. Shopping trips were planned, buying off the reduced racks, the meat marked down for quick sale, produce sold cheap because it was sub-par, store brand instead of name brand, look for damaged goods, it’s no way to live.

Fast forward to now. I'm immunocompromised, since day 1 I have had to isolate myself for my wellbeing. If I get sick, like many I likely won’t survive. What does this mean?
It means to go get groceries, I have to use delivery services to get what I need.

Or trust a stranger in the community off Facebook . But, they don’t shop like someone living in poverty. They don't compare prices, they don't think to buy food nearing the end of its shelf life. Right there, my 50$ of food weekly only stretches for a few days now, if I’m lucky.

You see, everyone who was and still is panic buying, have left very little of what's affordable for those who need it.

April I paidrent and bills, amounting to 950$. That left 215$. I bought 100$ of food, (someone else doing my shopping became expensive) leaving 115$, then transpo, normally 43$/mo, is 67$ to date for appointments, and have 3 more before the month ends. I’m down to having 48$.

Here’s the kicker, I still have appointments, I still needed to get tampons, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and of course that medication not covered by ODSP. Did I mention yet I also need shoes, mine have a hole bigger than the Grand Canyon! My meds cost from 175-250$ a month.

I’m not writing this for handouts or pity, I’m writing this so those who have never had to rely on social services get that it’s not about greed when we ask for a livable income, it’s about survival and living with dignity.

I’m writing this so that people understand that even though we haven’t lost income during this pandemic, what we receive is nowhere near enough to live. It wasn’t enough before, and it’s even less sustainable now.

The government set a precedent last month, making it clear that Canadians need at least 2,000$/mo to survive, we’re not even asking for that, we’re asking to only be brought a little closer to what the federal government considers to be the poverty line, which is 1,700$ a month.

Having to ask for help is hard for those on disability because of the stigma, because of those who abused the system, and because judgement without considering the difficulties that those who have disabilities may have!

SO, the next time you see a post from someone on disability, upset that there’s very little help out there, please don’t tell them to be grateful for what they get, you have no idea how difficult it is to get by.

I would say walk a mile in my shoes before commenting, but I wouldn’t wish my life on anyone!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay compassionate!