Act on poverty now: Raise social assistance rates before winter hits

Ontario’s outdated social assistance rates are forcing people into impossible choices as winter approaches:

Ontario Works: $733 per month
ODSP: $1,408 per month
Average one-bedroom rent: over $1,600 per month

The math doesn’t work. People can’t pay for both housing and heat when temperatures drop below freezing.

The Ford government’s refusal to raise social assistance rates, combined with claw backs that hurt disabled people, seniors, and low-income workers, is creating a poverty trap.

Ontario Greens demand action before winter:

Align ODSP and OW rates with the cost of living to help people afford basic housing and heat, easing pressure on emergency services.
End unfair claw backs so people can keep what they earn, helping them build stability during the coldest months.

Everyone deserves a safe, warm place to live. Add your name to demand Premier Ford act on poverty in Ontario.

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Send a message to Premier Ford

As winter approaches, your government has a basic responsibility to ensure no Ontarian is left without heat or shelter in freezing temperatures. The current social assistance rates are creating a dangerous situation: - Ontario Works: $733 per month - ODSP: $1,408 per month - Average one-bedroom rent: over $1,600 per month This math doesn’t work for real people. When temperatures drop below freezing, inadequate housing and support becomes life-threatening. Municipalities and frontline services cannot handle this crisis alone – provincial leadership is urgently needed. Your government’s clawback policies make things worse by taking money away from those who need it most. These clawbacks hurt disabled people, seniors, and low-income workers trying to improve their situations. When someone on ODSP receives Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, taking it away dollar-for-dollar traps them in a cycle of poverty. With homelessness affecting about 80,000 people across Ontario according to recent estimates, we need immediate action before winter conditions turn this crisis deadly. I am asking your government to: - Align ODSP and OW rates with the cost of living  so people can afford basic housing and heat - End all unfair claw backs that trap people in poverty - Provide funding for emergency winter warming measures so no one is left in the cold No one should face freezing temperatures without proper shelter because of government policy choices. Ontarians deserve the dignity of a warm place to live and enough to eat during winter. I urge you to take action to end poverty in Ontario now.

You can submit this letter as-is or change it to reflect your own priorities. Your comment will be forwarded with the subject line “Protect Ontarians from winter cold: Act on poverty now”, including your name, email and postal code to Premier Ford. You will also be added to the GPO mailing list but you can unsubscribe at any time.