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Don't think a person can lose his child because of lack of housing? Think again. I've been looking for a week for appropriate rental housing for my client and his son - but the biggest issue: the cost of rent in comparison to his meagre social assistance income. /1
So when we speak about "overhauling" the child welfare system, what is being done to address this issue? If a person cannot pay first month's rent for appropriate housing without spending 180% of his entire monthly social assistance cheque, I think we have a problem. /2
And to the children's aid society's credit, it is trying to assist with some finances - but the precarious nature of this support makes many landlords nervous. If we do not address these inequities, family reunification is left up to chance. /3
Yet our successive governments have been more willing to leave children in foster care where the cost is many times what it would cost to ensure that my client has enough money to rent housing. It's perverse and harmful. /4
I'm so frustrated and angry. This system is entirely broken and we are beyond vague words and promises. We need real action to solve the basic social problems in our society, otherwise we will continue to needlessly leave children in care. /end
