The NDP is calling on the Province to have more funding for income support programs such as Barriers to Full Employment.
The Provincial budget cut over $50 million dollars in funding for the BFE program and Community and Social Services Critic Marie Renaud says other changes to the program have made it more difficult for some people.
“The government changed their policy so that people that have been getting it for let’s says 10 years or 5 years, now have to almost reapply for it every three months. When they reapply they have to show that there’s been a significant change in circumstances. It’s just not feasible so what’s happening is people have lost the supplement that was the difference between having a home and being homeless.”
Renaud says some of the biggest concerns they’ve heard from this are from people in rural Alberta.
“People are saying “I can’t stay in my community if I don’t have the additional shelter benefit or funding for food or transportation, I can’t stay” They’re contemplating significant moves because they have no options. I think it’s incredibly difficult for people that live in smaller communities.”
Renaud was our guest from the NDP on the Trending 55 Hot Seat this week, you can listen to the full conversation below.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
