#raisetherates

B.C. raised disability payments rates last year for the first time in a decade. But that translates only in a meager $11 per month for Teresa McKerracher, who struggles to make ends meet on disability allowances.

Disability recipients in B.C. get $11,796 annually, which puts the province roughly in the middle in Canada for these payments.

But when measured against B.C.’s high cost of living, some economists and researchers say, those on disability here are disproportionately poor. One report, by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, says B.C.’s disability payments need to nearly double to reach the bare minimum required to lift people out of poverty.

#RaiseTheRates

Continue reading article.

Here are a few of the statistics charts from the article:

Disability payments versus poverty line, by province. In all provinces, disability annual income is well below the 2015 poverty line. In BC, disability annual income was $11,416 while the poverty line was $20,386. That means there is a 44% shortfall of $8970 per year. Since then payments have increased $11 to $77 per month, depending on whether the recipient buys a transit pass or transportation subsidy.

Buying life's essentials on disability in Canada's major cities.

In BC, only 58.7% of necessities is covered by disability payments.

                                                                                                February 14th ,2018

Overall, I insist that my Welfare Food Challenge was a positive experience. I believe I have successfully experienced how those living on social programs must shop and prepare meals throughout the week, in order to keep within the limits of their strict budget. At first, I thought shopping was the stressful part of this challenge, but this week proved to me that the budgeting while shopping was the least complicated aspect of this challenge. Coming up with a variety of meals from a restricted ingredient list is a pretty difficult task. Flavour really lacks when on a budget this strict.  Its important to find foods that have natural flavours so that budgeting in seasoning is not necessary. Throughout the week I had variations of the same meal for almost all of my lunches and suppers. Another difficult task was finding the time in my schedule to not only meal prep but also come up with a blog posting, reflecting on each day of the challenge. Without discount programs stores provide on fresh items when they are close to their sell by dates; I would not have had the funds to buy as much food as I did. With this being said what I was able to buy just barely enough to last me through the week. My fresh foods also had a hard time making it though the week without going rotten. Eating spoiled foods is rather unpleasant but I would imagine many people on social assistance have to make the decision to eat foods that have gone bad or go hungry. My challenge was a quick a glimpse of only one aspect of life for those living below the poverty line. I can tell you first hand, this is not an easy way to live.

Raise The Rates - http://raisetherates.ca/

Cumulatively this challenge has taught me a lot over the last week. This was a great learning experience for me and it was very eye opening to live the reality those relying on welfare cheques face each day.  The amount of questions I was asked during this challenge about what exactly it was I was doing and why I was doing it was surprising. I didn’t think so many people knew so little about the social programs available to those in need. Talking to my friend’s father about my challenge surfaced the fact that he had a negative opinion towards social assistance. He believed those living on social programs were scamming the government out of tax payer’s dollars, but after we looked into how much social assistance checks really are and I explained to him just how low the average food budget was; I believe he had a much better understanding. I may not have changed his personal opinion fully but I think he now has a better idea of what those living off welfare really deal with. On top of social assistance programs there are food banks in just about every city in Canada that are there providing help to people in times of need; when they have nowhere else to turn for support. Canada offers many different types of social programs that cater to each individual’s needs. Help is out there its just up to the individual to explore their options.

Welfare Food Challenge - https://welfarefoodchallenge.org/about/ 

If nothing else, talking about the Welfare Food Challenge and what the reality is that those living on social assistance face, helps to raise awareness as to just how limited their funds are even with the support of welfare. I believe that social programming needs to see a raise in its rates sooner, rather than later. Although an individual may be able to fill their stomach for a week off $21, it is not possible to meet one’s nutritional needs within this budget. People living off welfare rates sacrifice their nutrition on a daily basis to eat foods that will keep them from going hungry, but these foods do not necessarily provide significant nutritional value; a good example of this is rice. Community support, from businesses and individuals is essential in order to maintain the quantity of food items required as there are so many in need. I will donate to the food bank each time I grocery shop from now on, if everyone does a little it will help.  I believe that the government officials who set social program rates should have to try this challenge before the standards are implemented on the public population; to gain a more educated perspective on the situations those living under the poverty line encounter on a daily basis.

Food Banks Canada - https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/About-Us.aspx 

 Awareness is crucial to the prosperity of these types of organizations. This is why Raise the Rates has come up with the Welfare Food Challenge to bring awareness to the community about the struggles faced by those living on social programs.

*Included below the photos shown I have provided the links to each of the websites for these organizations and their projects.* 

                                                                                                February 13th, 2018

It’s the end of my seventh final day! I made it through The Welfare Food Challenge! It was a tough week but I learnt a lot, saved some money and tried a new food. I can’t say I loved all the meals I made this week, but I am happy with the different ideas I came up with like my lentil, broccoli and cauliflower soup/sauce. I know I’m supposed to be positive but this challenge really wasn’t the most fun I am very glad that I get to start going out with my friends again and add a little more flavour to my food. Today I finished off my fresh foods. I think I rationed my food –besides the broccoli and cauliflower— really well. I still had enough to last myself through today and I won’t be stuck with many leftovers at all. It is pretty nice not throwing out any produce that has gone bad over the week since I only bought what I would eat.

 For breakfast I had a banana and apple smoothie again. I guess I should have eaten my half an apple yesterday because this morning it had some mold growing on the seeds. It kind of grossed me out so I cut it up and threw it in my smoothie with my last mushy banana.

I was home for lunch today so I made myself 2 scrambled eggs. I passed on the chicken this time to save it for supper.

At supper I had a rice bowl with lentils, 2 carrots, and 1/3 of a chicken breast. My carrots were pretty limp so I stuck them in cold water but it didn’t do much. Thankfully I didn’t mind since I steamed them anyway.

My final snack during this challenge is my last pieces of chocolate. I’m glad I saved them because they’re almost like a reward for this week’s work.

                                                                                                February 12th, 2018

I am down to the last of my fresh foods. I probably should have rationed my veggies out throughout the week instead of just using small amounts because even though I didn’t use lots very often I went through it rather quickly.  I’ve divvied up everything I have left between today and tomorrow's meals. The next two days meals are going to be pretty simple. At this point I will have to eat a plain bowl of rice if I get hungry, but ill manage only one more day and ill have flavour introduced back into my life!

Breakfast today is an apple I figured I should probably save my eggs for larger meals like lunch and supper since there aren’t too many left.

My snack was a banana. It was a bit browner than when I left the house since it got cold on my way to school this morning. I was able to salvage the majority of it but I did end up throwing some chunks out because I couldn’t do the texture.

At lunch I had a rice bowl, today’s bowl was topped with lentils, 1/2 a chicken breast and 1 carrot. I have decided to use the last of my lentil soup in this bowl. I was debating if I should save it for tomorrow but it’ll be my last day. I can suffer through one more dry rice bowl the day before I get to enjoy my favourite foods again.

For supper I made an omelet with two eggs and 1/3 of a chicken breast. I’ve really been enjoying eggs through this challenge and I think I’m going to start eating them more often from now on. They’re just so quick and easy to make!

My chocolate made it till the last two days of my challenge!! I’ve got to admit I’m amazed I didn’t have it earlier in the week. I was worried I would eat it too early on in the challenge and end up regretting it later, but I was smart. I stuck it underneath the container holding my chicken breast so it would be out of sight out of mind for the majority of the week. Today I enjoyed half of my kinder bar while saving the other half for tomorrow.

                                                                                               February 11th, 2018

Today I’m feeling a bit better, I woke up and thankfully my headache had gone away over night. It was a weird experience being at a friend’s house eating my own food. She kept laughing at me when I was eating my veggies during our movie since she was munching on chips. I did also eat one of my hard-boiled eggs as a snack last night. It was hard not to accept when they offered supper, but once I explained to her parents what I was doing they understood.

This afternoon a friend I hadn’t seen in a while came to pick me up to hangout for a bit and when I hopped into her car what did she have waiting for me? A coffee; not just any coffee, but a half coffee, half french vanilla. As sad as I am to say it. I couldn’t turn it down this time. I broke. Do you know how hard it is to turn down a drink that you’ve been craving for days, when it’s bought especially for you? There wasn’t even another friend with us that I could pawn it off on. So, I drank it. I do feel a bit guilty, but It was from Tim’s and she is a Starbucks girl so, it did cost less than usual. That’s gotta count for something right?

Before I left my friends house I had my leftover hard-boiled egg. I went home an hour or so later and decided to make a smoothie. For this I used 1/2 an apple, 1 banana, some ice and a little water to help it blend. One of my bananas was pretty brown so I figured a smoothie was the way to go.

My lunch today was 1/2 of a chicken breast, 1 steamed carrot and a bowl of rice. I decided to skip the lentils for this meal.

For my afternoon snack today, I decided I would make another hard-boiled egg. I’m running low on veggies and I already used my fruits for today in my smoothie so, this will have to hold me over until supper.

Here’s the coffee my friend bought me. It was my first cup from this years roll up the rim season. I didn’t win, but it was still exciting to flip the rim and see. I was kind of hoping I’d win a free coffee to cancel this one out but it didn’t turn out that way. Two dollars over budget isn’t that bad right?

For supper I had a rice bowl made up mainly of rice and lentils. I only had enough lentil soup for 2 more rice bowls so, I decided to use some tonight and leave a little for one of my dishes in the next two days. I topped it off with 1/3 of a chicken breast and the last of my broccoli and cauliflower. Thankfully I didn’t eat all the veggies I brought as a snack last night so I had some for dinner today.

I now have two days left in my Welfare Food Challenge and I am down to: 1 1/2 chicken breasts, 3 carrots, 1 1/2 apples, 2 bananas, 4 eggs, a couple scoops of lentil soup, 1/2 a bag of lentils, just less than 1/2 a bag of rice and my kinder bar. I almost brought my candy bar last night but I didn’t because I know it will come in handy at some point in the next two days. I am very thankful for my coffee today its nice to see how much joy people get out of giving and helping others. People love to pay it forward and make thing easier on other individuals. I think its just a human instinct to help those in need.

Food is more expensive and goes faster than you’d expect it to. Everyone goes through hard times some more difficult than others. There’s times when people need help. Not everyone can afford to replace the food that goes spoiled or even afford to buy food to begin with. Most cities have organizations willing to help those who run into situations like these. Red Deer has organizations like, The Red Deer Food Bank and The Mustard Seed, that work to help those who are less fortunate get some of the basic necessities they need on a daily basis. —Links to these organization’s websites can be found at the end of the post.— The food bank provides hampers to families who cannot afford to feed themselves, while the mustard seed is set up to provide the homeless population of red deer with a hot meal and a safe place to stay out of the cold. Do you donate to your local food bank? If you haven't before, you should give it a try. Your donation won't go to waste and you will be making someone very happy. Also, if you or someone you know is in need of some assistance from these kinds of organizations, don’t be afraid to seek support and suggest them to others in need. The organizations in your area are there to help.

Website links:

The Red Deer Food Bank- http://www.reddeerfoodbank.com/

                                                                                                February 10th, 2018

I’m beginning to notice the effect this challenge is having on my mood. I’m finding that I’m more irritable than normal and I’ve been experiencing some stomach problems and headaches too. This challenge has helped me increase my water intake so I’m assuming the headaches are from stress and not from dehydration. Between lectures, assignments, this blog and my household responsibilities, it has been difficult to get everything done.

I haven’t had much of an appetite the last couple days. I think this may not only be from the bland flavours, but also from of my stomach aches. I’m not usually a big rice eater, unless it’s seasoned and I had never tried lentils before this challenge; so, I’m assuming one of those is the cause of my tummy troubles. I’m staying at a friend’s place tonight and I didn’t want to find myself tempted by their meal. I figured if I brought enough of my own food I may make it through the evening with out cheating by having some of theirs. I pre-packed my lunch, supper snacks and breakfast and was on my way.

Before heading out today I ate a banana for breakfast I woke up late and didn’t have time for an egg but that was alright since I had two of them for supper last night. As you can see they're getting pretty ripe this one broke open when i took it off the bundle this morning.

For lunch I made myself a rice bowl with lentils, 1/3 a chicken breast and some steamed broccoli and cauliflower. It’s the same lunch I made on the first day of the challenge but this time I added steamed carrots.

For my snacks I brought a bit of everything; an apple, a baggie of veggies and 2 hardboiled eggs. I plan on saving the eggs for breakfast tomorrow, but they will come in handy tonight if I get hungry while my friend’s having her snacks.

For supper I had another bowl of my lentil soup.  I wanted it to have a bit more to it so I thought I’d make it into loaded lentil soup. For this I added some rice, 1/3 of a chicken breast and steamed veggies to bulk it up a bit. It didn’t compare to the spaghetti my friend had but it filled me up.

One year away from blogging and I decided to open my account back up to keep me accountable for the 5th Annual Welfare Food Challenge, a challenge to get us privileged folks thinking about what it really feels like to survive on $18/week for food.

The Challenge will start on World Food Day, Sunday October 16, 2016and run for a full 7 days. Due to the rising cost of rent, even for single room…