Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Director of Social Planning

SUBJECT:

Emergency Community Services Grant to the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

On April 23, 2002, City Council established an allocation of $9,504 in the Community Services Grants budget for "emergencies and unforeseen circumstances".

Approval of a grant requires 8 affirmative votes.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval of an emergency grant for the B.C. Coalition of People With Disabilities to deal with a short-term crisis being faced by a significant number of people with disabilities.

BACKGROUND

In April 2002, the Provincial Government introduced the Employment and Assistance Act for Persons With Disabilities. This Act became effective on September 30, 2002. The Act defines what levels of income and benefit assistance are available for several categories of people with disabilities.

Previously, there were two categories of disability assistance - DB1 and DB2. DB1 was intended for those with temporary or short-term disabilities, while DB2 generally refers to people with long-term or permanent disabilities. Most people in the DB1 category have subsequently been moved into the new Persons With Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) category. Approximately 1,500 people in Vancouver were affected by this change.

People with the DB2 designation are being reviewed to see if they fit within the new category called "Persons With Disabilities" (PWD). The Ministry had enough information on file for approximately 60% of the DB2 clients to be able to conduct this review; for the others, they have mailed out in October, a 23-page questionnaire that must be completed by the client, a doctor, and a registered professional. This form must be completed by January 15, 2003. Following a decision on eligibility, clients have the right to appeal. The form has been mailed out to approximately 4,500 Vancouver residents currently in the DB2 category. If the form is not completed in time, or if it shows that the person is not eligible under the new PWD criteria, the person will be reclassified to PPMB, their income assistance will be reduced from $786 to $510 per month, and they will lose their extended medical, bus pass and basic dental coverage.

DISCUSSION

The BC Coalition of People With Disabilities (BCCPD) is an umbrella organization of groups and individuals that works to assist and bring about improvements for people with disabilities. Activities include publication of a magazine, self-help workshops, lobbying, public awareness campaigns and one-to-one advocacy and support.

Ever since the DB2 questionnaires were mailed out, there has been a steadily increasing number of people coming into the BCCPD offices seeking assistance. In anticipation of the need for help, the Coalition prepared a self-help kit and checklist that they are giving out to everyone who comes in or calls for assistance. They also conducted training sessions for the mental health teams and a number of community organizations, such as the Western Institute of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Gathering Place and the Roundhouse CommunityCentre. They established a web site to assist doctors and the assessors in filing out the forms. They currently run workshops for 20-25 DB2 clients three times a week. This is where the real problem arises.

Out of each workshop, 3-5 people come forward who simply cannot fill out the form on their own for a number of reasons, including basic illiteracy, ESL, mental health problems (particularly anxiety disorders and paranoia), an inability to use their hand to write, or they don't want to ask a neighbour to help them fill out very personal information on a government form. A minimum of one hour per client is needed to get the first part of the form filled out and to make the connections with a doctor and registered professional to complete the remainder of it. As the January 15 deadline gets closer, the number of people coming to the workshops has been increasing to the point where they will soon be held every day; and the number of people coming out of the workshops needing extra help is also increasing.

Until now, the BCCPD has been dealing with the situation by reallocating staff work, although the re-assignment of one-on-one advocacy work to administrative staff has not been very effective or efficient. Also, increasing numbers of clients are becoming extremely emotional about the situation, and the BCCPD administrative staff are not trained or experienced in dealing with these kinds of situations.

Consequently, the BCCPD has written to Social Planning asking for an emergency Community Services Grant that will enable them to hire qualified staff to help people through the process.

The BCCPD has estimated that they will need the equivalent of 3.5 person/months in the advocate position, at a total cost of approximately $13,000. Because only half of the people needing assistance in this matter are Vancouver residents the Coalition is seeking Vancouver City assistance for half the cost. They will pay for the remainder of this work through fund-raising and re-adjustment of existing budget line items.

The BCCPD received a Community Services Grant of $23,452 earlier this year to help fund the core staff positions of the organization. When Council approved the Community Services Grants, they also established an allocation of $9,504 to be used for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. Staff feel that this situation being faced by the BCCPD and Vancouver residents with disabilities meets that criteria for accessing this allocation.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The source of funds for the recommended grant of $6,500 is the "Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances" allocation within the Community Services Grants budget. The unallocated balance, after this grant to BCCPD, would be $3,004.

CONCLUSION

More than 4,500 Vancouver residents with disabilities are having their eligibility for Provincial assistance re-assessed. Many are having major problems in filling out the assessment forms. The BCCPD has been trying to help them, but doesn't have the resources to meet the need. Therefore, we are recommending a Community Services grant of $6,500 to the BCCPD to hire staff to help get through this difficult time.

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