Nancy Figueroa Writes

If Ontario Premier Doug Ford had a disabled adult child living on social assistance, would he understand the dire need to make changes to the system? The maximum one can make on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is $1,168 a month. How can anyone survive on this when the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto is $2,020? Not to mention the additional costs of food, public transit, phone, clothes and other necessities. The rule of thumb used to be that accommodation should not exceed 30 percent of one's salary. That would mean someone on ODSP shouldn't spend more than $350 a month on rent. Does Doug know this? Those I know on ODSP try their hardest to get part time employment to supplement their income. It's not easy. Many disabled are underemployed and have increased roadblocks to employment. They should be rewarded for putting themselves out there, but instead the government penalizes them. If an ODSP recipient is fortunate enough to find part ...