Housing Charge Assistance Renewal

Our letter to the Office Co-ordinator & Board of Directors:

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Enclosed please find our Housing Charge Assistance Renewal Application, Family Composition & Income Verification Housing Charge Supplement and Service Canada documents regarding our income.

I would like to point out the following:

1. A question on the Family Composition & Income Verification Housing Charge Supplement asks whether the member has over $2,000.00 in their bank account. If we had more than $2,000.00 in our bank account, would we be denied a subsidy? If so, and here is the crucial point, what is the legislation governing your demand? How would you know if we had over $2,000.00 in our bank account? We’re certainly not giving you permission to peer into our bank account.

2. You have failed once again to provide members requiring a subsidy a list of Exemptions - money NOT TO BE INCLUDED as income. This knowledge is vital for subsidized members to secure their rights.

3. ‘Social Assistance Recipients must submit copies of FBA/GWA Profile (Benefits Statement) and dental/medical cards as they indicate the number of household residents’. Family Benefits was disbanded in 1998. The drug card does NOT indicate how many people are in the household. All the drug card does is indicate how many people are on the drug card. When a child turns 18 yrs. old, they no longer receive a drug card, but can remain on the benefit unit. Please update the co-op’s forms as previously requested by our lawyer.

4. Members on ODSP/OW are paying over 50% of their income for their housing charge. This does not include their utilities. We are now in receipt of OAS, receive approximately $600.00 more each month, and we pay less in housing charges.*

Please provide us with a copy of the legislation you are using to administer housing charge assistance.

Yours truly,

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* The co-op is deliberately pilfering the pockets of those on ODSP/OW. If the member falls into arrears, social services will pick up the tab - no questions asked. A perfect scam!