Poverty: Older women face life on assistance

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Older women in St. Catherines facing life on social assistance:

She thought she was done with welfare.

A long time ago, she had dug herself out. Raised three girls on her own. Felt the sting of embarrassment for having to put items back at the grocery store checkout because her food voucher wasn’t enough to buy everything in the cart. Worked wherever she could. In a foundry grinding the rough edges off the plumbing parts. As a survey clerk in an office.

She put herself through college on social assistance. Then earned a social work degree by going to university part-time, working shifts at a full-time job, and then, returning home to be mom.

Even after she took sick leave from her job, then lost her benefits, she wasn’t beaten.

Read more HERE.