Dear [first name],

City Council’s lukewarm support of the Hardship Fund jeopardized the health of some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents – we need your help to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

As reported earlier this week, in spite of Council’s decision back in January –made under intense pressure from residents like you - to save the Hardship Fund, City staff cancelled it, leaving many destitute seniors with nowhere to turn .

Thankfully, the harsh glare of media attention has produced a short term fix with The Toronto Star reporting this morning that the Hardship Fund will continue to provide emergency medical aid to the poorest of the poor among us – mostly seniors who don’t have two nickels to rub together.

But this bureaucratic mix-up points to a longer term problem that must be fixed.

City Council’s support for the Hardship Fund is only half hearted.

In fact, back in January Council approved the Hardship Fund’s budget just until the end of June, instructing staff to scrounge the rest of the funds needed for 2012 from other operations, and only if the Ontario government refused to step in with provincial funding.

This means that the Hardship Fund will be in jeopardy by the end of this year. We can expect to read stories of desperate senior citizens with nowhere to turn again if the Hardship Fund remains unfunded.

We’ve got to act to make ensure a long future for a strong Hardship Fund.

I invite you to sign a petition to urge immediate action at City Hall to provide the Hardship Fund with permanent funding in the next budget.

When you sign the petition a message will automatically be sent from you to your City Councillor. Please take action immediately.

Sincerely,

John Campey
Executive Director Social Planning Toronto

¹ http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1231904--toronto-city-staff-kill-hardship-fund-that-covers-medical-expenses-for-the-needy