Richard talks about poverty and hope

Richard receives disability benefits through British Columbia's welfare program. Disability benefits are very low (less than $1000 a month in a city where the average one bedroom apartment costs that much). Richard lived on the streets for many years while he waited to get into social housing -- he moved into his own home just a few months after this video was made.
This video is part of a slideshow about welfare (or social assistance) and poverty in British Columbia, Canada. Watch the full slideshow here: http://vimeo.com/channels/welfare.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• poverty
• welfare
• homeless
• homelessness
• vancouver
• canada
• british columbia
• disability
• economics
• economic
• recession
• downturn
• assistance
• jobs
• end poverty
• economy

[bimmjim]

I am also on PWD in B. C. Here in Sechelt BC the welfare office does not treat all the PWDs equally. I can't get a clothing allowance. I can't get my teeth fixed. I don't have a doctor. I get only the $906/month. My shelter costs are 55% of my income. I live in an old travel trailer that is in bad shape. I try to fix it myself but my disability (CMT) makes this very difficult. Over the last 12 years we have seen our income drop way down relative to inflation. PWD in Alberta get $300 more/mon.

[ederoose]

thank u for sharing your story. u are right many do not want to admit they live homeless or on welfare or disability. I also am on disability here in Alberta, and we have the very same issues here, except Albertans just don't want to talk about it??? let alone make videos, so the many not realize we have a problems here also. so again thank u . and have a great week . ok.



[Ilkamy]

Thanks for the great words by a affected person! Bravo!

The situation is everywhere the same... people who have to live on welfare are treated without dignity! This will only end when we overcome the injustice system of capitalism!

One world - one fight for equal social rights for everybody - EVERYWHERE!

Kind regards and solidarity by "European marches against unemployment, insecure jobs and exclusion"!

[malkoDOTcom]

thank you for this video :) in hope that all Canadians will be humans one day.