An Inside Look – Project Genesis

Learning, and being inspired to make a change

PG — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 21:30:00 +0000

Sandra, Outreach volunteer

“When you hear what other people have gone through, you can relate – it can help you, it can inspire you, it can motivate you.”

“I started volunteering at Project Genesis after receiving help concerning a problem with my landlord. I decided to volunteer with the Outreach program.

After becoming a volunteer, I started attending activities and workshops at Project Genesis, including one on welfare. At the discussion, two workers were explaining everything there is to know about how welfare works, how to apply, and some of the challenges faced by people who need to receive it. They talked about changes in the law, the Emploi-Québec program, and how these changes would affect people receiving welfare. A lot of people present shared their personal experience and troubles, what they’ve been through at the hands of the agents there and the program in general. It was a great learning experience. I don’t always follow the news, so for me to hear about the upcoming changes helped a lot to figure out what is going on and what is about to happen.

At the time of this event, I, myself was a recipient of welfare. I was in the process of looking for a job but I couldn’t find anything ,so it really shook me to my core to hear some of the horror stories because I felt like if ever my check was to get cut off, it would be impossible for me to take care of my family. As a single mother of 5 children, I felt like it was time for me to think of a plan B, and to act quickly. Since I wasn’t having luck in the job search department, i decided to take another route so I’m currently back in school, studying to become a medical secretary.

The highlight of the discussion was the many diverse testimonies of the participants. When you hear what other people have gone through, you can relate – it can help you, it can inspire you, it can motivate you. And for my part, it definitely gave me a big push and hopefully I will never need to go back to welfare. There’s a feeling of insecurity when you’re on it that I don’t need to feel anymore.”

Sandra, Outreach volunteer

Fighting poverty by fighting for social housing

PG — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 21:34:00 +0000

Kim, volunteer on Project Genesis’ Housing Rights and Anti-Poverty committees

“The most important way of fighting poverty is by fighting for housing.”

“When I first came to Project Genesis I had problems with housing. My building was sold and the new owner wanted to increase the rent by $20/month. Which maybe to her was a small amount but for me it was a big amount; at that time I had lost my job so I was already sacrificing a lot to pay the rent. When I lost my job I became a poor person. When I went to the CLE I was treated badly. That made me upset so I wanted to get involved in an organization that fights poverty.

When I worked, I realized that most of my salary went to pay rent. This is why for me, the most important thing is social housing. This motivates me to participate in supporting social housing, when I have time. If there’s no social housing, when people lose their jobs it’s very easy to become homeless.

Last year, I went to the FRAPRU Congress. Many different groups participated and helped me to know that many different kinds of people need social housing. The FRAPRU is very well organized and has done a lot to tell the government that social housing is important. Each group that attended had a chance to participate in the decisions. That’s democracy to me. With the FRAPRU, we get together to be a big group and that makes us stronger. We also got some outcomes this year – the federal government accepted to fund social housing (through the Accès-Logis program) for two years more. We’ll continue to fight for this and maybe after two years, they’ll continue the program.

The most important way of fighting poverty is by fighting for housing.”

Kim, volunteer on Project Genesis’ Housing Rights and Anti-Poverty committees

Perseverance and helping others

PG — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 21:32:00 +0000

Priscilla, Housing Rights Committee volunteer

“I am learning a lot and I am meeting a lot of different people. Seeing different things and learning makes a lot of difference in my life.”

At age 70, Priscilla came to Project Genesis for help with her Old Age Pension application. At the time, she was going to a temp agency every morning, but more often than not there was no work for her. The small amount she earned enabled her to buy a bus pass and contribute a bit to the household expenses of the friend who had taken her in. Priscilla’s pension application was challenging: it involved proving her years of Canadian residence and accounting for a period when she returned to her country of origin to care for her ailing mother. Priscilla made over ten visits to the Storefront in the course of completing the application, coming in each time she received a new document by mail.

“For my pension, we gave a lot of papers and they kept saying they want this and they want that. In the end everything worked out. I got my pension for the years that passed.” Now Priscilla is able to pay rent and only goes to work if she feels equal to it.

Through the Storefront, Priscilla attended a Social Housing Clinic and has joined the Housing Rights Committee. As a member of the committee, she says “I am learning a lot and I am meeting a lot of different people. Seeing different things and learning makes a lot of difference in my life.” She is enthusiastic about her involvement: “Lots of people need help….I like to help people. As long as we are alive, there is a lot to accomplish.”

Priscilla, Housing Rights Committee volunteer

Help with addressing financial difficulties

PG — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 21:26:00 +0000

Rodolfo, Storefront service user

“I am trying to survive with these struggles in my life and I am very thankful to Genesis for helping.”

HELP WITH ADDRESSING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

Rodolfo came through our doors for the first time in August 2015 because he had little income. At the time, he was working, cleaning a daycare for a couple of hours each evening, five evenings a week.

Aged 60, his declining health had led to his dismissal from his other job, and even the part-time work was a strain for him. He had come to Canada to be with his wife, but his marriage had collapsed. His earnings did not allow him to get his own place; he rented a partitioned-off space in an acquaintance’s apartment.

At the Storefront. Rodolfo got help applying for welfare, his Quebec pension and the Shelter Allowance. Although he knew that he did not feel well – that that he sometimes fell because of his poor balance – it was following a consultation with a neurologist arranged by Project Genesis that Rodlofo’s health problems were more fully diagnosed. He was also admitted to the Social Solidarity category of welfare, which provided him with better benefits. He was able to stop working, and is sharing the rent on an apartment with a friend.

In Rodolfo’s words:

“Where I am now, I am not feeling good. I have many problems: health problems, financial problems. I am old already, and I am alone. I am trying to survive with these struggles in my life and I am very thankful to Genesis for helping.”

“They are approachable. They help you and they are very kind.”

“They helped me with my problems in my life. After 10 years in Canada, I still don’t know about many things. Project Genesis gave me ideas. I opened my mind about life in Canada because of Genesis. Now I know about government policy because of them.”

Rodolfo, Storefront service user

Interested in more?

Donate to Project Genesis’ Anti-Poverty Work in Memory of John Kinloch

Get Involved

Donate to Project Genesis

Storefront

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How one good turn can lead to many others

PG — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 21:09:00 +0000

Judith, volunteer Storefront advisor

How far does the long arm of an original idea reach?
Who knows where it will stop?

DONATION: HOW ONE GOOD TURN CAN LEAD TO MANY OTHERS

“As a long-term Storefront volunteer at Project Genesis, I’m well aware of how the organization does so much with so little, to help so many people. So when my financial advisor, Ken Thorpe, pointed out that I had some securities investments that had done very well and that I might consider making a significant donation, I immediately thought of Project Genesis.

Fast forward to discussions with Michael Chervin, Project Genesis Executive Director, about how such a donation might be used and the resulting decision… half into creating a long-term fund, specific to Project Genesis, to which others could contribute over the years, and half to help meet immediate needs,the most pressing of which was to improve accessibility of the building.

But that was just the beginning, and things snowballed from there.

At around the same time, long-time Project Genesis supporter Vera Abramson died and her nephew David Abramson, along with her niece Lee-Anne Torrens, came forward with a desire to make a significant donation in Vera’s honour.

The end result… the two donations were combined to fund a newly-created formal goal of Project Genesis’ long-term sustainability within the organization’s Reserve Fund, with investments in socially responsible vehicles, which it is hoped will encourage further donation in the future.

Meanwhile on the short-term front…

As I continued to keep Ken posted on what was happening with my donation, he mentioned that an accountant colleague, Martin Cundall, was on the Board at Atwater Library and had been closely involved with renovations to that building. He suggested I put Michael in touch with Martin, which led to a meeting with Pierre Besner of Les Développements Abitec Ltée, the firm that had done the Atwater Library renovations. What happened next was almost too good to be true. Although Abitec normally undertook only much more major projects, Pierre put together a team of volunteer contractors and suppliers who offered to do the work required at no cost. He said this was his way of giving back to the community.

And it didn’t stop there…

One item on the wish list, but well outside the budget, was an automatic door for the Storefront to facilitate wheelchair access while minimizing heat loss. Thanks to Pierre’s speaking with one of his own clients, a donation from Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. was forthcoming in fairly short order to cover the cost of such a door.

So here we are today… already, the slope leading down to the Storefront is graced with a sturdy handrail to help those with limited mobility. The automatic door is installed and in daily use. And my original short-term donation, not yet touched, can be used for other items to help meet immediate needs.

How far does the long arm of an original idea reach?

Who knows where it will stop?

In one development… Ken and some colleagues host a series of fundraising concerts to benefit favourite charities.

As a result of connections established during the process described above, one of the charities chosen was Project Genesis. The concert to benefit Project Genesis was held in February 2015, where people enjoyed traditional Irish music and learned about the work of Project Genesis. Project Genesis received the net financial benefits of the concert, as well as donations from individuals who were inspired to give more.

Let’s hope the snowball continues to roll!”

Judith, volunteer Storefront advisor

Interested in more?

Donate to Project Genesis’ Anti-Poverty Work in Memory of John Kinloch

Get Involved

Donate to Project Genesis

Storefront

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Encouragement and support through a long process

PG — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 03:15:00 +0000

Estrelita, Storefront service user

“Some places try to discourage you when you ask for support, but at Project Genesis, you don’t feel judged; you feel welcomed. You can voice what is in your heart, and they listen, which is so nice.

At Project Genesis, they encourage you.”

ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THROUGH A LONG PROCESS

Sixty-two-year-old Estrelita came to Project Genesis because her health no longer permitted her to continue working as a caregiver. We informed her that as a widow, she was eligible for the Allowance for the Survivor. Although this was good news, it was only the beginning of a very long struggle for her to obtain this benefit. Obtaining and submitting the many documents required by Service Canada over the following months took her more than 20 visits to our offices. On one occasion, Estrelita felt utterly discouraged by the ongoing bureaucratic hurdles, despairing that she would ever obtain what she was entitled to. However, in June 2014, a beaming Estrelita came into the Storefront bearing thank-you cards for the advisors who had helped her. She finally received a full retroactive payment, and regular payments had begun.

In Estrelita’s words:

“I came to Project Genesis for help because of my friend. I was telling her that because of my health problems, it was getting harder for me to work. My friend told me that she had also had serious health problems which meant she would have to stop working and have surgery. She had gone to Project Genesis to see if there was anything she could do. Project Genesis had helped her apply for government benefits, so that she would have money to live on while she recovered from surgery and wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to work. She told me I should go to Project Genesis to see if they could help me too.

Sometimes, as an immigrant to this country, you feel insecure about asking for help. How will people treat you and what will they think? We try our best to work hard, so when something happens and you need help, it’s not easy. Some places try to discourage you when you ask for support, but at Project Genesis, you don’t feel judged; you feel welcomed. You can voice what is in your heart, and they listen, which is so nice. At Project Genesis, they encourage you.

Project Genesis helped me apply for my pension. They did so much for me – they did everything! The application process took such a long time. It was very stressful. The government kept on asking me to fill more and more questionnaires about my situation and my history. I didn’t have anything to hide – I would answer their questions but they kept sending me more things to fill out. I wasn’t sure when it would end and what the result would be. Sometimes my mood was so low, I just felt like giving up. Even my daughter saw how stressful it was for me, and wondered if it was worth it for me to continue the process. Three times I almost decided to give up, but Project Genesis encouraged me to keep going. When you’re down and somebody is there to help you and give you moral support, that’s a very good feeling that money cannot buy.

The whole process ended up taking about nine months, but in the end, I received my pension! I will never forget Project Genesis’ encouragement and their help!”

Estrelita, Storefront service user

Interested in more?

Donate to Project Genesis’ Anti-Poverty Work in Memory of John Kinloch

Get Involved

Donate to Project Genesis

Storefront

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People living in poverty speaking out

PG — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 17:41:20 +0000

Susan, Anti-Poverty Committee volunteer

“That is how people’s lives are saved – when they find out where in the community they can get help.”

“I was motivated to participate in Project Genesis by the help I was given in the Storefront. I wanted to participate in this amazing organisation, and so I became involved in the Anti-Poverty and Housing committees.

Last fall, we participated in putting together a photo exhibition which highlighted the realities of life for people living in poverty and receiving welfare.

The photos gave us an opportunity to discuss welfare and poverty issues. One photo that really struck me was the one of a lady opening her refrigerator door at the end or middle of the month. Her fridge was almost empty of food. It showed that welfare is drastically too low for people’s basic living needs. My own personal favourite photo showed a pair of running shoes lying by themselves on someone’s front steps. It illustrated for me all the miles I walk every month because I cannot afford enough bus tickets to commute to my various volunteer jobs. I wear out many pairs of shoes. It was a very poignant illustration for me of how so many people cannot afford public transportation, much less lots of different fancy shoes.

One of the places we exhibited the photos was at the NDG Food Depot. I loved showing people the photos and seeing how they interacted with the images. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with food bank clients and to realize that I was telling someone something new about help they could get in the community at Project Genesis.

That is how people’s lives are saved – when they find out where in the community they can get help. It makes a really big difference, helping people to survive in very stressful situations while living in poverty.

Having the photos at the food bank let people know that they have a voice in the community, because the exhibition itself was created by people living in poverty.”

Susan, Anti-Poverty Committee volunteer

Quiz: How well do you know Project Genesis’ Storefront?

PG — Tue, 05 May 2015 21:16:55 +0000

May 2015

Have you used the services of the Storefront? Are you a current or past volunteer or intern? How well can you answer questions related to what goes on in the Storefront?*

Give our quiz a try and see how you score!

QUESTION 1:

Besides staff, individual services are provided by volunteer advisors, receptionists, students, and interns, all of whom are closely supervised by staff.

How many volunteers, students and interns provided services at the Storefront and for Home Advocacy Services last year?

a) 40

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) 50

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

c) 60

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

d) 70

CORRECT!
An amazing 70 people, including 56 volunteers and 14 students and interns, gave of their time in the Storefront! Are you interested in being one of them? Click here for more on our volunteer opportunities.

QUESTION 2:

Last year, the number of in-person and follow-up interventions provided by staff, volunteers, students, and interns in the Storefront was…

a) Under 5000

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) 5000 - 7000

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

c) 7000 - 9000

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

d) Over 9000

CORRECT!
In fact, we had over 9,200 in-person and follow-up interventions!

QUESTION 3:

Name the 6 languages besides English and French which were used by staff and volunteers during Storefront interventions last year:

S __ __ __ __ __ __

Click for answer

Spanish

R __ __ __ __ __ __

Click for answer

Russian

H __ __ __ __

Click for answer

Hindi

U __ __ __

Click for answer

Urdu

M __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Click for answer

Mandarin

G __ __ __ __ __

Click for answer

Gujrati

QUESTION 4:

Each year, we see people in the Storefront who were born in all parts of the world. Last year, we saw service users from 129 places of origin. Which of the following countries was NOT among these 129?

a) Madagascar

Sorry, incorrect. We did have service users last year from Madagascar. Try again!

b) Montserrat

Sorry, incorrect. We did have service users last year from Montserrat. Try again!

c) Mozambique

CORRECT!
We did not have any service users last year from Mozambique. The full list of places of origin of service users last year (in alphabetical order) is: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldavia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venzuela, and Vietnam

d) Mauritius

Sorry, incorrect. We did have service users last year from Mauritius. Try again!

QUESTION 5:

Besides the weekend, there is one day of the week that the Storefront is always closed to the public. Which day is it?

a) Tuesday

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) Wednesday

CORRECT!
Our opening hours vary throughout the week; click here for our complete hours.

c) Thursday

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

d) Friday

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

QUESTION 6:

In the Storefront, we provide information and follow-up within specific areas of intervention.

The area for which we provided the most number of in-person and follow-up interventions last year was:

a) Housing

CORRECT!
Housing accounted for 43% of our interventions. Of these, the majority were for repairs and problems in people’s dwellings, followed by rent increases and evictions.

b) Welfare

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

c) Pensions

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

d) Financial issues

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

QUESTION 7:

Last year, 23% of our Storefront interventions were related to welfare, with most of these related to checking eligibility and applying for benefits.

In 2015, for a single person without children, employment limitations or health issues, how much is the basic monthly welfare amount?.

a) $515/month

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) $616/month

CORRECT!
This is the entire amount, and is meant to cover rent, food, clothing, transportation and other expenses for the entire month.

c) $717/month

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

d) $818/month

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

Click the image to read about a welfare problem we helped with:SORTING OUT WELFARE WOES

QUESTION 8:

Last year, 14% of our Storefront interventions were related to pensions.

.TRUE OR FALSE:

A person who has no other source of income is entitled to Old Age Security benefits (commonly referred to as Old Age pension) at the age of 65.

a) True

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) False

CORRECT!
Eligiblity for Old Age Security is based on age as well as other factors, such as years of residency in Canada. Some people may not be eligible, even if they are 65 years old and without other sources of income. However, they may be eligible for welfare or other benefits. The federal government is also gradually increasing the eligible age for OAS to 67 years as of 2023.

Click the image to read about a pension problem we helped with:NEGOTIATING BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS

QUESTION 9:

One of the benefits we help people apply for is Shelter Allowance.

As of October 2015, what is the minimum age for a single person without children to potentially be eligible for Shelter Allowance?

a) 18 years old

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) 21 years old

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

c) 50 years old

CORRECT! 50 years old as of October 2015.
There are other eligibility requirements based on income, assets, and monthly housing expenses. The maximum possible amount of the benefit is $80/month.

d) 65 years old

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

QUESTION 10:

How many advisor stations are in the Storefront?

a) 4

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

b) 5

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

c) 6

CORRECT!
There are 5 cubicles and one additional open station (shown in the photo), for a total of 6 advisor stations in the Storefront.

d) 7

Sorry, incorrect. Try again!

HOW DID YOU DO?

10 correct answers:

Congratulations! You have an excellent knowledge of the Storefront and Project Genesis’ work!

7-9 correct answers:

Good job! You definitely know your way around the Storefront and have a strong knowledge of the work we do!

5-7 correct answers:

Well done! You have a good basic knowledge of the Storefront, with room to learn the specific details.

Less than 5 correct answers:

You’ve started learning about the Storefront and what goes on there – keep up the good work!

THANKS FOR PLAYING ALONG!

* Storefront statistics based on fiscal year ending in May 2014.

Offering services for those with limited mobility

PG — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:02:16 +0000

Djamel, Home Advocacy Services volunteer

“(Our work) helps service users avoid delays or problems with (various programs) and receiving their benefits.”

“I’ve been volunteering at Project Genesis for more than ten years, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many other volunteers, both those at the Storefront as well as those involved in community advocacy work. Each one of them, through their various roles, is here for one common reason, the reason Project Genesis was founded in 1977: to help.

I’ve always volunteered as an advisor in the Storefront. This year, the coordinator of the Home Advocacy Services (HAS) program offered me the opportunity to take on a new challenge by participating in the government’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). This meant that after being trained, I would be able to collect HAS service users’ information and prepare their income taxes at Project Genesis.

By having the required information and submitting their income tax returns on time, we can update HAS service users’ files for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Low-Cost Housing applications, or family allowances. This helps service users avoid delays or problems with these programs and receiving their benefits. As always, our HAS users obtain our services at their homes, free of charge.

I’m grateful for the opportunity that Project Genesis provided me taking on a new challenge and learning new skills. I sincerely hope that my contribution was beneficial to our service users as well!”

Djamel, Individual Services volunteer

Interested in more?

Donate to Project Genesis’ Anti-Poverty Work in Memory of John Kinloch

Get Involved

Donate to Project Genesis

Home Advocacy Services (HAS)

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The Storefront: Sorting out welfare woes

PG — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:11:38 +0000

Storefront staff reviewing a file

When Ms. B.’s monthly welfare cheque was somewhat mysteriously cut by over $400, she was referred to Project Genesis by a friend.

When Ms. B.’s monthly welfare cheque was somewhat mysteriously cut by over $400, she was referred to Project Genesis by a friend.

After reading the rather cryptic letter of explanation, the Storefront advisor who met with her explained that her cheque was being cut because it was considered that Ms. B. was benefiting from income from a rooming-house operation. Not only that, Ms. B. was facing a large debt because she had neglected to declare the income from roomers for some time.

In fact, Ms. B. lived in an apartment with her four grown daughters, her son-in-law and two grandchildren. Two of her daughters were in full-time studies, one was on sick leave, and the other cared for her two pre-schoolers while her husband worked.

Contesting this debt and eliminating the deductions required researching the relevant sections of the welfare law, regulations, and interpretation manual. The advisor requested a floor plan of the apartment, and one of Ms. B.’s daughters did one, to scale, and with precise measurements. When the staff person on duty saw the plan, she suggested to Ms. B. that this daughter might be interested in volunteering at Project Genesis.

Eventually, two of Ms. B.’s daughters became volunteer receptionists. Following the Storefront interventions, Ms. B.’s cheque was restored to its full amount and the debt was cancelled. In addition, the advisor suggested to Ms. B., who uses a mobility aid, that her cheque might be increased if she submitted a medical report. In the end, Ms. B. ended up with a higher monthly income, and Project Genesis gained two volunteers!