Share Your Story -- How Are Cuts to the Community Start-Up Affecting You?

The Community
Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) was cut in the provincial budget
resulting in a funding shortfall of $7,214,797 for the City of Hamilton.

We want to hear your stories about how
funding cuts to CSUMB will affect you and your family or your stories about
what would have happened if you had not had access to CSUMB in the past. 

This benefit is commonly used for:

- Last month's
rent (rent deposit and/or utility deposit)
- Purchase of household items/appliances (fridge, stove, cleaning
supplies)
- Payment of rent arrears (to prevent eviction)
- Expenses related to bed bugs
- Moving expenses

Who Needs
CSUMB?

- 5,148 cases
filed in Hamilton annually
- Utilizing CSUMB is commonly used for relocation for health &
safety reasons
- 58% was issued to single persons
- 42% was issued to families
- The city does not keep statistics on the #of women, seniors, etc.

Bottom Line:

Without CSUMB
individuals and families on social assistance will have a much more difficult
time obtaining or maintaining housing. Social assistance rates are so low that
it becomes impossible for individuals in receipt of benefits to save money for emergency
circumstances. We are concerned that homelessness will significantly increase
in Hamilton as a result of this policy decision. Further, we fear that women
and children facing domestic violence will not have the means to relocate to
safer accommodations.

Share your story below.
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