Homelessness and hunger tell the truth about welfare

While the B.C. government justifies its cuts to welfare as promoting self sufficiency and a stronger work ethic, UVic history professor Dr. Lynne Marks says changes to income assistance hurt the poor and are motivated by budget cuts. “The government keeps on saying that its welfare policies are not hurting people, that they are getting them back to work,” says Marks. “But in reality, the province’s draconian policies are forcing people to look through garbage and turn to crime just to survive.” Marks’ research on this topic is contained in Promoting Self-Reliance and Employment or Increasing Hunger and Misery? B.C. Welfare Reforms, a report card that is partially based on a recent survey of social agencies in Victoria, and published by Friends of Women & Children in BC. It is available online at www.wmst.ubc.ca/FWCBCAug03.pdf

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