HCF funds the YOUth Create after-school program in the McQuesten neighbourhood. Its focus is on fitness, nutrition, health, well-being and the arts. Read about their activities in Canadian Cyclist magazine.
Grants
Great Grant Stories
Joan Coulter is one of 60 volunteers who have
assisted other seniors to understand and gain
access to income support to which they are
entitled. This Hamilton Council on Aging program
is supported by Tackling Poverty Together.
Seniors helping seniors
Hundreds of low-income seniors have more to live on each month, thanks to the volunteer work of other seniors.
Supported by a Tackling Poverty Together grant from HCF to the Hamilton Council on Aging (which itself was launched in 2006 with HCF donor support), senior volunteers are now helping other seniors understand their entitlements and then apply for various kinds of income support – most notably the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
The peer support model is a proven “best practice” that achieves two benefits: seniors improve their financial situation and others become more engaged through volunteering.
All seniors below a certain annual income (currently about $21,600 for single pensioners and about $26,900 for couples) are entitled to the GIS, in addition to their Old Age Security pension. But only a small percentage of eligible seniors apply. The GIS is a substantial income boost: on average, an additional $5,400 per year.
“ People just don’t know what they are entitled to”, says Deborah Christie, past executive director of HCoA. “There are also supports available for dental services, eyeglasses, mobility devices, home heating/cooling, and other needs. But often those benefits depend on receiving the GIS or filing a tax return. And the information is scattered; you really need some expertise to navigate the system.”
HCF’s grant helped HCoA train seniors in those details so that they could, as volunteers, help other seniors negotiate the labyrinth. Joan is one of the volunteers. She loves interacting with her peers and enjoys the opportunity to use her skills on behalf of others. On average, Joan spends 20 hours each week helping seniors do tax returns, applications for GIS and bus pass subsidies, and connecting them with resources for healthcare and other needs. One satisfied customer is a 75-year-old who received an $800 tax refund for the first time and learned she was also eligible for drug benefits, hearing aids, and other assistance. Her standard of living improved significantly.
In 2008-09, the Hamilton Council on Aging provided this kind of financial service to more than 4,000 seniors with the help of over 60 trained volunteers. HCoA also extended the support network by operating out of neighbourhood hubs, sharing expertise with other community agencies, and creating two financial guides for seniors.
HCoA is sponsored by St. Peter’s Hospital; partners include McMaster University, Revenue Canada, Service Canada, the Social Planning and Research Council, Hamilton Public Health Services, and many other organizations and individuals committed to seniors.