Twenty per cent of women in the South Shore are living in poverty.
Those on income assistance are receiving $575 a month.
Executive Director of Second Story Rhonda Lemire says it isn’t enough.
She says people can barely cover the cost of rent and basic essential needs.
“People are being forced to live in conditions that aren’t appropiate, maybe not safe and maybe not warm,” she says.
“That in turn affects their lives and their health and their well-being.”
The provincial government recently introduced programs community organizations can apply for.
But Lemire says their view is that programs don’t address poverty.
She says policy does.
“Once the project is up the money runs out and the supports that were put in place aren’t there anymore.”
Lemir says $575 a month isn’t enough and Second Story wants to see the province supplement Income Assistance.
She says the Income Assistance Act needs to be reviewed and have a rural lens used because what works in Halifax doesn’t always work on the South Shore.
