Make Poverty History Manitoba (MPHM) has written an Open Letter to the Manitoba Government for urgent action to support those struggling with poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 disproportionately affects people living in poverty as income is a social determinant of health. MPHM is concerned that the Manitoba government is making matters worse, particularly in relation to:
- Employment and Income Assistance Claw Back
- Increase EIA rates and move to a Liveable Basic Needs Benefit
- Eviction ban should be reinstated and a plan created
The Government of Manitoba can reduce poverty and homelessness and stop the spread of COVID-19 through immediate action:
- Fully exempt the CERB, CRB and other federal COVID-19 recovery measures from EIA claw backs to ensure EIA benefits are not interrupted or reduced.
- Increase the EIA allowances for single adults by $383 per month and for people with disabilities by $236 per month and transform EIA into a Liveable Basic Needs Benefit.
- Reinstate the provincial eviction ban to prevent homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MPHM is circulating a petition on the above to be tabled in the Manitoba Legislature.
MPHM is a multi-sectoral collaborative coalition with over 150 member organizations committed to changing public policy to achieve a Manitoba without poverty. MPHM has been petitioning the Manitoba Government for action on poverty for over 15 years.
THANK YOU for doing the letter ,, I’m on EIA disability myself and I can’t understand the way these numbers for EIA/DIS , To me the federal government said $2,000/ per person per month to SUSTAIN the BASIC human needs.
Well it’s very apparent WE are NOT ALLOWED to have basic human needs met. We have no value.