BC Place will glow blue and purple Monday, May 12th, in support of International ME/CFS & FM Awareness Day, and as part of the “May 12th Light Up the Night Challenge”. The event is supported by both the National ME/FM Action Network and the MEFM Society of BC to bring awareness to the experience and needs of people living with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and FM (Fibromyalgia).
Close to 100,000 British Columbians are living with these disabling and often misunderstood diseases. If you would like more information about ME/CFS or FM, please contact the National ME/FM Action Network (www.mefmaction.com) or the MEFM Society of BC (www.mefm.bc.ca).
The program is presented by Family Services of Greater Vancouver and designed to help participants increase their knowledge and confidence in the tasks of daily money management. In this 4-Session workshop series you will learn about:
BUDGETING: Track your earning and spending and be in control of your money
BANKING: Choose the options that are right for you, reduce fees and save money
CREDIT: Build and maintain a good credit history and deal with debt
CONSUMERISM: Examine the role of advertising in our spending choices and how to be in charge of your own spending
REGISTER EARLY, SPACE IS LIMITED:
COST: Free (Fully subsidized by Vancity) WHEN: Thursday, May 22; Thursday, May 29; Thursday, June 5; Thursday, June 12th TIME: 1pm- 3pm WHERE: BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, #204- 456 West Broadway in Vancouver
To sign up, you must attend all 4 Thursday sessions.
TO REGISTER: Call Val at: 604-875-0188 or email: feedback@bccpd.bc.ca
Anti-poverty advocates at social justice organizations around the province report that the BC Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation’s computer system has been crashing for much of the last week, and remains mostly offline. During this time, the Ministry has not been able to provide many of its clients with much-needed services, including shelter and support payments, security deposits, crisis grants, and eligibility assessments for people with an immediate need for welfare.
Advocates view this computer crash as the latest, and most egregious, example of the Integrated Case Management (ICM) computer system’s failure to deliver high quality and efficient services to British Columbians in need.
Kris Sutherland, Manager of Advocacy Services with the Kettle Friendship Society, said that “Many of us view the ICM as an unacceptable institutional barrier to welfare, disentitling people who are unable to navigate the system’s complexities to get needed assistance.”
Sarah Khan, Staff Lawyer with the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre added that “These problems, and the Ministry’s lack of a reliable backup plan, are placing vulnerable welfare recipients in situations where they could lose their housing and the ability to meet their basic needs. This is an unacceptable result from a $211 million expenditure on the ICM.”
In 2012, BC’s Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, found that senior government officials should be held accountable for the “colossal failure” of the ICM.
Advocates are calling on MSDSI Minister Don McCrae to let the public know when the problems with the ICM will be fixed, and to outline a plan for how welfare applicants and clients will be able to access services the next time there are technical problems with the ICM.
For more information, please contact:
Didi Dufresne, First United Church
Ph: 604-681-8365 ext. 105
