Why is poverty a problem?

Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Many people cannot access the support they need because of how some programs are designed and delivered. 

The response – Call to Action  for Social Justice Issues 

The Need for Change to the Saskatchewan Income Support System (SIS):

1. Provide SIS recipients with full coverage of basic utilities.                                              
2. Stop the clawback of the Saskatchewan Rental Supplement to SIS recipients.                                                                                                                                    
3. Also stop the clawback of damage deposits and small gifts of money.                                                                                                                                                    
4. Provide SIS recipients with the option of having their rent paid directly to their landlord and their utility bills paid directly to the utility providers.                                                                                                                                 
5. Enhance present income assitance: Raise the SIS and SAID rate by $300 a month as a first step toward raising it above the poverty line.                                                                                                                                                                                
6. Set income support rates on the basis of the cost of living.