I wanted to change the locks, and just “forget” to metion it, but i’m out of money.
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** Bill H. ** 
thanx for being a sweetie. I don’t really think much of the fact that i’m looking after others, I just like to help people is all. I am trying to finish my high school, I just hate school alot right now ia all and have to go back for a 5th year, but i am trying.
I’m gonna try to get inshurance, so if the place does burn , $$$$$$$ for me!!!
this place is covered with fire alarms, so if somthing were to happen, I’m sure people down the street would be able to hear.
hmmm I talked to a housing chick at the salvation army the other day, and she thinks I have no case, that I should Lie low and just wait . My stove stopped working today, BTW.
Poetchick85 I don’t know if it goes by the same name, but in Manitoba we have a housing authority that maintains (usually) clean, nicer buildings that will charge you based on a percentage of what you make (here it’s 27%, I think).
I would check into that with your provincial government, if they don’t have that, they should have some sort of subsidy you can apply for.
As for the child tax benefit, it goes to whomever is the guardian of that child (as I understand it) because you claim it on your income tax.
I’m presuming you are in Woodstock, Ontario, by your location line.
There is subsidized housing available (Woodstock Housing it may be called–ask your welfare worker). One thing that will put you on the priority list is if your current residence is a health hazard or in very poor condition. If you live in a slum apartment, they will give you priority. Ask your welfare worker!!! If they won’t help you, look in the yellow pages.
The landlord is acting completely inappropriately and your apartment is a disaster waiting to happen. I wish you the best of luck.
Also, being on welfare, I doubt you’d be allowed to purchase a home (or even qualify.) Subsidized housing is your best bet. In fact, it may even be cheaper than the $250 a month you are paying now! I was on welfare in Ontario a number of years back (receiving $520 a month) and I lived in subsidized housing and my rent was about $120 a month.
Another thing to consider is co-operative housing. Most offer subsidized units and the waiting list can be shorter. Just look up “co-op housing” in your yellow pages, or ask welfare or Woodstock Housing Agency. (Again, whatever it’s called. That service was downloaded to the individual cities a few years back so I don’t know anymore what it’s being called.)
As far as child tax credit, welfare doesn’t take all of it. They take a portion of it. For one child I believe you receive about $200 (in your income bracket). Welfare takes about $90 of that. So, you still get some.
You can call city hall to have an inspector look over your apartment. From my experience, they don’t do anything (to your landlord) unless you formally file a complaint. So, someone can come out, tell you exactly what’s wrong, and you can take it from there. And it’s documentation.
The Landlord and Tenet Act has a toll free number for tenets to call, but I’ve never called it. I don’t know if you get a real person or just recorded information. Call the toll-free operator. (1 800 555 1212.)
Talk to your welfare worker about this. They will have resources, and hopefully they will be helpful to you.
Best of luck and I hope you get out of there soon! That’s no place for you and yours to be living.
Another thought to look into is Habitat for Humanity. You do have to put in volunteer hours as part of ‘payment’ on your place but it’s worth it. They might have something like that in your neck of the woods if you’re not in the big city, something to look into.
If your sister no longer lives with your Mom you should be getting the CTB, unfortunately it could be tricky to get if you are not her legal guardian. As to the other girl… well as long as the parents don’t send the cops looking for her you might stay lucky but I think at 15 you could be charged with something if her parents do decide to send the cops after her. I know my friend Sam was frantic when she found out her sister had run away (she’s 15 and possibly pregnant) and was ready to call the cops when she found where her sister was staying. At her equally underage boyfriend’s house with his mother hiding the two of them from Sam and their mother.
I can’t know your situation of course. It’s quite possible the other girl’s situation was bad but I have been seeing it from the other side where this girl has a mother who loves her and a good home to go back to (Sam’s only 18 and is moving back in right now. If it was bad there she wouldn’t set foot in that house again as she has a place with us if she needs it.) and am giving a fair warning that the law may not be on your side at least with that respect.
As to the place you live in… those pictures that were mentioned taking? I suggest taking copies to the Housing Aid office and showing them to your worker/someone who can deal with your file. It may get things moved up faster.
hmmmm I have time on Wensday, I’ll walk up to my soical services building and have a chat with my worker. The one girl, kate, her parents know she is with me, and they don’t really care. In fact, her mother said I could add Kate to mym check, but in december. Her mom wants to catch up on her bills first. I did tell housing about a few of problems, I was told that I just have to wait like everyone else. I’ll take pics though, maybe that will speed things up. As for housing, when on, I have to pay 30% of my income. That would work out to be about 200 I think, maybe less. ** plain_jane ** thanx bunches for all of the info. If I do get a inspection, will they tell my landlord? I wouldn’t want him to know. One thing however, people are coming through tonight, they want to buy th building. If so, my landlord would change, and maybe some of my problems. I hope.
Obsidian Flutterby , it is almost damned impossable to get CTB if i am not her legal guardin.
if its such a dump then it don’t matter how cheap it is. get off your ass and start lookin for a better place. don’t be such a cheapo . dig down in your deep pockets and fork out for a better place for you your sister and your other friend.
Yeah I figured it would be. Have you talked to your mom? (I’m guessing she is the legal guardian from what you’ve said so far) Maybe you can convince her to transfer guardianship to you of your sister… dunno how well that would go over though if she is just using the CTB money for her stuff…
Last time I tried to talk to my mother about money, this was the response I got back. “If you are out of my house , I don’t need to spend my hard earned money on you. I am not staying at home all the time just so that you can have tons of money. I do not have to make my life shit just because you “have to” move out”
I have not recived one cent from my mother. I have tryed to talke to her before about the CTB, only to have her bitch at me. It’s hard you know, for her to support her and her boyfriend on only 55,000 a year, really hard when compared to my high living at 7,800 a year, also for two people.
hmmm, I wonder if I should report her. You know, I
grrrr cat on the keyboard. well, anyways to finish my thought,
I’m pretty sure that recvceing money for a child not in your care is very much agianst the law.
I’m pretty sure it is too. It might be a good idea to talk to legal aid… there is student legal aid (at least here in this province) but there should also be a regular legal aid for anyone unable to hire a lawyer/consult one usually.
So is harboring a minor. These people tell you to your face that it is ok with them if you tend to their children, but they still want to claim the kids as their dependants. What story do you think they would give the authorities if they were asked? Tread carefully and take full advantage of the social services available.
I want to personally thank all of our Canadian friends who have made such a great effort to help find out what poetchicks options are.
Poetchick: I doubt they inform your landlord after performing an inspection. I had one done once (as did a neighbour in the same building) and I was told nothing at all would be done unless we wrote formal complaints. My landlord never mentioned it. I doubt he was told.
If you have someone under the age of 16 living with you, byter has it dead on. The parents could cause you grief down the line. It might be useful to get something in writing from the parents (dated and witnessed) saying that you are caring for their child temporarily.
You may be able to get welfare for the girls but if they are under a certain age, I’ll bet you welfare would want you to take the parents to court for child support. And of course that would get ugly.
As far as child tax credit, whomever has primary repsonsibility for the child gets the money. If a person is collecting baby bonus fraudulently, they will be made to pay it back–if caught. If the girls’ parents collect the cheque and pass the money onto you, it’s not good enough for the government. Plus technically you’d have to report it to welfare as income and potentially see a small reduction in your cheque because of it.
Also, I wonder if CAS would get involved if they knew a 15 year old is living in such conditions. I’d worrry about that, too. I have no idea, but I imagine it would be something they would investigate (say if one of the parents got mad at you and wanted to cause you problems.)
Find out about city-run subsidized housing and co-ops, seriously! There might be a waiting list and the sooner you’re on it, the better.
I’m totally jumping into this thread late, but I have a little advice.
I’m a student @ Brock right now, and there is a plethora of “in-law suite” (basement apartments) type apartments in the St. Catharine’s area.
I don’t know how far away you are, but it might be worth the move, as all the apartments are priced towards DIRT-POOR university students.
Another benefit is that the basement is often as nice as the rest of the house, so you are at least getting a place that is as livable as the rest of the neighbourhood. No slums necessary.
Par example, my place has 2 empty rooms (3 total, one contains me), and everything works/is clean.
Hydro, electricity, heat are all included in the $325 cdn monthly rent. No leases, a compassionate landlord, and huge back yard are some of the perks.
If you want more details, or if you live in the area, and need a hand, feel free to email me.