Gary Sward is just one of many seniors on a fixed income who will have a harder time making ends meet if the current Rent Assist cuts go through in Manitoba. The cuts would see his household lose $700 per year in help towards rent, an amount that he cannot make up easily.
The Manitoba government seeks to roll out the 3% cut to the Rent Assist program July 1st. This cut would see 7000 low income households, including many seniors, families and students having to make hard choices. When rents are already out of budget for many the choices become very limited.
Manitoba says that it is making the changes to balance the budget and ensure the Rent Assist program is helping those most in need. However, a cut to the program will not help anyone on the program and the budget should not be balanced on the backs of the poor.
Manitoba is already feeling the backlash from anti-poverty organizations around the province who argue that there was no consultation with Manitobans before this decision was made, nor any assessment of the impact of the changes to low-income people.
By acting now we can add the pressure of our joined voices to ensure that low-income Manitobans are not made more vulnerable by changes to the Rent Assist program.
Sign today to protect Manitoba's low-income population and stop cuts to the Rent Assist program.
