ESPC Core Values

The Core Values
If we recall the definition of Social Planning which is “a process that helps communities identify strengths and weakness and determine ways to improve the quality of life in the community” (Community Development Halton, 2006), we can easily identify the core values found within Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC). Their major focus would involve research in homelessness, affordable housing, living wages and the plans to revitalize downtown east side Edmonton. As pointed by the Administrative Assistant, Stephanie Haar, ESPC does not raise funds for these concerns. They are usually contacted by various agencies/lobbyists and ask to conduct research on a number of community issues. ESPC’s mission statement states it “ is committed to providing educational opportunities around topical and relevant social issues. Our workshops and public events are aimed at the general public and our members, as well as at policy makers and professionals in the human services sector.” One of the most recent projects was research for the Alberta Government. The results would give the Provincial Government much needed statistics for providing funding to the Working Poor for housing. Additional offerings of other surveys and research studies can be found at: http://www.edmspc.com/publiced.aspx#Advocacy

ESPC actively encourages a broad range of participants to become members of the organization and lend their expertise or manpower in designing and carrying out research. How effective is the research/results? ESPC was recently asked to conduct a survey on Affordable housing by the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force. Conducted surveys were open to a cross-section of people with no barriers on race, religion, age and gender. Final statistical output resulted with the introduction of the Homeless and Eviction Prevention (HEP) fund by the Alberta Government. The City of Edmonton also reviewed the results and offered incentives to the construction industry to build multiple dwelling unit with fifty percent of the facility set aside for low-income families, with the one stipulation that the status would not change in the next ten years.

Listed below are two news articles below verifing the Alberta Government’s commitment to make a positive change in this area. Each season, ESPC produces a newsletter entitled: The fACTivist and draws the reader’s attention to current events, supported with statistical surveys, possibly done by ESPC. The Fall 2007 issue featured a focus on the Municipal election, affordable housing and homelessness as some of the main concerns. ESPC was asked to conduct a recent in-depth report on the working poor in Edmonton and how this 80% of Edmonton’s population earned wages well below the Alberta average.

If you were a group interested in pursuing fund raising for education (as an example), consulting with ESPC website should guide you on what the current status on education is, offer you historical data and any research that has been collected and assembled by ESPC as well as guidance on where funds are desperately needed such as inner city schools.

To guide any lobbyists organization, ESPC offers convenient links to their extensive library which houses a wide variety of research topics.

The Edmonton Social Planning Council is “host to a small, but unique, resource room that is a collection of books, reports and periodicals on social issues, with a focus on Edmonton and Alberta.” The resource library is comprised of a number of research results and contains historical, as well as current, materials that cover statistical analysis, policy information and reports from local and national non-profit organizations. There has been many research areas that have been performed by ESPC either from citizen advisory committees, private-contractual work, or Edmonton Development Council for the Affordable Housing.

Some of the recent press coverage is listed below.

November 01, 2007 - Working Poor, Edmonton Journal
Boom isn't raising all family incomes
More households earn $100,000 plus, but lower-income group hasn't made headway
Duncan Thorne

Edmonton's economic boom is making the rich richer, but most households are barely better off than in 1981, says the Edmonton Social Planning Council.

In making the comparison Wednesday, the council reached back to the peak year of the last big oil boom, rather than to the leaner intervening years.

It makes sense to compare "apples-to-apples" boom years, council researcher John Kolkman said as the non-profit agency called for more than $1 billion in tax breaks and increased spending for low-income Albertans.

The council released a report, Standing Still in a Booming Economy, that indicates household inflation-adjusted earnings in the Edmonton census metro area were virtually the same in 1981 and in 2005 -- the latest year where such information is available.

Using Statistics Canada figures, Kolkman said the median earnings level -- the point where half of income earners make more and half earn less -- stood at slightly more than $32,000 in 1981, and only $300 above that in 2005. He adjusted 1981 earnings to equate them to the dollar's 2005 buying power.

Median earnings were lower in all intervening years -- and as much as $7,500 lower in 1995.

Kolkman said the "standing still" in his report's title means Edmontonians were in 2005 doing as well, overall, as at the peak of the last boom. He added that the local economy is twice as large, per capita, as it was 25 years ago -- meaning most earnings gains since then have gone to business rather than to individuals.

Even so, in inflation-adjusted terms, an increasing proportion of Edmonton-area families are making $100,000 or more, the Statistics Canada numbers show. Back in 1981, about 27 per cent of families were making at least that amount, in 2005 dollars. As of 2005, more than 30 per cent were in that earnings range.

About 55 per cent of families in 1981 were earning between $40,000 and $100,000 in inflation-adjusted 2005 dollars. The middle-income range accounted for just 43 per cent of families by 2005. About 18 per cent of families earned less than $40,000 in 1981, using the same inflation-adjusted dollars. Families in that lower-income range peaked at about 38 per cent in 1995. As of 2005, they accounted for 27 per cent.

"A greater percentage of families are doing better," Kolkman said. Even so, he said some families that were once middle income have since lost ground.

Susan Morrissey, council executive director, said those lower-income people shouldn't be forgotten. "We have people who are homeless, we have people who are working two and three jobs that are really having difficulty making ends meet."

The council proposes a series of relief measures, the biggest one being an end to health-care premiums, which amount to $1,056 a year for families and $528 for single earners.

Kolkman said the premiums, worth about $900 million to the government, have a bigger impact on middle- and lower-income earners than on people who are better off.

Shannon Haggarty, speaking for Alberta Health, said the premiums cover only about 10 per cent of health-care spending, but send an important message that there is a cost to the service. She said lower-income Albertans pay lower premiums or, depending on income, are exempted outright. The government has no plans to end premiums, Haggarty added.

dthorne@thejournal.canwest.com


November 14, 2007 - Working poor, Vue Weekly
Report Finds Stagnant Incomes, Growing Gap in Edmonton Boom

Scott Harris / scott@vueweekly.com

A new report from the Edmonton Social Planning Council says that despite a booming economy and strong job growth, many Edmonton families are no better off than they were a quarter-century ago.

The report, Standing Still in a Booming Economy, looked at employment and earnings data in the city dating back to 1980, when the province was experiencing an energy boom similar to the present one.

“What we found—and somewhat to our surprise—was that household incomes and earnings have essentially stood still since the early 1980s; they haven’t really increased at all once you’ve factored out inflation and increases in living costs,” ,said report author John Kolkman, the research and policy analysis coordinator with the council.

At $49 200, the 2005 median after-tax income for families in the city was just two per cent higher than its previous peak of $48 900 in 1981, when adjusted for inflation.

Kolkman said such a miniscule gain in income is noteworthy when compared to the increase in the size of the city’s economy, measured by per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“When you look at economic growth, GDP per person has been growing at a rate almost two times faster than median employment earnings and incomes over the past quarter century. So a smaller share of the economic pie is actually going to wages and salaries and incomes of families with low and modest incomes.” Kolkman said that two trends explain the discrepancy: a polarization in incomes, with a bigger share of wealth going to families with higher incomes, and an increasing share of wealth going to corporate profits.

“Essentially what’s occurring is some people are migrating upward and other families are migrating downwards, and you have a shrinking middle,” he explained.

According to figures in the report, slightly more than a third of Edmonton families had annual incomes over $100 000 in 2005, up from just over 20 per cent in 1980. The city has seen a similar increase in families making less than $40 000, growing from 21 per cent to approximately 27 per cent. At the same time, families in the middle-income range between $40 000 and $99 000 has dropped from 58 per cent to 42 per cent over the same period.

This polarization is occurring, Kolkman explained, because while some workers are benefiting from the boom in the oil and gas, construction and engineering sectors, the sector where most jobs are—and where most new job growth is occurring—is in the low-paying service sector.

“But I would say an even larger shift is occurring in that a larger share of the economic pie is being added to corporate bottom lines rather than going to personal income,” Kolkman said, pointing to the example of the oil and gas extraction sector, whose equity has grown six-fold since 1993.

Kolkman pointed out that even with the current boom, one out of every seven families in the city still lives beneath the official low-income cut-off line, and many more are struggling to make ends meet just above the cut-off.

“People are actually finding that even though these low-paying jobs are quite plentiful, they either have to work several part-time jobs or they work a full-time job and a part-time job to make ends meet,” he said, adding that this reality “takes a toll on family life.”

While Kolkman admitted that some government programs, including the federal Child Tax Benefit and the provincial Family Employment Tax Credit, are helping low-income families, he said all levels of government could be doing much more.

The report lays out a series of recommendations, suggesting an increase in the minimum wage to $10 an hour, a level Kolkman said would allow a person working full-time year-round to rise above the poverty line.

He also said that all three levels of government need to look at increasing funding to allow government-contracted services in areas such as long-term care, women’s shelters and childcare to increase salary levels to enable them to better attract and retain staff.

Other labour-market recommendations include introducing first-contract arbitration and a reduction in reliance on temporary foreign workers, which the report says should be replaced by a provincial nominee program similar to one in Manitoba, which would provide foreign workers with the protections enjoyed by Canadian workers and enable them to eventually become citizens.

The report also suggests more funding for childcare and an increase in the eligibility for childcare subsidies to include more families.

Kolkman said the elimination of Alberta Health Care Premiums, another of the recommendations in the report, would have an immediate impact on families at the low end of the income scale.

“They’re not really premiums at all, they’re really a regressive form of tax: a family making $40 000 a year has to pay the same $1056 in so-called health care premiums as the family that’s making $400 000 a year,” he said. “If we just eliminated health care premiums we would right away increase the incomes of modest-income families by $1056 per year. And I think that would be very beneficial.”

Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund
Are you having trouble obtaining rental accommodation because you don't have enough money for a damage deposit or first month's rent? Have you received an eviction notice because you are behind in your rent?
The Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund can help you.
The Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund is part of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force, and is designed to provide short-term assistance to prevent Albertans from becoming homeless and to help individuals and families stabilize their shelter arrangements. View the news release, outlining the government's response to alleviate housing pressures for Albertans.
Where do you go?
In person
Come to one of EII's 59 Employment, Immigration and Industry offices located across the province.
On the phone
Call 1-866-644-5135 (644-5135 in Edmonton).
For ongoing housing needs, eligible Albertans can receive help from the Alberta Works Income Support program or be referred to Municipal Affairs and Housing's Rent Supplement Program.
Document Title and Description Date
(dd/mm/yy) Format
Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund Internal Audit
27/09/07

Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund Fact Sheet
11/09/07

Homeless and Eviction Prevention Fund FAQs


Top
Created: 2007-06-08
Modified: 2007-09-27
Reviewed: 2007-06-08
Letter of Transmittal
Date: September 24, 2007
SUBJECT: Review of the Homeless and Eviction Prevention (HEP) Fund

Employment, Immigration and Industry has completed its review of the benefits (a
randomly selected sample using a statistically valid process) issued under the HEP Fund
directives for the review period of May 11 to July 16, 2007. The purpose of the review
was to provide assurance that methods used to determine client eligibility and
entitlements were in compliance with HEP Fund directives, including applicable Income
Support policies and procedures.

Generally, the results of the review indicated that HEP Fund benefits were issued in
accordance with the Fund directives, policies, and procedures. We noted that there needs
to be some improvement in the documentation on some files to comply with the
substantiation requirements specified in the directives. In the attached report, we have
included recommendations along with management comments which should assist in
improving policy and procedures.

We would like to thank Delivery Services staff for their assistance and the cooperation
extended to us during the course of this review. Please do not hesitate to contact me if
you require additional information.

Original signed by

Chief Financial Officer
Employment, Immigration, and Industry

(As found at: http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/FCH/FCH_hepf_internal_audit.pdf)



REVIEW OF
HOMELESS AND EVICTION PREVENTION FUND
Background
The Government of Alberta through Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH)
introduced the Homeless and Eviction Prevention (HEP) Fund in response to the
recommendations of the Alberta Affordable Housing Task Force.

Employment, Immigration and Industry (EII) began delivering the program on
behalf of MAH on May 11, 2007. The program was designed to assist Albertans
at risk of losing their homes due to rent increases as well as those who require
benefit support in establishing a residence.

Minister Evans asked the department’s internal auditors to undertake a review of
the administration of the fund to ensure proper accountability. The Terms of
Reference for the review are attached as Appendix A. Information on the program
description, policy, objectives, scope, and the criteria for the review are contained
in the Terms of Reference.

Sampling Methodology
The review was conducted by the Employment, Immigration, and Industry Internal
Audit team and examined a randomly selected, statistically valid provincial sample
of payments made from the HEP Fund during the period May 11 to July 16, 2007.
The sample size was determined using the Attribute Sampling Program to ensure
the results were accurate with a 95% confidence level. This program determines
the minimum sample size necessary to provide the required level of assurance that
internal controls are operating effectively. During this period, payments from the
HEP Fund totalled $4,866,406 for 5,880 clients for an average of $827 per client.
A review sample of 239 (Northwest - 11; Northeast - 4; Edmonton - 83; Central -
14; Calgary - 103; South - 24) clients consisted of 393 payments totalling
$197,781, for an average of $828 per client. Benefit payments were provided for
the following purposes:
• Rental arrears 191 (49%)
• Damage deposits 78 (20%)
• First month’s rent 73 (19%)
• Utility arrears 37 (9%)
• Moving costs 14 (4%)

Additional Review Work
Data cross match for Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH) Rental
Supplement Clients to EII Income Support and HEP Fund Clients
During the course of the review, the audit team was able to match data for
individuals who had accessed the Direct Rent Supplement Program through MAH
with the HEP Fund client base. The MAH database consisted of 591 individuals
who received benefits from the Direct Rent Supplement Program during the period
from June to August, 2007. This data was matched to the equivalent information
in LISA and CCD (EII’s electronic file maintenance systems) to identify duplicate
or overlapping benefits between the two programs.