who are the people in your neighborhood?

2009 OMSSA Learning Symposium

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Presented by Dave Plumstead; DNSSAB Research

June 11, 2009

This Presentation:

• Setting the stage – putting things into perspective with the current economic environment

• Unemployment & OW caseloads by MCSS Region

• OW Intake Survey (North Bay)

• Policy Implications


Who are the people in your neighborhood?

To put this question into perspective, we need to consider it within the presentenvironment….

…and we all know what that looks like:

The present economic times represent a challenge for everyone - as the providers of human services, we are relied upon to help those in need.

Understanding those needs is important if we are to achieve successful outcomes….

Again, who are the people in your neighborhood?

We’ve seen the media headlines –let’s look at some of the actual numbers for our delivery regions in Ontario:

MCSS Regions (CMSMs /DSSABs)

South West

Central West

Toronto

Hamilton /Niagara

Northern

Eastern

South East

Central East

North East

Increase in Unemployment: March /08 – March /09

South West (Windsor)



Central West (Kitchener)




Central East(Oshawa)




Ham. /Niag.(Hamilton)





Toronto






Toronto


South East(Kingston)





Toronto


Eastern(Ottawa)






Toronto


Eastern(Ottawa)



N. East(NorthBay)




Toronto


Northern(G. Sudbury)

Eastern(Ottawa)



N. East(NorthBay)

Ontario


Canada

Increase in Ontario Works: March /08 – March /09North East: 555; 12.8%

SouthWest:4261; 17.3%



CentralWest:4457;23.9%




CentralEast:3858; 18.7%



Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%




Toronto:5934; 9.0%


Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%




S. East:748;9.1%

Toronto:5934; 9.0%


Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%



Increase in Ontario Works: March /08 – March /09

Eastern:304;1.7%

North East: 555; 12.8%

S. East:748;9.1%

Toronto:5934; 9.0%


Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%




Eastern:304;1.7%


S. East:748;9.1%

Toronto:5934; 9.0%


Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%



N. East:555;12.8%


Eastern:304;1.7%


North.:649;7.5%

S. East:748;9.1%

Toronto:5934; 9.0%


Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%



N. East:555;12.8%


Eastern:304;1.7%


North.:649;7.5%

S. East:748;9.1%

Toronto:5934; 9.0%


Ham. /Niag.:3269; 17.3%



N. East:555;12.8%

First Nations: (estimate)115; 1.2%

90% of this growth has been in Central (East & West), South West; Hamilton/Niagara; and Toronto


Ontario: 12.3% caseload growth (24,150 people)

Who are the people in our neighborhoods?

Given the recessionary economy – and the rising unemployment and OW caseloads:

• Who are the people walking through the doors to apply for OW? What are their reasons for applying?

• Do they differ from the people applying for OW in ‘normal’ economic times?

• What are their needs – specifically regarding employment, housing, childcare…..?

• What is the relationship between the EI and OW programs?

• Are there policy implications?

At the Nipissing DSSAB, the Management Team started asking some of these questions, and decided to find out more.


Ontario Works Intake Survey: North Bay, ON.Jan. 12 – Feb. 9, 2009

This part of the presentation:

• Survey Objectives

• Survey Population; Methodology; Limitations; Benefits

• Summary of Key Findings

• Policy Implications

Intake Survey: Objectives

ObjectivesTo try and determine the reason for an increase in Ontario Works (OW) applications and caseload, during the current, negative economic cycle.

To gain a better understanding of the relationship between the provincial Ontario Works (OW) program and the federal Employment Insurance (EI) program, during the present period.

To gain a better understanding of the housing and childcare needs of people who are applying for social assistance, during the present period.

OW Intake Survey: Population

Survey Population• People who are applying for OW (Ontario Works)

in North Bay during the period Jan. 12 – Feb. 9, 2009.

• In total, 222 people applied for OW in North Bay during this period. Of this group (the survey population), 124 people completed the survey, giving a response rate (and sample size) of 56%.

• Taken as a percentage of the current OW population (the caseload) in Nipissing District, this represents a sample size of approximately 7%.

OW Intake Survey: Methodology

Survey Methodology• Anonymous, self administered, paper -

based survey with 11 questions (mostly ‘yes’ or ‘no’ type questions).

• Distributed at point of OW intake.

• Based on non-probability sampling, i.e., a non-scientific survey.

• The survey lends itself to a nominal level of measurement and descriptive analysis.

OW Intake Survey: Limitations

Survey LimitationsThe survey results are indicative of this particular group of OW applicants only – generalizations should not be made about people applying for Ontario Works across the province.

Also, the relationship between the subgroups and their childcare and housing needs was not tested statistically, to determine the significance of the relationship.

No survey pre-test was conducted – this may have revealed any ambiguous questions, etc.

OW Intake Survey: Benefits

Survey BenefitsThe survey fulfilled the stated objectives.

The results offer insight into the needs of people applying for Ontario Works in North Bay.

Informed the Management Team with a caseload snapshot.

Conducted with more statistical rigour and with a more representative sample (for example, across the province) it may have significant policy implications in the areas of social assistance,housing, and childcare, during the current economic recession.

47% of the survey respondents applying for OW (Ontario Works) have not been on social assistance before, while 53% have been on social assistance at some point in time.

OW Intake Survey: Summary Results

36% of the OW applicants have applied for OW through some connection with the EI (Employment Insurance) program, i.e.., their EI has run out; they are waiting for their first EI cheque or they are not eligible for EI:

Reasons for People Applying for Social Assistance (OW) during the period: Jan. 12 - Feb. 9, 2009 (North Bay)

46%19%

8%9%

18%

Employment Insurance (EI) has run out Waiting for my first Employment Insurance (EI) cheque I am not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) I lost my job in the last 30 days Other

For the remaining OW applicants (64%), the relationship with EI is not as clear - 18% have lost their job within the past 30 days while 46% gave ‘other’ as the reason for applying to OW:

Reasons for People Applying for Social Assistance (OW) during the period: Jan. 12 - Feb. 9, 2009 (North Bay)

46%19%

8%9%

18%

Employment Insurance (EI) has run out Waiting for my first Employment Insurance (EI) cheque I am not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) I lost my job in the last 30 days Other

Of the “other” group, 11% indicate they do not have a job or are looking for a job while another 11% indicate that they are applying to OW due to medical reasons.

'Other' Reasons for People Applying for Social Assistance (OW) during the period Jan. 12- Feb. 9, 2009 (North Bay)

11%9%

7%

11%

7% 5% 5% 5% 5%

18%

0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%18%20%

No

expl

anat

ion

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job

/am

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job

Med

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reas

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16% of the applicants in this group are applying to OW for direct income related reasons: 9% state “low income” and “needing to move or not being able to pay the rent”, while 7% state they have “no income” or “not enough money to live on”.


11%9%

7%

11%

7% 5% 5% 5% 5%

18%

0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%18%20%

No

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ion

Hav

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Med

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11%9%

7%

11%

7% 5% 5% 5% 5%

18%

0%2%4%6%8%

10%12%14%16%18%20%

No

expl

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Hav

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for

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Med

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Low

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Some of the OW applicants are presently working or going to school - for example, 5% indicate that they are working but that their income is not sufficient - another 5% state that they are going to school. With equal percentages, are those who have had trouble with the law (5%) and those who have just moved to North Bay (5%).

The majority (94%) of the OW applicants do not live in subsidized /rent-geared-to-income housingwhile 6% do live in subsidized housing.

Of those who live in subsidized housing, most (71%) receive rent-geared-to-income assistance –the remainder are paying market rent.

The majority of the applicants also indicate they have not applied for subsidized housing: 87% have not applied while 13% have applied. Of those who have not applied for subsidized housing, 21% indicate they will apply for it in the future.

HOUSING NEEDS

CHILDCARE NEEDS

The majority of the OW applicants (65%) do not have children. Of those with children, 86% have never received subsidized childcare while 14% have received it.

Also, of the OW applicants who have children, a small number (4%) indicate that their children are currently in subsidized childcare.

None of these applicants had lost their subsidized childcare space, in the last 30 days.

CHILDCARE NEEDS

11% indicate they will need subsidized childcare once they find a job.

Another 18% indicate that they need subsidized childcare while they look for a job(some of these respondents also stated that they will continue to need childcare, once they have a job).

On the other hand, a large number (67%) indicate, they will not require subsidized childcare in the future.

Housing and Childcare Needs by OW Applicant Sub-groups (reason for applying to OW)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Childcare Needs, % Sub-group Response

Hou

sing

Nee

ds, %

Sub

-gro

up

Res

pons

e

High housing needsLow childcare needs

Low housing needsLow childcare needs

Low housing needsHigh childcare needs

High housing needsHigh childcare needs

Not eligible for EI

EI has run out

Waiting forfirst EI cheque

Lost job inlast 30 days

Other

HOUSING & CHILDCARE NEEDS: SUB -GROUPS

Policy implications?

• Childcare assistance for people who lost their jobs (including non-OW clients) to facilitate re-entry into the workforce?



• Stabilization for those who will be applying for social housing (knowing that they could be waiting for years..)?



• Stabilization for those who will be applying for social housing (knowing that they could be waiting for years..)?

• OW asset limits for people affected by the recession (who have never been on social assistance before and likely won’t be again…)?

• EI ineligibility? (Federal)

DNSSAB Research:www.dnssab.on.ca/Report.htm

Thank you!

http://www.dnssab.on.ca/Report.htm

who are the people in your neighborhood?

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