Kendall Worth: Pretending New Year’s Eve isn’t even happening
Reporter and First Voice poverty activist Kendall Worth on the many barriers that stop poor people from celebrating New Year’s Eve the way middle and upper class people do.
Reporter and First Voice poverty activist Kendall Worth on the many barriers that stop poor people from celebrating New Year’s Eve the way middle and upper class people do.
Kendall Worth on the need to raise the rates, and other demands now that the legislature will be sitting again on September 21.
Frequent contributor Kendall Worth relates the story of a young man who desperately needs support from Community Services, but can’t get it for a bunch of seemingly bureaucratic reasons.
Kendall is pondering a run in the next provincial election. There would be be some serious (Province) house cleaning.
Lives on Welfare gave a voice to John before, and last week he contacted us because he wanted to talk about the lack of support for people who deal with mental health issues, their own and those of relatives. “All I can do is wait for another suicide attempt,” he says.
When you’re poor there are few places you can go to for socializing and fighting loneliness in the evenings and on weekends. Cup of coffee? Not if it comes out of your tiny food budget. The bar scene? Way too expensive and not suitable for many. A movie? Out of the question. So what to do?
Kendall Worth on the need for a 24/7 centre where people can go when social isolation is getting them down.
Frequent contributor Kendall Worth tackles the serious topic of social isolation. He looks at causes for isolation other than poverty, and particularly puts alcoholism under the loop. But poverty can certainly add to the problem, Kendall explains. He ends with a list of suggestions anybody can try, from joining a book club to becoming an activist.
Poverty activist Kendall Worth suggests people need to become more vocal if they want to see changes to Nova Scotia’s mental health system.
Poverty activist Kendall Worth on the urgent need to talk about the link between mental health and poverty.