Fairly often poor people in Halifax get stopped by police and private security guards for involuntary behaviour such as fidgeting and staring at people, behaving as if intoxicated, and talking to themselves in public. In a follow up on earlier stories Kendall Worth spoke with people who submitted formal complaints with police, mall management and even the Human Rights commission.
Kendall on social inclusion, not just during the holidays, but all the time. “Income Assistance recipients see people moving on in life, being financially better off, driving vehicles, being in relationships and living healthy lives. Income Assistance recipients ask, Why can’t it be us?”
Bit of a sad story as Kendall meets a young woman who, as so many people on income assistance, lives in social isolation.
Kendall meets up with a sister of a person who is on social assistance and lives with mental health issues. She worries about her brother and wants to better understand the welfare system.
Kendall Worth on the awfulness of being on welfare and dealing with close family members who attack you for it.
Kendall Worth on the bad experiences of some people on income assistance who received home care while recovering from surgery.
Many Nova Scotians pride themselves on the friendliness and welcoming attitude of our province. This pride is not always warranted, particularly as it affects low-income mothers and babies, and especially so in rural Nova Scotia, writes Laura Fisher.
Kendall Worth with more on the ongoing harassment of poor people and people with disabilities by police ans security guards.
“Speaking as a mental health and addictions counsellor and an individual who has anxiety, I strongly believe reforms to this broken mental health system are seriously past due,” writes Raymond Sheppard.
Kendall Worth on why for many people in income assistance an invite to a school reunion is not a joyful thing. Especially if they used to live in rural Nova Scotia, where issues of mental health and invisible disabilities are not always understood.