Author: Jeanette Lee

Information for our Neighbours in Need during the COVID-19 Pandemic – as of May 20, 2021

1. Local Notes

Brant Food for Thought

School-aged children have been missing out on the breakfast and snack offered at school. Brant Food for Thought now distributing Nutritious Food Boxes through the Food Bank, the Salvation Army (city and Paris locations), Brant Community Church, the 3 large rent-geared-to-income sites and the Burford Food Bank. Their webpage gives info re: times and procedures.

https://brantfoodforthought.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BFFT-Emergency-Food-Access_MAY-2021.pdf

Brantford Food Bank

The Brantford Food Bank is now OPEN on Mondays. More information about the Brantford Food Bank services is available at https://crs-help.ca/foodbank/

2. Federal Government Benefits

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

People who were receiving CRB, may be eligible for one of the new recovery benefits (the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Recovery Sickness Benefit or the Caregiving Benefit). They are retroactive to September 27, 2020 and available until September 25, 2021.

The Canada Recovery Benefit is taxable and has tax deducted at source.  It provides eligible workers with $500 per week for up to 38 weeks. It is for those who are not employed or self-employed due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for EI, or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19. This benefit is paid in two-week periods and recipients must reapply every two weeks.

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) – Canada.ca

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) is for employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19. Individuals who have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19 are also eligible.  Recipients receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period.  If the health situation continues past 1 week, it is necessary to reapply for up to a total of 4 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) – Canada.ca

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit is a taxable payment of $500 per week ($450 after taxes are withheld), for up to 38 weeks per household. This benefit is for individuals and families impacted by the closure of schools and other programs.  This benefit is available between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) – Canada.ca

Temporary Changes to Employment Insurance

Temporary changes have been made to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to help you access EI benefits. Follow the link below to see if the changes apply to you.

Employment Insurance – COVID-19 – Canada.ca

GST Credit Increase

Those eligible for the GST credit will receive a one-time special payment of about $400 for singles and $600 for couples on April 9. More information available at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-benefits-credits-support-payments/gst-hst.html

The extra payment amount will be received automatically for those who normally receive the GST/HST credit and have filed a 2018 tax return. Payments will be issued on April 9, 2020.

Canada Child Benefit Increase

The maximum annual CCB payment amount will increase for the 2019-20 benefit year by $300 per child as part of the May payment. The average increase for families will be approximately $550.

The income tax filing deadline for individuals is now June 1.  Individuals that owe taxes can defer payments until September. The Canada Revenue Agency has also halted debt collection.

Those who expect to receive the GST credit and/or Canada Child Benefit (CCB) should file their 2019 returns as soon as possible to ensure their entitlements for the 2020-21 benefit year are properly determined.

3. Provincial Government Benefits

Ontario COVID-19 Child Benefit

The benefit provides financial support to families with young learners to help with additional costs during the pandemic. Payments will be issued starting on April 26: $400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12 or $500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs. 

If families have already received payments through the Support for Learners program in 2020, they do not need to apply for this additional payment. If they missed applying they must do so now.  Applications will be open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-ontario-covid-19-child-benefit

Tenant evictions are currently on hold in Ontario.

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Brant Thrift Store Re-opening Tuesday March 2, 2021

Pat Lenz, President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Particular Council of Brant is pleased to announce the re-opening of the Thrift Store at 143 Wellington and Clarence Streets in Brantford. “The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted our ability to serve our neighbours in need at our Thrift Store over the past several months. We are very happy to re-open the Thrift Store on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.” said Mrs. Lenz. The store will be open every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am until 2:30pm for shopping. Donations will only be accepted on Wednesday from 9:00 am until noon. Furniture by appointment. Call the store at 519-751-0143. Learn more at www.ssvpbrant.ca or the SSVP Brant Facebook page. Email: ssvpbrant@gmail.com.

COVID-19 pandemic protocols continue to be in place for the safety and comfort of customers, donors and all of the staff volunteers. Face masks must be worn by all shoppers and volunteers. A reduced number of shoppers will be allowed in the store at any given time. Social distancing will be in place and sanitizer will be available.

The SSVP Thrift Store re-opening and day to day operations will take place under the direction of newly-appointed Store Manager, Kristine Paul. “I would like to welcome our shoppers back to our Thrift Store and assure them that our updated COVID-19 protocols will be enforced and are in place to keep everyone comfortable and safe.” stated Mrs. Paul.

Kristine Paul is happy to see some familiar faces, “We are looking forward to seeing our loyal Thrift Store shoppers again and to serving our neighbours in need when our store re-opens.” SSVP Thrift Store volunteers provide furniture, household items, clothing, and free food to our neighbours in need. To those we serve, if you require emergency items like those listed call the Thrift Store at 519-751-0143 and you will be referred to the SSVP branch in your area. SSVP Brant assisted over 1,900 adults and 1,200 children in 2019. More than $83,000 in grocery gift cards were distributed and 125 children received a new, free bed.

Thanks to each of our dedicated volunteers and regular customers for your ongoing service, commitment and loyalty.

Contact: Mrs. Pat Lenz, President, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Particular Council of Brant or Kristine Paul, Store Manager at ssvpbrant@gmail.com or 519-751-0143.

Update: December 28, 2020 – SSVP Brant Response to COVID-19 Crisis

As part of the current lockdown directed by the Government of Ontario, SSVP Brant Thrift Store will be extend its holiday closure indefinitely. When the lockdown is lifted by the province we will evaluate our operation, always with the goal of keeping all staff and customers safe and comfortable. At that time we will develop our re-opening plan. Stay tuned to this website and to our social media platforms for details.

To those we serve in Brantford/Brant: if you require emergency service during this period, call the phone number for our branch (conference) that covers your area – to hear how they are adapting their service for you …

that is,

  • Blessed Sacrament- Burford, Scotland, West Brantford 519-865-1562
  • Sacred Heart – Paris & St. George 519-442-2465
  • St. Basil – central Brantford 519-752-0243
  • St. Mary – east & south Brantford 226-208-6846
  • St. Pius X – north Brantford 519-753-9052

If you are unsure which conference serves you, call the Thrift Store at 519-751-0143 (Its voice messages will be monitored.) or email ssvpbrant@gmail.com and you will be re-directed.

To our generous donors: we thank you for your patience and understanding at this time and will again gladly accept your gently-used clothing, household items and furniture when we re-open.

To our loyal shoppers: when you return to our Store after this situation is resolved we will still have the “best prices in town”. Your shopping dollars support our service to those in need in Brantford/Brant.

Finally, to our dedicated volunteers, at the Thrift Store and the conferences: Thank you to those who are finding alternative ways to serve those in need while keeping yourselves safe and healthy. Thanks to each of you for your ongoing service and commitment. Take care of yourselves. We’ll keep in touch.

This is NOT DONATING; this is DUMPING.

Dumping continues outside the SSVP Brant Thrift Store when staff is not on site, despite clearly posted messages and frequent pleas over social media. Not one of these items will go to the people served by SSVP Brant or sold in the Thrift Store to raise funds to support SSVP services for those in need. Because of vandalism and pandemic quarantine protocols, all of these items must go directly into the garbage bin – which SSVP Brant pays $150 to empty each time. Sadly, this is a recurring problem.

“We are always appreciative of the generous donations from members of our community! They are essential to our service to those in need in Brantford/Brant.” says St. Vincent de Paul local President Pat Lenz. “But, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, we can only manage them at specific times” (Wednesday 9-12 for non-furniture items, furniture by appointment).

When useful items and those in good repair are dropped off when donations are not being accepted, they create multiple problems for the charity.

  • Poor weather causes damage to otherwise valuable donations;
  • Vandals, tearing through boxes and bags, destroy donated items;
  • Volunteers must deal with the mess left behind;
  • And, during pandemic times, all donations must be carefully quarantined when received – so anything not received properly cannot be accepted;
  • Therefore, all of these generous donations end up being sent to the landfill at our expense. Those are wasted funds that cannot be used to support those in need in our community.

Before you pack up:

  • Check out what the charity can accept – and when – via their social media (website, Facebook etc.) or email or phone.
  • If the conditions of what and when do not work for you, explore other local charity operations.
  • If, on closer look, you realize the items are not acceptable to anyone locally, call the City to arrange free pick up of your items at the curb; you can do that twice a year www.brantford.ca/en/living-here/bulk-item-pick-up.aspx

Local charities provide you with an opportunity to support their service, but disposing of items that are soiled, damaged or not useable because of vandalism or exposure from the weather is a frustrating, even costly, distraction from their service. “Please be considerate of those people in need who will not receive your damaged or destroyed donated items and the volunteers who have to clean up the mess left behind.”, appeals Ms. Lenz.

Thanks to all of you who consider donating. The SSVP Thrift Store at 143 Wellington and Clarence streets in Brantford gratefully accepts donations on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until noon and furniture by appointment. Learn more at www.ssvpbrant.ca or SSVP Brant Facebook page, email ssvpbrant@gmail.com or call the Store 519-751-0143.

Contact: Ms. Pat Lenz ssvpbrant@gmail.com or 519-751-0143.

COVID Benefits – Federal Government

from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/transition.html

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
The Canada Recovery Benefit will provide eligible workers with $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to 26 weeks for those who are not employed or self-employed due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for EI, or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in two-week periods.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) will provide $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to 26 weeks per household for workers unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19, or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in one-week periods.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) will provide $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19, self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in one-week periods.

Please note that you can only receive one benefit during a time period.

For those who are eligible there is now an new Employment Insurance program. The above website provides a link for further information about EI.

Provincial Government:

Support for Learners Funding
Parents and guardians can receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child up to age 12, or $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs. Submit one application per child. Each application will be paid separately so if you have more than one child you may not receive payments at the same time.

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2021.

For more information please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners