GOVERNMENT INVESTMENTS REDUCE POVERTY

Building on last year’s historic increase to income and employment assistance programs, the provincial government approved an additional $4.7 million that will benefit over 31,000 assistance recipients effective May 1.

“These increases help raise the annual income of Saskatchewan’s poorest citizens,” Community Resources Minister Buckley Belanger said.  “Combined with other programs such as the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement, Child Care Subsidy, discounted bus passes and the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement, government is enhancing financial support for low-income people to prevent them from falling behind.”

The additional funding will be provided through Social Assistance and the Transitional Employment Allowance to help low-income people manage food, clothing and personal needs.  The increases, that were part of the 2007/08 provincial budget, include:

• $10 a month for adult basic allowance (bringing the total increase to $60 in the past three years);
• $10 a month for room and board allowance;
• $5 a month for personal living allowance; and
• $28 a month for residential care rates.

The social assistance caseload has declined steadily over the past several years, with many people getting the supports they need to find and keep jobs.  This is due in large part to Community Resource’s Building Independence strategy and strong job growth in the province.  In the past ten years, government programs have helped over 13,000 households move from social assistance to self-sufficiency.

Visit www.cr.gov.sk.ca for more information on the programs and services that help low-income individuals and families.

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For more information, contact:

Dianne Shannon
Community Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8689
Email: dshannon@cr.gov.sk.ca