No crowds as gift cards doled out in Hamilton

(Update)

Today it was Hamilton’s and Halton’s turn as the province began handing out gift cards to needy people outside Toronto who lost the contents of their fridges during the ice storm power outages. But the local handouts are a stark contrast from the process in Toronto. Several people were turned away because they didn’t meet the new, strict eligibility requirements.

For the most part, people didn’t have to line up or wait for gift cards at the four Hamilton locations: “It’s hard enough to make ends meet, never mind losing everything.”

To get 100 dollars worth of groceries, you need proof of Ontario Works or disability coverage, or proof that your income falls below the cutoff less than 44 thousand a year for a family of four for example.

The province has 450 thousand dollars worth of gift cards to hand out outside of Toronto including Hamilton and Halton, between now and Thursday. But some people are really upset that the qualifications have become so narrow since the fiasco in Toronto.

Last week hundreds lined up for gift cards in Toronto only to be turned away when they ran out. Nicole Hashka was told that’s why the requirements are now more strict. She left empty handed, because her address wasn’t on the list of 48-hour outages provided by the hydro companies though she says her power was out for three days: “Loss of food, both my kids freezing, and not the Christmas we would have liked that’s for sure.”

These neighbours have nine kids between them, so they left their homes a few hours after the power went out: “When we went the Monday, the food was spoiled. Like, the fridge was warm.”

But they weren’t on the hydro list either, and they’ve been told their power came back on after about 43 hours. so they don’t qualify.

Sylene Dorey & Alicia Nelson: “It’s frustrating. When it comes to food, after 24 hours, nothing is salvageable. The biggest thing is you have to swallow your pride to ask for help, and when you ask and they say, you just don’t qualify, it’s a double kick. I have dignity. It’s not like I want to ask for help. I literally need it.”

Hamilton estimated that about 450 residents would qualify for food cards.

$450,000 worth will be divided among 9 of the hardest hit areas of Ontario. For more information, visit the participating communities’ websites (linked below), or call for more information.

City of Hamilton: 905-546-CITY (2489)
Halton Region: 905-825-6000
Peel Region: 905-791-7800
Waterloo Region: 519-883-2100
Wellington County: 519-937-2670, x4794