KAWARTHA LAKES-53-year-old Darren Molleson used to own a two-story house, had a good job and coached baseball.
Today, Molleson is in a wheelchair and living off of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). The only remnants of his old life are the numerous trophies proudly displayed in his social housing apartment in Lindsay. Trophies for bowling, chess, hockey and as a coach for softball.
He has no furniture and cannot afford cable tv or internet. He says it’s like being in jail.
“I have sent a letter to MPP Laurie Scott and Doug Ford and said: live with me for a month,” Molleson told Kawartha 411 News. “I got no response. I no longer have a computer, no cable, no tv, I can’t read properly due to a learning disability. What do you do all day? Watch paint dry. It’s like being in jail….or on permanent lockdown.” Â
Molleson says his fortunes began to change after he went through a divorce and was in a car accident. He has been on ODSP for approximately 20 years. Two years ago he lost one of his kidneys.
“I need help to have a shower and home care comes in for that, a couple of hours a week but I need a couple of times a day 7 days a week for help with a catheter,” he explains.
Molleson says with the costs of food increasing by as much as 7% and ODSP only going up slightly he recently had to start using food banks.
“I can’t buy clothing or incidentals. This is the first year I have had to use the food bank and I use them every month.”
For the first time in years, the province raised ODSP by 5% in September. The monthly boost of $58.45 is still too low according to Molleson and others living on ODSP. Single people receiving ODSP are eligible for $1,169 per month.
“Laurie Scott’s office ignores you, they don’t listen. I think they should see what we go through. I want an increase to ODSP, at least listen to us. Â Why not include cable and internet in the rent.” states Molleson.
Molleson, who took part in the basic income pilot project say with Basic Income he was able to have enough money to eat properly, take his cats in for their shots etc. The Ontario Basic Income Pilot was announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne in April 2017 and the first phase was successfully completed in April 2018, with full participation across the three pilot sites including Lindsay. The province enrolled over 4,000 people in the pilot. Single participants were paid $16,989 per year for a single person, less 50% of any earned income and $24,027 per year for a couple, less 50% of any earned income. The program was scrapped by the new Ontario Conservative government after approximately one year.
A report titled Southern Ontario’s Basic Income Experience was compiled by researchers at McMaster and Ryerson University, in partnership with the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction. Almost 80 per cent of respondents reported better overall health while taking part in the program. More than half said they were using less tobacco and 48 per cent said they were drinking less. 83 per cent of those surveyed described feeling stressed or anxious less often and 81 per cent said they felt more self-confident. An improved diet, better housing security and less-frequent hospital visits were other outcomes respondents reported.
MPP Laurie Scott’s office did not respond to our requests for comment.
