United Way Announces 2021 Living Wage of $17.35 for Haldimand and Norfolk

November 1, 2021

What does it take for a family of four to live comfortably in Haldimand and Norfolk County? That’s the question United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk wanted to answer in 2021. Adhering to the principles and methodology of the Canadian Living Wage Framework, United Way calculated the 2021 hourly Living Wage for Haldimand and Norfolk to be $17.35. This is an increase of $0.77 from the Haldimand Norfolk Living Wage in 2019.

The Living Wage is the hourly wage a worker needs to earn to cover their family’s basic everyday expenses, such as food, housing, utilities, childcare and transportation. The Living Wage was calculated based on a family composition consisting of two 35-year old parents working full-time for 35 hours per week, one 7-year old child who attends school and before and after school care and one 3-year old in childcare full-time year round. Different from the Minimum Wage which is provincially set, the Living Wage is locally formulated. The costs used to calculate the Living Wage for Haldimand and Norfolk have come from local sources based on expenses in this community. The Minimum Wage, which is currently $14.35/hour, does not take into account the basic needs to maintain a healthy, sustainable life. While the Minimum Wage is adjusted for inflation in Ontario, the Living Wage is adjusted regularly to take into consideration cost of living increases and changes.

A Living Wage means families can make ends meet and don’t have to choose between groceries, medical/dental expenses or rent. It means they can participate in community activities, like putting their kids into sports. What the Living Wage doesn’t include is credit card payments, loan or debt interest, savings for retirement, owning a home, savings for children’s future education, pets, or the cost of caring for loved ones with serious illnesses or disabilities. The Living Wage does not include anything other than the smallest cushion for emergencies or hard times.

“Over the past year we have seen a drastic increase in the costs to live in our community, spanning from the housing market to the cost of groceries,” stated Brittany Burley, Executive Director of United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk. “Having an updated Living Wage is an important piece of information for our community to better understand what it takes to be able to afford to live here. It’s important to note that the Living Wage is calculated using the average rental price for a 3-bedroom apartment of $1,018, as it takes into consideration rentals that may have been lived in for decades and have more affordable rates. A new family moving into the community would be hard-pressed to find a rental at that rate, which means they would need to earn even more than the Living Wage to survive in Haldimand and Norfolk.”

When asked why it was important for United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk to calculate the Living Wage, Burley responded, “One of our key focus areas is ‘From Poverty to Possibility’ and we believe knowing how much it costs to survive in our community is an important first step to reducing poverty. There are a lot of people out there working Minimum Wage jobs struggling to survive and it’s not because they are making poor financial decisions; it’s because the Minimum Wage is not enough to live on.”

Communities that have already implemented the Living Wage have found it to be beneficial to employers by improving recruitment, employee retention, increased productivity and morale and reduced retraining expenses. For workers, it reduced the need to work multiple jobs to pay bills, reduced stress of financial pressures, provided opportunities for skills training to further employment opportunities, improved nutrition, and raised the standards of living and quality of life. The community benefitted by raising consumer spending locally, increased local participation, and lowered child poverty rates.

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk would like to thank Cassidy Robinson for her help on the project, as well as the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk Opens 2022-2023 Funding Applications for Non-Profits

October 25, 2021 – For Immediate Release

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk is now accepting funding applications from non-profit organizations for the 2022-2023 funding year. Funding is available for programs targeting their three main focus areas: All That Kids Can Be, From Poverty to Possibility, and Healthy People, Strong Communities. Funding is open to non-profit organizations serving the communities of Haldimand, Norfolk, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Applications for funding will be accepted up until Friday, January 14, 2022 at 4:00 PM. Please note that United Way funding must go directly to registered charitable organizations.

United Way funding decisions are community driven and community focused. Each year a group of local volunteers representing various sectors in Haldimand and Norfolk form the Allocations Committee. Using their knowledge and first-hand experience, they allocate funds to the programs that will meet the most urgent needs of our community.

United Way Application Documents

United Way’s Stuff the Bus Program Needs You to Help Local Children

August 3, 2021 – For Immediate Release

Stuff the Bus is an annual program run by United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk that provides school supplies to children in need. The program supports over 600 children and youth annually. United Way is requesting community support to donate school supplies for the program. Requested items include backpacks, markers, crayons, pencils, erasers, calculators, glue sticks, and more. Supplies will be collected up until August 20^th.

Donated supplies can be dropped off in Haldimand at Don Hyde Marine (4075 Highway 6, Hagersville), and True Experience (201 Forest Street East, Dunnville) or in Norfolk at FirstOntario Credit Union (107 Queensway East, Simcoe), Simcoe Natural Foods (479 Queensway West, Simcoe), Barry Malcolm CFP (71 Thompson Road, Waterford) and Norfolk Community Help Centre (505 Fairground Road, Langton). If you wish to donate and are unable to access the drop-off locations, reach out to United Way at [email protected].

Family members that are interested in receiving supplies from the Stuff the Bus program are encouraged to contact their children’s schools to let them know they would like to participate. United Way sorts the supplies and drops them off directly at the schools one week prior to the start of the school year, allowing families to pick up the supplies beforehand. All schools in the Grand Erie District School Board and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board have access to the program. Families attending other schools should contact United Way directly. 

“It has been a very challenging year for students trying to learn during the pandemic,” states Brittany Burley, Executive Director of United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk. “While there is still uncertainty about what the next school year looks like, we do know that the children in our community are still going to need school supplies, whether they are attending school in-person or online. Our community has been incredibly supportive of the Stuff the Bus program over the years, and we hope that we can count on that continued support.”

Stuff the Bus is running for its fourth year in Haldimand and Norfolk. Due to the success of the program, Brant United Way is partnering with United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk to expand Stuff the Bus across schools in Brant County and Brantford. Brant United Way will be doing separate fundraising. All supplies donated in Haldimand and Norfolk will stay in Haldimand and Norfolk.

In regards to the new partnership, Daniel Rankin, Executive Director of Brant United Way, stated, “Brant United Way is excited to partner on the Stuff the Bus program. In working with United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk, we can ensure that all of the students at Grand Erie District School Board and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board have an equal opportunity to access support.”

If you would like to collect supplies for Stuff the Bus as a workplace or a community group, please contact United Way directly for more information at [email protected]. Cash donations are gratefully accepted at www.unitedwayhn.on.ca. To direct your funds to the Stuff the Bus program, write “Stuff the Bus” in the comments section when making your donation.

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk Takes a Stand Against Cyberbullying

May 11, 2021 – For Immediate Release

In a world that has required us to move online, there is no escape from cyberbullying. United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk has partnered with Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp and Grand Erie District School Board to spread awareness of cyberbullying and provide tips on how to help children experiencing it. Cyberbullying happens when technology is used to embarrass, threaten, or harass another person online. It is often done anonymously, which can create fear and distrust when the victim doesn’t know who is attempting to cause them harm. Victims of cyberbullying may experience feelings of anger, sadness, or anxiety that can lead to depression, eating disorders, chronic stress, and other health ailments.

Kristal Chopp, Mayor of Norfolk County, provides personal insight on her experience with cyberbullying. Upon starting her career in politics, Chopp says, “The cyberbullying started immediately. Since being elected, one man plead guilty to uttering death threats to me and others spend their days posting blatant lies about me across various social media platforms. Some of them hide behind fake profiles, so I don’t even know who is targeting me. Eventually the abuse became so repetitive and so offensive that it was eating me alive.”

After enduring years of cyber harassment, Chopp had the following to say about how she overcame it. “In the beginning,” explains Chopp, “I firmly believed that, as a politician, I should never block anyone from seeing any of my content. The advice to ‘just ignore it’ didn’t work for me. You can’t look at that negativity day in and day out and not have it affect you. So one day, I took my friend’s advice and for a couple of the harassers; block-block and block. Don’t be afraid to just shut out the negativity – it’s liberating. The abusers are still out there, and new ones always emerge, so I made a conscious decision to minimize using social media. That is a challenge in my position because of how great of a tool it can be to communicate your message, but I do my best to find other ways.”

When asked if Chopp had any advice for anyone dealing with cyberbullying, she said, “One thing I’ve learned is that no matter what you’ll never please everyone, so the most important thing is that through it all, you just keep being you.”

Children that experience cyber bullying may not tell their guardians in fear of having their electronic devices taken away. Some signs that children are being cyberbullied include:

• Being nervous or jumpy when getting a message, text, or email
• Changes in mood, behaviour, sleep, or appetite
• Being upset after using their phone or a device to access the internet
• Spending more time alone
• Lack of interest in usual activities
• Being secretive of their ‘digital’ life
• Suddenly wanting to stop using the computer or device
• Avoiding discussions about computer or phone activities

Children that are experiencing worries or mental health struggles should contact the Haldimand-Norfolk Child & Youth Crisis Service run by United Way partner Haldimand-Norfolk REACH at 1-866-327-3224. The number is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is confidential. This program supports children up to 18 years old and families/caregivers that are concerned about the mental health of a child or youth. If you are looking for support that is not urgent, you can contact the Haldimand-Norfolk REACH Child Clinical Services Walk-in Therapy Clinic on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 519-410-1502. This therapy session can help address a concern and come up with different helpful ways to think about things. This service is offered free, funded by United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk.

If you discover a child you know is being cyberbullied, have an open conversation and allow them to tell you what is going on without judgement or criticism. Stay calm and reassure them that you will not be taking away their phone or internet, and encourage them to talk to you about any harassing messages they receive. Discuss potential actions to help them determine what steps they want to take to deal with the situation. Actions can include blocking the bully, reporting it to your teacher or principal, or compiling the messages to report to the Ontario Provincial Police. Be sure to validate your children’s feelings and get them additional support if desired.

 “Here in Grand Erie, especially now that our learning platforms are virtual, our teachers are always looking for opportunities to educate students on how their online behaviour impacts the learning community. Thinking before you post, holding people accountable for what they say online and posting positive information can make for a more inclusive environment,” says Alison High, Principal at Valley Heights Secondary School at the Grand Erie District School Board. “When things do go wrong, the Board has a policy as to how schools will respond and it gives us an additional opportunity to remind us of the importance of continuing our work together with staff, students, families and communities to help raise awareness about social media and internet safety.”

“One of the best ways we can combat negativity online is to disengage and focus on spreading positivity,” states Brittany Burley, Executive Director of United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk. “It’s important that we model the behaviour that we wish to see, which is why I challenge everyone reading this to share something positive the next time you are online, whether it is complimenting a friend or writing a kind review about a local business. With one simple action, we have the power to brighten someone’s day.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying and needs support, please contact one of the numbers listed above.