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Community resources can be life-changing but only if you can find them

3/3/2016

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There are many organizations that offer help to the public, yet the public might not be aware that these resources are available to them. If people don't know these resources exist, they can't know to search for them.

Finding help quickly and easily with issues like unemployment, divorce, mental health or insolvency can be crucial for many people in those situations. Letting people know their rights and entitlements, including monetary benefits, housing and legal counsel can make the difference between people being overcome by problems, or being able to prevent and surmount them. People who want
 to volunteer to give something back to their community, to start a business, or to find learning opportunities can all benefit from knowing about community and government resources.

​Despite the popularity of searching for information online, the existence of many useful resources remains obscure as they have only a cursory presence online or are poorly promoted.


For people needing help because they are experiencing a personal or family crisis, or they are looking to make a life change, the Internet can and does fall short - assuming those in need can even get online. This is commoner than you think: Canada's telecoms services are among the most expensive worldwide and 27% of people with incomes under $30,000 yearly in Victoria lack Internet access.

But even if someone is online, using the internet to find information is a skill in itself. Many elderly people, or those with sight or literacy problems, lack computer skills or are technophobic. Given how contact details such for many helping organizations are buried in a small corner of a bewilderingly large or complex website, the internet is far from ideal.

Those belonging to vulnerable groups who are most in need of assistance - the impoverished, elderly, disabled, and newcomers to an area - stand the greatest risk of missing out. At a recent talk (January 2016*) the new B.C. Ombudsperson reported that their office receives many phone calls from people who are simply unsure of where to turn for help with a problem. Phone still remains the most popular method of contact over email and online forms.

Clearly we have a problem -- even though community resources exist, too many people remain unaware or unable to reach out. 

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My Help Book BC offers a simple way to help people learn about important community information that may prove crucial to help them or someone they care about.

Check here for more information on purchase locations. Bulk discounts and free copies are also available.

*Jay Chalke, January 13, 2016, OAP meeting Victoria BC


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7 essential parts of a self-advocacy letter

2/24/2014

 
7 Essential parts of an advocacy action letter by My Help Book 2014 (follow-up to 5 Self-Advocacy Tips).  
  1. Write to the right person: Make sure you are writing to someone with the power to resolve your problem. Be polite but assertive when asking for names and titles in order to find out who you should be writing to.
  2. Describe your problem: Give the background of the situation and how you have been affected. Be descriptive and specific about impacts on you and/or your family or community. But no slang, no sarcasm, no abuse, no personal attacks on the person you are writing to. If you were delayed in writing to get your problem fixed, give the reason (e.g. health problems, time stress from being a family caregiver, or other life events).
  3. Say why the problem needs to be fixed: State relevant rules, regulations, and laws. If you need help, find someone via Povnet's "Find an Advocate" or 17 super sources of legal information in BC, or the legal section in My Help Book. 
  4. Request a specific solution that is fair, reasonable and possible. Ask yourself whether it is both fair to you and something that is likely to be granted. Also keep in mind how quickly you'd like to resolve the problem; a more difficult solution will take longer than something that is easily granted.
  5. Give a deadline: Give a specific date for their response back.  Let them know if you do not hear back from them by that date, this will indicate to you that your proposed solution has been denied and that you will then have to take subsequent action. Important: Be sure to state how you want to be contacted -- by phone, email or letter.
  6. Next actions: First emphasize you'd prefer a resolution; that you would rather not take action as you have better ways to spend your time. However, if there's no resolution, you will reluctantly take action such as 'going public' or initiating legal action. Be specific: if going public, let them know you will inform your network of allies, you will use social and traditional media, and that you will seek help from advocacy groups or consumer groups (do research and name them). However, do not share your letter (except for proofreading by a trusted helper) at this point or there will be no incentive for them to fix your problem. Wait for a response back or for the deadline to pass before proceeding with your action plan. 
  7. End with a message of good will: State that you look forward to their help and cooperation. 
Other tips: Wait before sending your letter: give yourself an extra day as you may think of something else that needs to be included or changed. Proofread: show your letter to a trusted helper for proofreading if necessary. If you don't have a proofreader, print out your letter and read it to yourself out loud. Read it using a ruler one line at a time to help find typos.

More information:
5 Self-Advocacy Tips
17 Super Sources of Legal Information in BC
Example of income advocacy in extreme situations of need from OCAP
ACORN Canada - for information on issues affecting low income people or families 
Povnet's "Find an Advocate" map.

Disclaimer: These self-advocacy tips are meant for people in serious situations where their rights are being violated and who can’t find an advocate or lawyer. These tips don’t work if you are using them to be a bully, a petty tyrant, an abusive consumer, or to just to be a jerk. If you make a big issue out of a petty concern, to be vindictive, or because you are a prima donna, you will offend and alienate people around you.

17 Super Sources of Legal Information in BC

2/11/2014

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17 Super Sources of Legal Information in BC - from My Help Book page 22. Click on the photo for links (or see below). Learn more about My Help Book here.  

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5 Self-Advocacy Tips

1/28/2014

 
From My Help Book BC

If possible, find someone with experience to help you with your issue. Check "Find an Advocate" at Povnet.org or find a lawyer via Law Society of BC. 


Disclaimer: these tips are meant for people in serious situations where their rights are being violated and who can’t find an advocate or lawyer. These tips don’t work if you are using them to be a bully, a petty tyrant, an abusive consumer, or to just to be a jerk. If you make a big issue out of a petty concern, to be vindictive, or because you are a prima donna, you will offend and alienate people around you. 

1. Act sooner rather than later: If you have an incident where you feel you’ve been treated unjustly by a company, employer, landlord or government body, act to resolve it as quickly as possible rather than waiting.     

2. Keep track: If a situation looks like it may become a legal problem, document everything: keep all potentially relevant papers, emails, photos; take notes on dates, names, titles, phone numbers (and extensions), and any other relevant information in case you need it later.    

3. Get accurate information: Find out what rules, regulations, rights, laws and governing bodies apply to your situation 

4. Go up the chain of authority as needed. If someone with less authority can’t resolve your issue find out who does have the authority to resolve it.

5. Decide when to act and when to let something go: Balance your need for justice with consideration of the impact a long or difficult dispute may have on your health or your family. Sometimes people may later feel that the battle was not worth the personal toll. Or sometimes people realize too late that they should have fought for their rights immediately because the long-term negative impacts for them were huge. 

Weigh the costs and benefits of taking action: If possible, get advice from experienced professionals as well as from wise and trusted personal contacts.

Example 1: A young labourer gets an injury on the job and is wrongly fired so he isn’t able to collect worker’s compensation. Several years later his injury is causing serious problems making it difficult for him to do physical labour. He realizes too late that he should have taken the injury more seriously at the time and fought the wrongful dismissal.

Example 2: A elderly retired businessman with poor health embarks on a court case over a business conflict. The battle takes several years and consumes his time and attention. He wins the case and even though he receives no financial compensation, he feels vindicated. But his long legal battle wore out his family. They felt he should have been enjoying his retirement years instead.

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