The week before my cheque comes, I start thinking and making choices in my head and budgeting. I always pay my rent first, that’s a must, which then leaves me $168 for the rest of the month. Then I think, “Okay, what sales are on? Do I need detergent, cleaning supplies, shampoo?” If I add water to the conditioner, it lasts a lot longer. Still, if I buy dish detergent, shampoo and laundry detergent, then I’m going to be short, so I don’t eat meat that month. This month, however, was a good month, I ate meat twice.

I have lots of skills. I’ve worked as an esthetician, worked in retail, and as a bus driver, to name a few jobs. Then I had a serious automobile accident. After that, I stopped driving, and things went downhill from there. I developed agoraphobia
and I stayed inside my house for eight years.

I went on the “system”, and got on ODSP. I am getting better, and I volunteer regularly at the food bank. I would like to go back to school and do things to help my education and build on my skills, but I’m told that under ODSP I don’t fall under the category to go back to school. If an opportunity comes and there’s a possibility that I might get a chance to earn money, I have to be careful because I would have to report everything, and then pay ODSP back retroactively. Sometimes it feels like ODSP would rather you stay crippled. I’m also trying to get physically healthier. I’ve got a liver condition. Doctors say I need more iron, and to eat more salads and vegetables. I found out from advocacy at Daily Bread Food Bank that I could apply for a special diet from ODSP. So I applied but I got turned down three times. My worker told me if I wanted to appeal I had to go down to Bay Street and that means big buildings and fear. It’s Intimidating to go into big offices especially when people use thirty letter words I don’t understand.