Returning to Ontario Works

Authors

  • Ernie Lightman
  • Andrew Mitchell
  • Dean Herd

Abstract

This paper exunines the isslrc of welfcne recidiuism m Toronto. Afeer reviewing the auailable literature - both in ter-ms of tndiuidual experiences ad. the broader bbow market context - the paper reports on the findings of a telephone suruey of social assistance Ieauers conducted inToronto in 2005. Analysis reveak irnpornnt differences in terms of age , family tJpe ad education between recidiuists cnd the general social asslstan ce case- Load. Typical "work-first" employment. interq.tentrons a'e shown to be krgely ineffecnue in preuenting retums to asslstance . Additional finarcial assistance , employment md medical bcncfits arc aII shown to haqte positivc effects. A rcmge of meanues described as "beyond work-first" (firuncial incenti,Des and supports, case m(magement, employer-based strategies, and greater access to education cmd training both before and after employment) offer some fn'omise of inueasing job retention and reducing recidiq,'ism. Howeuer, there is also a need to question the asswnPtion tfutt. retLLms to assistctnce reflect a policy failwe. While the goal must be on sustained ernployment, quicl

Published

2007-05-01

How to Cite

Lightman, E., Mitchell, A., & Herd, D. (2007). Returning to Ontario Works. Canadian Review of Social Policy Revue Canadienne De Politique Sociale, (59). Retrieved from https://crsp.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/crsp/article/view/34142

Issue

Section

Papers