ODSP rates should not be determined according to the whims of the party in power

 by Reuel S. Amdur Since the Ford government announced its budget toward the end of April, the poor and disabled and their advocates have expressed concern about what it will mean for social assistance benefits. There are two programs for social assistance benefits in Ontario, the Ontario Disability Support Program

Registered social worker Elaine Birchall tackles hoarding

 by Reuel S. Amdur In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association came out with their fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-5.  The manual is used world-wide among mental health practitioners to identify and characterize mental disorders. The DSM-5 added a new diagnosis, hoarding. Well, that

Changes are required at Ottawa Social Services to better serve recipients

 by Reuel S. Amdur Ottawa Social Services is not doing everything it should to assist recipients of social assistance to get the provincial rate. There are two programs in Ontario, Ontario Works (OW), operated municipally, and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), run provincially. A single person on OW in

GottaGo! calls on NCC and Ottawa Public health to make public washrooms available in Ottawa

 by  Reuel S. Amdur It was at the height of the corona virus lockdown. I was shopping for sausages and cheese in the ByWard Market when my guts began to growl.  Where to go?  ByWard Market Square, with its toilet facilities, was locked tight. I tried the building housing Le

The storied history of 375 King Edward: From Synagogue to Adventist Church

 By Reuel S. Amdur Heading north from Rideau Street on Ottawa’s King Edward Avenue, the major artery that connects Ottawa with Quebec, on the east side you notice some brick buildings. One really hits you in the eye . . . Something is out of place. What is this synagogue