UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC RESILIENCE OF SURVIVORS OF ECONOMIC ABUSE THROUGH ACCESS TO UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

Ensuring increased economic security for survivors, their families, and communities

CCFWE calls on the Canadian government to implement measures to establish a Universal Basic Income (UBI) ensuring that everyone living in Canada has the support necessary to ensure a life of dignity and security.

For too long, the current “social safety net” has failed survivors of Economic Abuse, particularly in the BIPOC community, to overcome the economic consequences of domestic violence and enjoy financial independence from any perpetrator. A Guaranteed Livable Basic Income as currently proposed in Bill C-223, would make it possible for survivors to have the financial resources available to leave abusive relationships and rebuild their lives without the current barriers in place.

CCFWE will continue collecting data on the experiences of survivors and disseminate data to inform decision-makers of the challenges that survivors are currently facing and the various benefits of establishing a Universal Basic Income. Additionally, CCFWE will also work together with the National Task Force of Women’s Economic Justice and external stakeholders to draft policy recommendations on UBI specifically related to creating proactive, preventative solutions to Economic Abuse.

Learn about our current Research Project, ‘Access to Economic Resources among Survivors of Economic Abuse During COVID-19 in Ottawa

I remember one day, I had no milk in my fridge and went to the food bank to feed my child. The food bank asked me to provide income verification from the government. At this point I had no money, no income verification, no social support, and not even food from a food bank. It was very hard to start a life for me and my child. These experiences resulted in significant mental health trauma, but it took two years to see a therapist. It was a very heartbreaking journey to recover from all these traumas’

Rebecca