Dialing down the anxiety

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This article was published 03/10/2020 (1816 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans living on low incomes have a new resource they can turn to with financial questions.

Three community agencies have partnered to create a financial helpline that provides free information about a range of topics, including tax filing and government benefits.

The helpline was created, in part, to respond to the anxiety some people are feeling now that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit has ended, says Millie Acuna, a program manager at Supporting Employment and Economic Development Winnipeg.

“There is a fear and a stigma when it comes to money management,” Acuna says. “We’re not there to criticize…. We’re there to be a trusted advocate and support.”

SEED Winnipeg is partnering with Community Financial Counselling Services and Community Unemployed Help Centre to run the helpline.

People can access it by calling or texting 431-813-4357. There is also a toll-free option at 1-855-955-4234.

Each partner has a unique focus, according to Acuna. SEED Winnipeg helps people obtain identification and will offer assistance with benefit applications.

The staff at Community Financial Counselling Services have expertise in the area of tax filing, and Community Unemployed Help Centre advocates on behalf of people who are on Employment and Income Assistance or Employment Insurance.

Community Financial Counselling Services is happy to be a part of the helpline, says John Silver, the agency’s executive director.

“I think one of the benefits of this particular line is that it’s set up so that there can be an almost immediate handoff or referral to a staff person from one of the three agencies who can help the (caller), rather than just giving them a phone number or telling them someone will call them in a few days with an answer to their particular problem,” he says.

During a typical tax season, staff at Silver’s agency prepare tax returns for about 10,000 low-income Manitobans.

Staff helped about 3,000 people this year before they had to stop meeting clients in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now Silver is anticipating that his agency will be assisting people who haven’t yet filed their tax returns.

For Sandra Guevara-Holguin, an EIA advocate at Community Unemployed Help Centre, the helpline is exciting because it bolsters awareness of her agency.

“Over the years we have tried our best to get the word out in the community that we do this work. The constant struggle is funding and resources to do so,” she says. “Now that we are in a partnership with SEED and Community Financial Counselling Services, we are reaching way more people.”

Since its launch on Sept. 16, the helpline has been receiving 15 to 20 calls every day. Acuna expects that number to increase this month.

Many people are in crisis mode as a result of their financial situation, Acuna says, which can make long-term planning difficult. The helpline is for people in that situation.

“Our hope is to reach those folks that are most vulnerable right now,” she says.

The helpline is supported by Prosper Canada, the provincial and federal governments and United Way Winnipeg, which is currently in the midst of its annual fundraising campaign.

“Without the United Way, basically we couldn’t do what we do on a daily basis,” Guevara-Holguin says.

“We know right now that people are having very serious issues (with) their financial security,” she adds. “That’s why we want to help people as much as we can to get the best outcome possible.”

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