Ontario Chapters take Action to Double ODSP/OW
Posted September 16, 2025
Today, 125+ ACORN members took action in six Ontario cities demanding the Province raise social assistance rates, with many staging “poverty picnics” outside ODSP and OW offices. ACORN members know firsthand that current ODSP [Ontario Disability Support Program] and OW [Ontario Works] rates leave people hungry and unable to afford basic necessities.
For example:
- A single person on ODSP receives a maximum of $1,408/month; OW recipients get only $733/month.
- OW rates have been frozen since 2018, while the cost of essentials has risen over 20%.
- ODSP recipients saw only a 2.8% increase in July 2025 — the lowest annual adjustment since inflation-based increases began.
- Social assistance rates remain as low as 60% below the poverty line.
- Nearly 60% of food bank users report ODSP or OW as their primary source of income.
This is why Ontario ACORN is demanding the Province:
- Raise ODSP and OW rates by at least double
- Index rates to inflation permanently
- Match the housing allowance to market rents by city
- End spousal income and benefits clawbacks
In September 2024, Premier Doug Ford said that he’d support people with disabilities “for life”. However, the Ontario Conservative Party was the only major party in this past election who did not publicly support doubling social assistance rates – SHAME!
Ottawa
Ottawa ACORN held a “Poverty Picnic” outside the Ottawa South Ontario Works office where over 30 members gathered to protest the inadequate ODSP and OW rates that leave people in poverty. Participants shared testimonies, chanted, and called out the daily hardships we face as people living on social assistance. ACORN members, led by South Chapter Co-Chair Cassie Lepage, attempted to deliver a demand letter to the office; staff refused entry, but a representative met outside and agreed to forward the letter to head office!
Toronto
Toronto ACORN showed up in force today outside of Wellesley Place, home of the local Ontario Works and ODSP office in St. Jamestown. We set up our picnic blanket, passed around empty plates and cutlery, and welcomed onlookers and benefit recipients to our poverty picnic! Michael Regan, a Downtown Toronto ACORN member on ODSP, shared that his attempt to get his electric scooter repaired has been held up because ODSP messed up his paperwork! Stacey Semple, the secretary of the Downtown Toronto ACORN chapter, then shared how Doug Ford has failed to support our society’s most vulnerable, and instead has forced them into legislated poverty! After some energetic chanting and lots of petitioning, security guards let us into the office, and staff helped us to fax our demands off to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services! SUCCESS!
Hamilton
40 Hamilton ACORN members and allies (Disability Justice Network of Ontario, Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton) picketed outside of the Hamilton ODSP office because social assistance rates in Ontario are an insult to human dignity. The action was led by downtown member Marc and East End chair Kayla. The rally heard powerful speeches from members Anna (Mountain Chapter), Taylor (Stoney Creek) and Lorne (Downtown) and our ally Sahra from the Disability Justice Network of Ontario. The ODSP office manager accepted ACORN’s demand letter.
London
Nearly 20 London ACORN members turned up to their local ODSP office, gathering lot’s of attention from local media and honks of support from cars passing by! Members successfully delivered a demand letter to the office but only after a major detour as the building entrance is currently not wheelchair accessible (pretty ironic!).
Kitchener
A small but mighty group of Waterloo Region ACORN members gathered outside the ODSP office in Kitchener, getting a ton of supportive honks and petition signatures from passers by. Spirits were high as members turned chants into songs and delivered their demand letter to the office.
Brampton
Over a dozen Peel ACORN members showed up today at Brampton’s ODSP & Employment Office for our Poverty Picnic. Members laid out a picnic blanket, empty bowls and plates, and lawn chairs to show that ODSP recipients can’t afford to eat! Thank you to ACORN leaders Tanya Burkart, Marcia Bryan, Mia Staios and LaSean Ebanks for leading the action.
“Double double ODSP, we don’t want no POVERTY!”
