Unemployed Manitobans who need assistance to obtain employment insurance benefits will have a stronger advocate in an enhanced Community Unemployed Help Centre (CUHC). This announcement was made by Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Peter Bjornson.
“The Community Unemployed Help Centre has a proven track record for providing information, advice and representation to unemployed workers,” said Bjornson. “For many, the one-on-one attention provided by CUHC relieves the stress of emotional and financial issues many unemployed people face. We are pleased to help this organization expand with a grant of $165,000.”
Funding of $110,000 from Manitoba Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade will support new programs that help unemployed workers with advice and advocacy.
Through Neighbourhoods Alive!, $55,000 will support CUHC in providing a public education and outreach project. This initiative will offer training in poverty law and advocacy to community-based organizations that represent people living in poverty.
“The CUHC plays a critical role in ensuring the legal rights of unemployed workers are maintained,” said Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, minister responsible for Neighbourhoods Alive!. “Healthy communities are built by more than infrastructure. They are built by investing in the people and families who live and work in those communities.”
“CUHC applauds the Province of Manitoba for responding to the needs of those individuals who depend on employment and income assistance benefits, and is grateful for the confidence placed in the centre by making this funding available,” said Neil Cohen, executive director, CUHC.
Funding for these new projects fulfills a recommendation of the 2010 ombudsman’s report on the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Program, which urged the province to enhance advocacy services for income assistance recipients.
The CUHC is committed to the rights of unemployed workers and income assistance recipients, said Bjornson. It has five primary roles: advocating for people applying for or receiving employment insurance (EI) or EIA, providing EI and EIA information to the public, counselling and referrals, social policy analysis and public interest advocacy. All services are provided free of charge.
