In this interview, Robert MacKay, community co-chair of the NB Common Front for Social Justice, highlighted the challenges faced by people struggling with poverty.
MacKay emphasizes that after covering housing costs, individuals are often left with scant resources, sometimes as little as “a couple hundred bucks, two, three hundred bucks to live on.”
MacKay's advocacy journey began within NB's mental health system as a service user, where he connected with individuals advocating for change in the mental health system. Inspired by peer support program initiatives in the United States, MacKay envisions a similar model in New Brunswick where individuals with lived experience could become a “whole new workforce” contributing to mental health services while transitioning out of social assistance.
The implementation of peer support programs would mean “better social inclusion for people with mental health issues and on the other hand, creating jobs for people who might have difficulty getting them otherwise,” said MacKay. Such programs serve to empower individuals as service providers, “using that lived experience” as “mentors for recovery.”
“It would pay for itself. You’re taking people off social assistance, you’re bringing in people with a whole new type of knowledge, and you’re getting people based on experiential results of what works” said MacKay, emphasizing the need for evidence-based solutions to the social crises in New Brunswick.
This story was produced as part of a series of workshops hosted by the NB Media Co-op and the NB Common Front for Social Justice. Some participants with lived experience of poverty received a small honorarium from the NB Media Co-op to offset ancillary costs associated with participation (e.g. childcare, time away from paid work, etc.) that could act as a barrier to engagement. These honoraria also served as thank you for sharing knowledge, experience and expertise and for helping to produce this content. We gratefully acknowledge these contributions.
Негізгі бет N.B. anti-poverty activists push for tangible solutions amid budget surplus
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