FINANCIAL RESOURCES

4. FINANCIAL RESOURCES


PURPOSE

1. To prevent or reduce dependency on social assistance by encouraging mutual support among family members.

PRINCIPLE

2. Social assistance should be seen as the program of last resort.

3. Unnecessary dependencies on social assistance should not be encouraged.

4. Mutual support among family members should be encouraged, even where that support may not have been freely offered.

POLICY

5. As a condition of eligibility, the applicant must explore resources which may be available from family members, unless it would be unreasonable to do so.

6. “Family members” include parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, or children over the age of majority.

7. Family assistance with items of basic need during emergency or short-term periods would seem particularly appropriate for young single persons, recently separated persons and persons returning to the home area of the family.

8. Most people normally receive some extended family support with such needs as transportation, babysitting, used clothing, used furniture, home maintenance, etc. It is therefore reasonable to expect applicants to seek or accept such support on a regular or periodic basis where such support may be available.