Discussions

I'm not sure of all the resources Brandon has to offer and i'm hoping someone on here could maybe direct me into the right direction, here is my situation in a nut shell. So the term of my employment ended back in March, got on EI and started looking for a job right away, all the jobs in my field are all term positions and being a single mother of four and getting no help from my children's father I came to realize that I cant be doing term positions as I need to start receiving benefits but more important I cant be living for months with no income while looking for employment. I decided it would be a good idea to change career paths and I enrolled in school,. I did receive a student loan thanks gosh because unknown to me I was not allowed to enroll in school unless I spoke to EI first so i lost that income, student loan paid the course in full and gave me $5000 to live off of for 11 months. At the beginning of December I noticed that my funds were really low so i decided that i would contact social assistance to see if i could get some help as I graduate in April and would be able to find a job and not need their help anymore. At the meeting the worker informed me that the only way I can get any help from them is if I drop out of school, he went on to tell me that they are a "last resort, short term program", this confused me because i only needed their help sort term as I only have four months left of school but if I dropped out i would need long term help because I would then be in debt from the student loan and not have a degree to show for it so I wouldn't be able to get employment in that field. Before people get upset let me just say yes I have been looking for employment and sending in resumes but no luck yet, I did apply for a Christmas hamper just never heard from them if I am getting one or not. I feel so stuck and don't know where to turn, and with Christmas here the feeling of having no where to turn is getting worse. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of resources that I could get help to make it through this hard time. Thanks in advance.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's definitely hard to navigate all the services and know the rules and ins and outs of them all. Getting an education is a bit of a double edged sword-you need it to make money but need money to get an education. It's a crapshoot. Have you looked at getting a loan through your bank just to get you through to the end of your schooling? If you haven''''t already I would speak to a financial advisor that your bank has to see if there are any other options that you may qualify for.  
 
Edited by Tink1234, 2017-12-14 14:44:51

I am sure you will receive a hamper, but it wouldn't hurt to give them a call first thing tomorrow to verify and find out when it will be delivered. Have worked with this volunteer group in the past and they do their very best to help people in need and do not judge.  
Also there is the annual Xmas dinner - not sure where it is held, maybe other e-Brandoners will know.  
Good luck and hope you can find a way to finish your schooling. This is a tough time of year for many.

There is a Brandon office.  
 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/eia/index.html

they said i would have to drop out of school to get help from them and i cant let that be an option as i only have four more months of school

Have you tried Salvation Army's, Adopt a Family?. 727-4334 The Lady whom coordinates it is Karen. Give her your information. I'm sure things will be much merrier.

Depending where you go to school there might b on campus resources that can help. ACC has an emergency loan program and both ACC and BU have a food bank that students can access.

I was able to find a list of some organizations who may be able to help. I would contact every single one of them, even if they don't specialize in what your after. These are the people who, everyday, work with situations such as yours and have access to the tools that your after. Someone will have an option, idea or loophole that isn't advertised or well known.  
 
https://livelearn.ca/article/money-finances/manitoba-financial-assistance-programs/  
 
Hang in there! Although it may seem like an eternity, four months isn't a lifetime - I promise you got this!!  
 
Edited by Robyn Gibb, 2017-12-15 12:10:50

Hello, just wondering if you need presents for the kids yet, we have donated around 30, but still have a few kicking around-any food required for Christmas? let us know

As nice as it would be to have gifts for Christmas, food and rent is more important at this time for my family. I will say I have had a couple people message me offering some help and if they come through I think I will be able to make it through the holiday and I would like to thank everyone for all the info, and thank you to the people who have messaged wanting to help, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks

As an adult education coordinator, I can assure you that EIA will support people attending an education program. I'm wondering if you just happened to speak to someone at EIA who was new or simply didn't have the right information. I think it might well be worth contacting them again. You can also call me at BFC Adult Education to discuss further, if you like. 204 726-1830.

I went for the orientation and met with a worker who then went and talked with his supervisor and I got told the same this I was told a month before that. I was told that I should have got on assistance and then went through all their steps before applying for school. I have called them now and talked to many different people and they all have told me I have to drop out of school for them to help me.

7th street access centre. I went there and they were great! contact them.