The Green Pastures Society Network equips organizations with the knowledge and Financial Advocacy tools to help their clients get the financial and other economic resources that they are entitled to from programs established by government available to help Canadians. Finally a solution whose time has come! 

BACKGROUND

Financial challenges are among the major problems faced by New Immigrants to Canada. [1] 

Canada’s Minimum Wages no longer enough to makes ends meet. [2]

66 per cent of Toronto’s Immigrant Community can’t cover household expenses. [3] 

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES 

Government financial supports play an important role in helping Canadians avoid poverty. [4] 

Groups on the margins of society [including New Immigrants] are at risk of not receiving benefits to which they are entitled. [5] 

As a result “Billions in government benefits go unclaimed” by the people they are meant to help.  [6] 

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

[Financially challenged New Immigrants] have two main difficulties: insufficient income to participate successfully in a Market-based society (financial exclusion), and lack of knowledge of the unfamiliar aspects of the [Canadian] money system, a product of this financial exclusion." [7] 

OUR TRAINING PROGRAM

1. We equip you to be able to assess which benefits are available to assist your client. You will be trained on our proprietary software to guide you in identifying financial and other supports available to help your client. 
2.  We train qualified staff on how to enrol your clients for the benefits that they qualify for so that financial and other resources can flow to them on a timely basis. 
3. We provide online, telephone and in person support to help you deliver as first rate Financial Advocacy Program to your clients. 
4. Our training programs are delivered In Person or Online depending on the type of training required. 
5. The Cost of Annual Membership - $ 1:00 per each client that your organization has. 

References

1. Grant Schellenberg and Helene Maheux, “Immigrant’s Perspectives on their first four years in Canada.” Statistics Canada 2007 

2. Nishi Kumar and Kwame McKenzie, “Thriving in The City”, Wellesley Institute September 2017 

3. Nasima Akter, et. al, “Shadow Economies”, Wellesley Institute October 2013 

4. Myriam Fortin, “The Role of Family and Government Financial Supports in helping Canadian Workers Avoid Poverty”, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, October 2007 

5. Human Resources Development Canada, “Formative Evaluation of Income Security Programs — Outreach, Evaluation and Data Development, Strategic Policy”, September 2002 

6. Richard Shillington, “Financial Literacy and the Take-up of Government Benefits”, Task Force on Financial Literacy February 2011 

7. Kathy Landvogt, “Critical Financial Capability”, Social Policy Research Unit, Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service, Presented at Financial Literacy, Banking and Identity Conference RMIT University, 25-26 October 2006 

Tetteh Kofi Hadjor, MBA, CA [1984 to 1999] Founder/Research Director Green Pastures Society ™ 

Showing the Way out of the Labyrinth “Connecting low- Income persons and families to financial supports, solutions and economic opportunities.” 

Email: greenpasturessociety at gmail.com
Telephone: + (289)-374-6474 
Fax Number: +(416) 352-5821 
Address: 14th Floor, 90 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Mississauga, ON. L5B 3C3 

*The opinions expressed in blog posts are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of CCEDNet