Carl DeLine

The number of Calgarians lining up for welfare is still on the rise.

Last month 18,664 people collected welfare in the region, making June the second consecutive record-breaking month, according to figures released Monday by Alberta Social Services.

In May, 17,941 people in the Calgary region were on social allowance. The previous record month was August 1985, when 17,639 cases were handled by the Social Services department.

Spokesmen for the Inter-Faith Food Bank as well as social services said a publicity campaign initiated two weeks ago by the government had at least a partial affect on the increase in the number of poor seeking assistance.

“People are beginning to hear what’s available, some for the first time,” said Carl DeLine, manager of the food bank.

The food bank is distributing pamphlets on behalf of Alberta Social Services, which details all benefits to welfare recipients including information previously not volunteered by the government.

Bob Scott, spokesman for the Alberta Social Services, agreed that recent media attention to the problem of Calgary’s poor as well as efforts by the government to mend the problems in the welfare system likely had an effect.

He added layoffs in the oil-patch, with Expo 86 in Vancouver–which is likely deterring accommodation-conscious transients from heading West–could also be reasons for the increase of those on social allowance.

In June 1985 there were 16,959 people on welfare in the Calgary region, 1,705 fewer than last month.

The food bank as well as the Salvation Army also reported that record-high numbers of poor looking for assistance continued to pour in.

The food bank gave out 1,812 hampers in May and DeLine expects June’s figures to match it.

“Anything over 1,800 is a remarkable height when you consider that Christmas 1985 we gave out 1,900 hampers,” the busiest time of the year, said DeLine.

“This is the worst it’s ever been,” added Capt. Gordon Goodridge, with the Salvation Army.

He said during the past three months, 50 to 55 families a day have sought food–double the usual number of recipients.

“We expect this to continue unless the economy picks up again,” said Goodridge.

Scott said the department may have to boost slightly the number of social workers it planned to hire in Calgary to speed up handling of new claims. Social services expects to hire at least 20 social workers on a temporary basis in the next few weeks.

The Single Mens’ Hostel, which serves single employable men seeking welfare in the downtown area, has up to a three-week waiting period for appointments. But Scott said a significant number of men, for one reason or another, aren’t showing up.

He said those waiting have a good chance of getting in earlier if they go to the office and wait until an appointment is cancelled.

Originally published July 2, 1986 by the Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB), credited to Carol Howes.