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“| feel like I’ve been abandoned by the
system,” claims one young single mother of
two enrolled at Douglas College. “People
working in social services don’t seem to
realize much about how the student loan
process works.” Attending Douglas is this
mom/’s second attempt to educate herself
and get off of welfare. “Last time I got a
certificate in business administration as a
legal secretary. It took me about a year to

“more emergency hospital visits,” and are
more likely to be diagnosed as having
moderately severe diagnoses than children
in two parent families.

Mother-headed families contend with a
lot. When you think about it, leaving the
safety of welfare, and maintaining the
“status quo,” takes a lot of guts. Yet many
women are trying to educate themselves off
the system. That women are actually
functioning, let alone succeeding, in the face

[' doesn’t matter if you have one child or five children—

you'll get the same amount.

realize this job isn’t going to get me off the
system. I still needed to be subsidized in
medical, daycare, and shelter.”

Local social services supervisor Nora
Thompson confirmed, “Students are not
eligible for assistance; their loan money is
supposed to cover all of their expenses while
they are attending school.” Ms. Thompson
was unaware that Canada and BC Student
Loans have a maximum loan amount:
$13 090. If you are a single parent you will
usually get the maximum. It doesn’t matter
if you have one child or five children—
you'll get the same amount.

If you are one of the brave who takes the
plunge from welfare mom to student,
Welfare closes your file. You lose all benefits,
including your medical and dental benefits.

While lack of funding is a major source of
stress facing most students, it is only one
stress factor among many. Single parents are
especially vulnerable. Aside from general
selfcare and maintaining grades, single
parents have to cook, clean, and maintain
their children as well. Stats Canada reports
that “female lone parents with at least one
child under five report an average of seven
hours sleep and 1.3 hours free time” per day,
this includes time for hygiene and other
personal care.

Single parents also have to deal with child
care. Student parents are still eligible for day
care subsidy, but according to our source,
“It’s never covered more than two thirds of
my child care expenses. And when your kid
gets sick, day care doesn’t want them there,
so you have to look for alternative arrange-
ments.”

According to one recent study of single
parents in Canada, “after financial difficul-
ties, housing [is] the most serious problem
facing lone parent families; lone parent
families [are] housed in the poorest accom-
modations and in the least desirable locali-
ties.” A study in Great Britain revealed that
single parent families are over-represented
in their homeless population—accounting
for 40%.

Studies of Canadian hospital records show
that children of unmarried mothers average

of such tremendous obstacles is testament to
female stamina and resourcefulness.

So what happens if the money runs out?
According to Social Services you have to
demonstrate extreme hardship. This entails
attending an orientation for new recipients,
or receiving a home visit from a social
worker. You'll need last year’s income tax
return, all your loan documents, your last
three months’ bank statements, rent and
Hydro receipts. You'll also need to account
for every dime of your loan with an exten-
sive list of how the money was spent, and a
statement from Canada Student Loans
saying they won’t give you any more
money. All that still doesn’t guarantee
assistance. :

It’s a long and stressful process, especially
if you're asking for assistance during finals
or midterms. Chances are you'll be turned
down. According to Nora Thompson, “You
can always appeal.” But that means tribu-
nals, more paperwork and more time spent
away from studies—and kids. Thompson
says, “I was a single mom too. I worked two
jobs. It took me seven years to get my
degree. I’m not unsympathetic. If a single
mom who is a student comes through my
office, she is better off trying to contact me
directly before attempting an appeal. I’ll do
what I can.”

The Douglas Financial Aid office “likes
single moms,” according to one officer. If
you find yourself stuck, the Financial Aid
Office is a good place to start on your quest
for help. BC Benefits also has an office at
Douglas. Many of their peer advisors and
counsellors are familiar with the bureau-
cratic processes involved in getting a little
extra help.

If you happen to be a single parent in the
middle of a financial crisis, remember no
one likes the present system, but it’s the only
one we’ve got. No one, not even the most
heartless social worker, wants to see you fail.
As Douglas counsellor Martha Entin would
say, “Reach out,” and keep reaching out
until you get the help you need. Educating
yourself off the system is the only real way

out of poverty. »

LU Val Val ct ee saw ~“LLUWOELLE
hiv Rarhara Kinlev-Hithert

 

The Other Press March 4, 1997 5