Sometimes it just takes a little help to navigate the system.
Last November Joyce Percey was hired as Powell River’s poverty law advocate, one of 70 in BC. Powell River’s poverty law advocate position is funded in part by the Law Foundation of BC and works out of Powell River Community Services Association’s Joyce Avenue offices.
Percey came to the job with more than 25 years’ leadership experience as founder and executive director of Powell River Gymnastics and Cheer. After she retired, she sought new challenges.
It is not a requirement of the job that poverty law advocates are trained lawyers, although some in the province are. Percey isn’t.
The advocate’s role is one that ensures fair access to income support programs and services through information, support and one-on-one advocacy.
Because people with low incomes tend to be tenants rather than landlords, debtors rather than creditors and purchasers rather than vendors, poverty law concerns itself with providing help for people needing to access government income assistance, pension or disability programs. “It’s the biggest part of my job,” Percey said, explaining that she can help people complete forms if they do not quite understand what is needed. “If they get turned down, I’m able to make enquiries, request reconsiderations, even write letters and go to tribunal hearings if needed.”
Percey said the paperwork required to apply for Persons With Disability benefits can be particularly challenging to navigate. She is also able to help people who already are on disability apply for anything needed like wheelchairs or help getting ferry passes.
Percey also helps tenants understand their rights and responsibilities, can provide mediation with landlords and help with dispute resolution hearings.
“Tenancy is a huge issue as well,” she said. “With tenancy there are many issues with people who need their landlords to make repairs or who don’t get their damage deposit back or problems with other tenants or eviction notices.”
Percey said she also can help people, particularly newcomers to Canada, navigate the process of getting a driver’s licence or picture identification. “If you’re new to Canada it can be really tricky to get picture identification if you don’t have a driver’s licence,” she added.
With much of her job she helps people fill out government forms, where literacy may be an issue. “Often they have paperwork that is required but they don’t understand it,” she said.
Student load debt can be scary for people, so she can help people understand what they need to do to restructure their personal finances.
Poverty law advocates also provide information workshops, presentations and written material for the general public.
She has given talks on the payday loans, how they work and why they should be avoided. She has also made presentations about Registered Disability Savings Plan with its 300 per cent matching funds from the federal government, something she said is “unheard of.”
Despite the position’s name, there is no income threshold requirement to obtain Percey’s help. To find out more, readers can contact Percey at 604.485.0950.
