Steinbach benefits and ID clinic helping break down barriers to services

First published on Steinbach Online

A successful benefits and identification clinic was held at the Steinbach Community Outreach (SCO) drop-in centre this week.

Charlene Kroeker, SCO's office manager, says on Wednesday, lots of different services set up booths to help low-income individuals and families get the funding and benefits they need.

"Over 50 people came through, just wanting to talk about getting various things sorted out that they have questions about," she says.

The event, organized by Service Canada, is one way to break down barriers to important information and documents.

"Being able to do it in-person is super important. Not everybody has access to do things online, and not everybody has a phone that they can sit on hold with for four hours while they're waiting to get their call answered," Kroeker adds.

Among the services present were Service Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, Sara Riel — Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities, a public health nurse from Southern Health-Santé Sud, Manitoba Public Insurance, a service advisor from the Manitoba Government, Southern Chiefs Organization, and Community Financial Counselling Services.

There are certain needs that are in high demand, Kroeker says.

"Getting photo ID is a big one, getting birth certificates is another, and the new health cards because the plastic cards are coming out."

It's the first time the clinic has been hosted at SCO, but not the first time it has come to the area.

"There was a previous Benefits and ID clinic that was held at the united church right next to the foodbank during the summer last year," she says.