Help Kevin

Hello Friends and Community,

My name is Will Taylor, and I've created this campaign for my friend Kevin Marshall.

Kevin is going through a difficult time at the moment. He hasn't been able to work due to chronic pain and resulting mental health issues. Recently my girlfriend Vanessa Phillips and I discovered that Kevin is in crisis; he has been unable to pay his rent for four months and is behind on his utilities. His Employment insurance and savings ran out some months ago, which has led to a lack of access to food and other necessities. Kevin is a private person, and it has not been easy for him to ask for or accept help. If you would like more detailed information on his situation, please contact us directly.

This last week (Jan. 17 2022), we successfully got him signed up for Social Assistance. However, Social Assistance does not offer payments to help settle past rent, even in cases of potential eviction. Although it is helpful that Kevin qualifies for help at this time, the payments are not sufficient to cover current expenses in addition to repaying his debts or accessing any health-related support. We are working to find additional sources of help, but at this point, a shortfall exists between accessible government funds and the funds needed to make a difference for Kevin.

This experience has shown us how ineffective our "official" social assistance emergency measures and programs can be, and the incredible barriers that exist for individuals in rural areas who need help. Vanessa or I will be happy to go on at tedious length about the obstacles encountered in this process, if you care (or dare) to ask us. But it has also shown us how the minor actions of individuals can make a huge difference despite all that. It ranged from the great (and I have to admit, somewhat unexpected) consideration and empathy shown by an exemplary RCMP officer, to the invaluable help of (some of the) government employees that guided us through navigating the mazes of application purgatory.

Please consider donating to this campaign. Any amount will help; it all adds up. This is a pivotal moment of crisis where financial support from the community is needed. We are working diligently to ensure that Kevin doesn't fall through the cracks in the system into homelessness.

We appreciate your time and support.

Thank you,

Will Taylor