Connection during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many inequities, including the huge gap between those who have access to computers at home and those who do not. Programs and services are online, but not everyone has an Internet connection or a computer.
Everything from grocery deliveries to government support applications are online now and for the foreseeable future. This makes lack of technology more of a barrier today than ever. Here are three examples of how the Atlantic Compassion Fund and our donors’ local love provided much-needed connection to people right here in Halifax:
Chebucto Links
The programs at Chebucto Links enable seniors to maintain active, healthy, and social lifestyles. Many members have credited the programs with saving their lives and keeping social isolation at bay. But COVID-19 put an end to Chebucto Links’ fun, engaging, in-person activities, which moved online. Because many seniors find it daunting to navigate this new, virtual world, donations to United Way’s Atlantic Compassion Fund allowed for a part-time IT technician to support seniors and program deliverers. Chebucto Links now has a goal to find a partner to run a designated, safe “IT Help Desk” for seniors.
Halifax Refugee Clinic
This small but mighty team continues to support the growing needs of refugee claimants and migrant individuals and families. This is an extremely marginalized community, and the Clinic’s clients are often not eligible for the government’s COVID-19 supports due to a lack of work permits or social insurance numbers. The pandemic is reinforcing barriers and making difficult situations even worse.
The team at the Halifax Refugee Clinic identified 12 families who were particularly struggling due to a lack of technology. Their request was simple: they needed 12 refurbished laptops, and two months of Internet bill coverage for each household. Atlantic Compassion Fund donors re-connected these families to the classes, programs, and workshops offered through the Halifax Refugee Clinic, as well as to schools, teachers, and family members in other countries.
Chebucto Connections
One of the programs run out of this Spryfield neighbourhood hub is called Pathways to Education. It’s a national program that supports youth education, helping students reach high school graduation. When schools closed in March, program staff provided virtual support to 300 families. One student, who lives with a grandparent, was using all of their cellphone data to do their schoolwork because there was no Internet at home. This left them with little to no data for other activities. They weren’t able to participate in any other virtual programming offered by Chebucto Connections or even connect with friends. Unfortunately, this student is not the only one in a situation like this. Atlantic Compassion Fund donors helped to cover Internet bills so that students in Spryfield wouldn’t be left behind — academically or socially.
