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HB NEWS ‘PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY ONE STEP AWAY FROM BEING ON THE STREET ALL THE TIME’ Continued from page 3 simply can't afford the price of rent or they can't ford the price of grocer- ies. People are literally one step away from being on the street all the time, so the panic level's a lot high- er. The deadline for the rent supplement was March 31, which created a push at Mone: desk at theend. of Jastw mek, however peo] minded that thousands of dollars in benefits and credits are linked to in- come tax return comple- tio n. “More and more bene- fits are being distributed through the tax system - and the rate at which these benefits are being paid out Store Made Smoked Skin-on Bone-in Hams $3.49 Ib Reg $4.25 Ib $7.69 kg Reg $9.37 kg is changing too,” The Work- ing Centre advises on its website. There were more than17 million refunds issued to Canadians amounting to almost $37 billion. Working Centre staff say volunteers were able to provide support to help people access more million worth of benefits and expect that number to increase this year. "The Canada Child Ben- efit can provide hundreds o collars per month, is obviously crucial Dor peep “noted Schaefer. io sales tax and property tax credits are al- located to recipients on a monthly basis as part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit. Others benefits linked to child and dental care are intended to help lower costs for eligible families, but you need to file a tax re- turn in order to receive the funds. About 25 trained volun- teers will help about 3,000 people file tax returns this year, according to Working Centre manager Joe cini, who said while there are other agencies in the community offering clinics to tein in. come earners, few provide as comprehensive a walk- in service as the Working Centre. "This i is a two-month op- eration, Monday to Fri- First, people must fill out an intake form. Volun- teers can assist and pro- vide translators. Weekly Specials APRIL 3 - 10, 2023 Store Made Black Forest Mini Hams (1 kg) $14.99 ea Reg $17.99 ea Fresh Locally Raised Grade A Turkeys (13-20 Ibs) $4.19 Ib $9.24 kg Store Made Boneless 50/50 Turkey Rolls (5 Ib) $9.99 Ib $22.02 kg Fresh Prime Rib Roasts $14.99 Ib Reg $15.99 Ib $33.05 kg Reg $35.25 kg Cabbage Rolls (16/tray) $39.99 ea Reg $45.99 ea Wah lelaler yal 3031 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg Mon - Thur 9 am - 6 pm; Ee 7pm; 5p Sat 7:30 am - 519-699-4590 STEMMLERMEATS.CA | Only the best from our family to yours! The Working Centre al- so has outreach workers dedicated to helping the homeless population file tax returns at its shelters in Kitchener and Waterloo. “We don't want to miss things for any person be- cause the consequences are pretty significant," said Mancini. "We also only have certain human capac- ity in the day to have these really specific conversa- tions. “That's always our bot- tleneck — is how many hu- mans do we have here?" “We know that when there's a line like this, it's not because we're doing something ig wrong," Manci- ni said. "It's because it's so effective and crucial for household stability.” ‘or a list of community Bill Jackson/ Metroland People lined up outside the Working Centre last week, many of whom were taking advantage of a free income tax clinic offered at this time of year. tax pinies and criteria, peo, website. The Region of Wa- terloo and various organi- zations such as the Wilmot yurce Centre of- fer in- person, arop-o one and over-the-phon¢ with different ‘hours me ed eration. The majority of tax re- Canada now get filed electronically. For most Canadians, the deadline to pay taxes and file a return fo date is a Sunday, a will be considered filed on time if the CRA receives it, or it is postmarked, on or before May 1, 2023. STORY BEHIND THE 'ORY: With income tax time upon us, the Chronicle checked in with free clinic providers including the Working Centre in down- town Kitchener. Ever have that feeling that you are missing out? Happy Easter! / — YOUR LOCALLY OWNED HEARING CENTRE — 7 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 888-979-7196 OPEN EVENINGS AND SATURDAYS BY APPO! What? At Serenity Hearing, our experienced providers will test your hearing and help you select the hearing instrument best suited to meet your needs. We prescribe hearing aids from all manufacturers with all the latest technologies available including connectivity to smartphones, TV, Bluetooth® and more! We offer competitive pricing and various types of payment plans. Make a point to schedule regular hearing assessments for you and your family. Call us, we're “ear” to help! Serenity Hearing HEALTH & WELLNESS MENT Certified Lyric provider ¢ www.serenityhearing.ca ~ e ES 8 2 Ey s Fa 5 = Fy a a 3 £ > 2 EN 2 8 8 B'9]D|UOIYDOOHE}EM