Guiding Principles
1. Transparency
Emergency food services in Guelph-Wellington maintain objective, public criteria for determining eligibility that are based on a transparent process. We are committed to open, transparent dialogue about our eligibility with all community partners, including clients.
2. Dignity
Anyone who approaches emergency food services in Guelph-Wellington for support will be treated with kindness, respect, and dignity. We are committed to applying our eligibility criteria in a way that does not stigmatize people, so that we may build relationships with clients based on trust.
3. Privacy
Emergency food services in Guelph-Wellington respect the privacy of our clients and will not collect more information than will actually be used to process clients requests for support and will avoid intrusive questions.
4. Empathy
Emergency food services in Guelph-Wellington are committed to demonstrating empathy when determining and applying eligibility criteria. This requires an understanding of the following considerations:
- One's own experience is not the same as someone else's, and therefore we need to understand the unique components of a person's life.
- We must refrain from judgement, as empathy does not place a value on what is right or wrong.
- We must consider all the environmental or societal factors that have an impact on a person's living circumstances.
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