Dispatches from the Poverty Line

by Pat Capponi

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction

194 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

Pat Capponi (born 1949) is a Canadian author and an advocate for mental health issues and poverty issues in Canada. She lives in Toronto. Her works include several nonfiction titles and a mystery novel series.

She has also served as a board member at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto and as a member of the Advocacy Commission in Ontario.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! So happy to see this book in Good Reads!

Although I have never personally met Pat Capponi, living in Toronto I know of Pat through others, mostly psychiatric survivors in Parkdale, who do know Pat.

I read Upstairs in the Crazy House a couple times before reading Dispatches.

I also read Pat's articles with great interest for their truth, critique and common sense published in NOW magazine.

Dispatches is so clear in its statements about the reality - true reality of poverty. Of course reading it just inflames my disgust for all things Mike Harris and Conservative.

This was such a hard read - hard out of compassion and facing the reality of the stress and indignity of becoming poorer and poorer in monetary ways for Pat. And knowing that she is so brilliant and her leadership and clear sightedness is so needed. Such humility to speak such truth to power.

Love the cover photo as well - Pat and her hat!

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd read this book and Upstairs in the Crazy House in the spring of 1998 when I was volunteering at a distress centre that she was on the board of at that time.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very lyrical and also articulate account of poverty. Not exhaustive, but a small portrait to get you started. It was written during the Harris era, and you get to read about Capponi's as well as other people on low income's reactions to Harris' famous policy changes. Must read more Capponi.