The last days of basic income: For those in desperate need, what happens now?

In just a few weeks, Ontario's ambitious basic income pilot project will be over, cancelled by Doug Ford's Conservative government. The last payments go out March 31.

For the 4,000 people from Hamilton, Thunder Bay and Lindsay who depended on that money to survive, what happens now?

CBC Hamilton hosted a live chat on this page and on the CBC Hamilton and CBC Thunder Bay Facebook pages from noon to 1 p.m. Friday. Laura Cattari, a basic income recipient from Hamilton, Sheila Regehr, Basic Income Canada Network Chairperson, Tom Cooper of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and Joshua Hewitt, a recipient from Thunder Bay, were all part of the panel. 

Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod and Hamilton MPP Donna Skelly were also invited but said they were not available.

A court case is also happening this week, led by four people from Lindsay, Ont, aiming to overturn the provincial government's decision. 

Under the program, recipients could receive up to $16,989 per year regardless of their employment status. People in the program said the money helped their health, self-esteem and job prospects. 

Want to know more about the project? Check out Jesse Golem's HImans of Basic Income photo series and the provincial government's information page.