Necessitous Dependents of Interned Enemy Aliens, Joseph Visocchi, unknown date - en anglais seulement

The document references the family of Italian-Canadian internee Joseph (Giuseppe) Visocchi. Dependents of internees were able to apply for government relief -- although, it appears several were refused early on by the Montreal office. Harry Hereford, Dominion Commissioner, wrote about this issue and asked that it be corrected. His letters appear in several of the Custodian of Enemy Property files, as families were not entitled to relief until all assets had been consumed.

The Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP), a branch of the Canadian government, oversaw the administration of assets belonging to internees and other enemy aliens. This government office served a dual function. Acting as a trustee for the internee/enemy alien, the office and its agents also protected the interests of the creditors. The CEP would pay off an internee’s debts by selling his or her property or businesses. It also collected money owed to internees by others. Families of internees often did not have access to the husband's assets and bank accounts. As a result, families often had to negotiate with the CEP for stipends for daily subsistence or use of assets like an automobile. In some cases, where assets were lacking, the CEP divested itself of any interest and left the families to fend for themselves.

In this case, there were no assets and the Visocchi family had to apply for government relief. A review of their circumstances, as indicated in the document, notes the approval of a monthly entitlement of $11.83 to support Visocchi's wife and seven minor children.