LETS MAKE IT REAL- POVERTY AT HOME

Before we continue with the Poverty Myths in Canada, I want to make this real for those of you at home.  It is so easy to look at the news on poverty or hear talk about it in general.  You may go about your daily life in such a predictable way you manage to never see the poverty or have little contact in your very own community. 

In North Bay, ON, Canada, there lives a widespread population of 55,000 people.  We are surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield, two incredible lakes- the hub- or Northern Gateway.  Hard to believe there is poverty in all this beauty and splendor.  60% of the jobs are government- municipal, provincial and federal.  We have a College and a University.  Ahhh, but like so many other places, the Wide Gap exists here.

The Poverty Reduction Working Group of Nipissing put out a 2010 Poverty Fact Sheet for the Nipissing District:

Income:   
 * Median income- 23,500  16% less than Ontario's median ($3,750)
 * Approx 18.5% of the children 5 and under are living in families below the Low Income Cut-off (after tax)
 * Since 1996 the gap between the Low Income Cut off and minimum wage has increased from $4,346 to $6,057 in 2006
 *  At NO POINT during the last 10 years has a person working full time making minimum wage reached the Low Income Cut Off!!!
 * A single person making minimum wage would have to work 45 hours a week to reach the Low Income Cutoff!

Labour Force:
           
* The labour force participation rate is 60% 
* Our unemployment rate is 8.34%; Ontario 6.4% and have existed              for some time
* 42% of the labour force does not have post secondary education 27% of the 42% have high school and 15% less than high school

Housing:
* Vacancy rate of 1.1%- one of lowest in Ontario
* Average rent is $732- 4.5% increase from 2009
* Based on housing affordability standard the rent should only be $595 for rent and utilities
* Over 1,700 people on waiting list for affordable housing- 6.5% increase over last year
* Based on 2006 stats, there were 2,900 renters in core housing neededed - housing less than unacceptable- spending 50% of income on housing

Food:
* The average weekly cost for family of four to eat nutritiously is $169.38  or $733.42 monthly.  (I would argue that this cost is much higher!  I have a family of four and we eat as close to the source as we can.)
* Therefore, one parent working making minimum wage, working 40 hours a week spends 32% of income on food.

I think you get the picture...but if you are more visual...I encourage you to check out this video that a group managed to put together for $2,000- it is excellent and educational!  Watch Poverty in Our Community.

For more information check out the North Bay and Area Social Planning Council.

Dare to be aware!

Love and all good things,

The Peaceful Matriarch
A diversified economy.(Economic conditions of North Bay, Ontario): An article from: Northern Ontario Business