What Living in Poverty Means in Canada
At least 4.8 million Canadians live below the poverty line, according Statistics Canada.
The agency defines that as households with earnings less than half of the national median income — $22,133 for a single person, or $38,335 for a family of three.
A survey by the Angus Reid Institute released Tuesday took a deeper look at exactly what living in poverty means in Canada, and the challenges faced by those who struggle to make ends meet.
According to the survey, 27 percent of Canadians say they have experienced or are currently experiencing financial difficulties. Another 31 percent feel “very stressed about money” either often or all the time.
Researchers at the institute note that those living in “extreme poverty” may not have access to the Internet, and therefore may not be fully represented in this study, which was conducted online.
The survey presented respondents with 12 scenarios, asking if they have ever had to skip out on one due to financial constraints.
The scenarios included:
Skipping going out for dinner for a special occasion
Skipping out going to the movie theatre or a similar outing
Buying low-quality groceries because they’re cheaper
Not getting dental care
Not being able to afford new clothes when needed
Living in a space that doesn’t meet needs (ex. too small)
Having to borrow money for essential needs
Delaying utility bill payments
Delaying mortgage or rent payments
Not being able to buy enough winter clothing
Using a food bank
Using a payday loan service
Based on their responses, Canadians were divided into four categories.
The Struggling, at 16 percent of the population, had struggled with at least four of these scenarios, the survey found. Many had experienced one on an ongoing basis.
On The Edge, 11 percent, had experienced three of the 12 situations, but unlike the first batch of Canadians, they encountered the difficulties less often.
The “Recently Comfortable” Canadians, at 36 per cent, experienced at least one scenario at some point. They know what financial difficulties feel like, but are not necessarily currently struggling with them.
The final batch of Canadians were labelled “Always Comfortable” by researchers and make up 36 per cent of the population. “These Canadians are overwhelmingly untouched by the 12 scenarios canvassed in this survey,” the report explained.
Elaine Power, an associate professor at Queen’s University who studies food insecurities, explained to Global News that those struggling often don’t have money to spend after rent.
“Rent is the first priority, because things get a lot more complicated without a roof over your head,” she said. ” Then people prioritize what else needs to get paid — it might be loans, or the phone bill. There is constant juggling of the priorities.”
Money for food, Power explained, is often just what is left over — not enough for full, balanced meals.
Coping with financial difficulties
Power explained that the most difficult aspect of poverty is the effect it can have on mental health.
“The overriding concern for people is just the constant stress and anxiety about how they’re going to pay their bills and how they’re going to put food on the table,” she explained.
People who are are in “The Struggling” category are also more likely to feel their financial situation hasn’t gotten better in the past few years, the survey reported. They were also the least likely of the groups, at 52 per cent, to be optimistic things will get better.
“Once you’re stuck below the poverty line, especially if you’re on social assistance, it’s like being stuck below a deep, dark hole,” Power explained.
“It’s often hard to find a way out, especially if you are paying interest on loans. You just can’t keep up, so people can sink quite low.”
Source:
Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
For the full article, click: https://globalnews.ca/news/4336492/living-in-poverty-canada/
