A shocking study by Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) reveals that nearly one fifth of working-age single household Canadian adults are living in poverty.
The report, “Sounding the Alarm,” found that 22% of adults in this category lived below the official poverty line, which is three times higher than the national average.
It also concluded that many single adults are trapped in low-wage, precarious jobs that offer no real benefits or stability. CFCC also cited insufficient relief for those affected.
One of the main consequences of living below the poverty line is food insecurity.
Poll results show that this group made up 38% of all households that had trouble affording food in Canada. Additionally, 61% reported that they were severely disabled.
Food insecurity has serious impacts, including on physical and mental health, as well as social and economic well-being.
CFCC found that nearly one million people in this group were only earning an income of $11,700 is the average annual income for working-age single adults living in poverty in Canada.
Housing is also a major issue for this group. 47% of the respondents said they could not afford housing. Additionally when it comes to who access shelters, 81% belonged to working single-adults.
“The evidence is overwhelmingly clear – through woefully inadequate income support programs and a labour market that creates precarity because of low wages and few benefits, we are trapping people in poverty in this country,” said Nick Saul, CEO of Community Food Centres Canada, in a press release.
The report calls for urgent action from federal and provincial governments. Some of the recommendations include strengthening the social safety net and better unemployment protections.
“Sounding the Alarm illustrates that our governments and employers are leaving working-age single adults behind,” said Saul.
“We urgently need a national solution that responds to the realities that people are voicing in this report. If Canada is serious about making life equitable for everyone, then we need to find the political will to create income policies that take people out of poverty – not for a week, or a month, but for good.”
The recent survey reflects some of the other troubling recent surveys surrounding Canadians accessing food banks and homeless shelters.
