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Poverty

What do we mean by Poverty?

Poverty can come in many shares and forms. While many think of poverty as an economic issue, such as lack of financial resources, it is also impacted by a variety of political, personal, social and cultural factors. Various forms of poverty are often referred to including:

Absolute Poverty
Situational Poverty
Generational Poverty
Relative Poverty

To fully understand poverty, we all must consider the opportunities we have had in our own lives. Not everyone has the same opportunities to succeed – there can be many roadblocks people face in their day to day lives. Literacy levels, income and employment, housing, education, access to healthy foods, transportation, mental health and many other factors may contribute to poverty and ultimately to the health of people in our community. Some demographics are also more likely to experience poverty, such as single parents, newcomers to Canada and aboriginal peoples.

Grey Bruce Poverty Issues:

• INCOME - In 2005, the median income for families in Grey Bruce was well below the provincial average of $69,156. Female led lone parent families in the two Counties were at the lowest levels (Grey $30,605, Bruce $33,206).

• HOMELESSNESS - The number of people who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and accessed the YMCA Housing Support Program, has increased substantially since 2006.

• EDUCATION - In 2006, 28% of adults in Grey Bruce did not complete high school, which is well above the Ontario average of 22%.

• ALCOHOL MISUSE - A study completed in Grey Bruce in 2004/05 found that the rate of fetal alcohol exposure was estimated to be a minimum of 2.5% compared to an estimated 1.0% nationally.

• Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy - Summary

• Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy Report

• Addressing Poverty In Grey Bruce

• A Report Card on Women & Poverty in Huron, Perth, Grey & Bruce

• Counting Women In - A Toolkit for Rural Action on Poverty

• A Profile of Child Youth and Family Health in Grey and Bruce Counties - Summary Report

• A Profile of Child, Youth and Family Health in Grey Bruce - Technical Report April 2010

• Measuring and Planning for Child and Youth Health Planning Report

• Tamarack - Poverty Reduction Strategies

Local Resources:

Education and Employment:

GED Test (Grade 12 Equivalency Diploma) http://www.bwdsb.on.ca/CONED/ged

Georgian College: http://www.georgianc.on.ca/

YMCA Employment Programs: http://www.ymcaowensound.on.ca/resource_descrip.cfm

Housing:

Healthy Housing & Health Hazards

Grey Bruce Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitatgreybruce.com/

YCMA Housing Program: http://www.ymcaowensound.on.ca/housing_support_program.cfm

Grey County: Housing programs include subsidized housing, the affordable housing program and the housing allowance program. http://www.grey.ca/health-social-services/subsidized-housing/

Bruce County: Affordable housing program and social housing programs are available:

http://www.brucecounty.on.ca/affordable_programs.php

http://www.brucecounty.on.ca/socialhousing.php

Affordable Food:

Community Nutrition Programs

Local Food Banks:

Durham: http://www.oafb.ca/301.html

Meaford: http://www.oafb.ca/325.html

Owen Sound http://www.salvationarmyowensound.com/maincommunity.html

Port Elgin http://www.salvationarmyowensound.com/maincommunity.html

Walkerton: http://www.oafb.ca/394.html

Wiarton http://www.oafb.ca/398.html