What we heard about poverty reduction

Housing

“When we have affordable housing we can focus on employment, and raising our families. We can dream of other possibilities.”

Participants told us that housing-related costs (for example, rent, heat, utilities and repairs) are too high for those with low income. For certain groups of Canadians, high rent costs can mean living in unsuitable housing. These groups include off-reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis, women, persons with disabilities, seniors, single parents, racialized people and newcomers.

Participants and stakeholders, including First Nations on reserve, said that there is not enough affordable and suitable housing to meet the demand in most communities. Where there are affordable housing units available, people told us that many are in need of repair or are not suited for habitation (for example, there are bed bugs, mould and safety hazards). We also heard about long waiting lists for public housing in parts of the country.

Calls were made for greater collaboration at all levels of government in helping to increase the availability of suitable and affordable housing.

What we heard

Youth Contest Winner Seanna Strassburger focused her submission on providing safe and free housing for qualified families in Canada through a three-stage approach that would see families move from free housing to rent-geared-to-income, to full-market housing.

What Government heard through engagement on the National Housing Strategy

(Summer and fall 2016)

• Certain groups of Canadians are more likely to be in core housing need (i.e. lack and cannot afford alternative local rental housing that is adequate, suitable and affordable) and at greater risk of homelessness.
• The Government should take steps to eliminate homelessness, or short of that, make it rare, brief and non-recurring. The needs of homeless Canadians, who fall at the extreme end of the housing spectrum, ought to be prioritized.
• The National Housing Strategy should respond to increasing affordability challenges of low- and middle-income Canadians and support the development and renewal of affordable, sustainable housing and communities.
• Housing policies should centre on people and place and promote inclusivity so that individuals and families have access to jobs, schools and other supports that will help them better participate in their communities.
• Indigenous housing opportunities and challenges are unique and multifaceted. Geographic location (northern, urban, rural and remote) and context (e.g. on-reserve) are important factors that can affect housing conditions and needs.

On November 22, 2017, the Government of Canada announced the National Housing Strategy, built through a comprehensive consultation process that included all levels of government; Indigenous governments and organizations; the private and not-for-profit sectors, co-operative and community-based sectors; housing experts; academia; and Canadians themselves.

What Government heard through consultations on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy redesign

(Fall 2017)

Canadians consistently said that homelessness is a problem in communities of all sizes and across all regions of Canada. Key findings included:

• The needs of youth, women and Indigenous people require flexible solutions.
• Homelessness prevention is important.
• Reducing Indigenous homelessness in partnership with Indigenous peoples and organizations should be an area of greater focus.
• Partnerships within and across communities should be improved.

A full report summarizing what was heard throughout the engagement process will be released.

What we heard – Fatuma’s story

Things have not always been easy for Fatuma, especially moving her family from Somalia to Canada over 20 years ago. Though she feels very fortunate to live in a diverse community in her neighbourhood, living in public housing has presented many challenges.

One of the biggest challenges is the buildings themselves, where she says that there is always something that doesn’t work or needs repair, from the elevator stopping or the doors breaking.

Fatuma also says homelessness is an issue in her community. Shelters are often full, especially during cold winter days, and the homeless population will set up camp in her apartment building. This adds more stress and concerns for the residents, who are already struggling with a difficult situation.

Even though she faces many housing challenges, Fatuma considers her neighbourhood her home. “I am not ashamed of what I am going through. Even though I didn’t expect this, being in Canada, but at the same time, I am thankful for what I have.”

See Fatuma’s full story on youtube.

What Government heard through consultations on A Food Policy for Canada

(Summer 2017)

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, led broad consultations on A Food Policy for Canada between May and September 2017. The issue of food insecurity was a recurring topic identified throughout these consultations. Key priorities identified by participants included, amongst other things:

• increasing food security by reducing poverty and promoting income security;
• improving the accessibility and affordability of nutritious food for all Canadians, and particularly for vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous and isolated northern communities;
• establishing food as a basic human right; and
• promoting and supporting local and community-based solutions to food security, with several respondents mentioning the need to recognize the importance of traditional/country food.

Detailed feedback on this topic will be reflected in a dedicated What We Heard report.

“Our government knows that not all Canadians have sufficient access to safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food, and we are working hard to address these and other challenges related to poverty and food security in Canada.”

What we heard – Nadia’s story

Living in poverty over a long period of time takes its toll on a person’s life, but especially on a person’s health. Nadia knows too well what that is like. Having lived in poverty her entire life, her health has often suffered from it.

Life has been difficult, from being raised by an alcoholic father, having to stay in un-livable apartments, and being sexually harassed in her work place. A car accident resulted in a learning disability, and she has suffered the daily stresses of living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet. Despite being on her own since she was 15 years old, Nadia is a survivor.

Nadia reached out to get support where she could. With the help of her social worker in her neighbourhood, she was able to get healthy again and keep going. “If it wasn’t for her I don’t know how I could survive… she’s been there all the time for me.”

Even though she has gone through many difficult periods in her life, Nadia has made it through because of her hard work and perseverance. “I would tell people not to give up… if a door closes, there is always a door open.”

“I am glad where I am today, for myself.”

See Nadia’s full story on youtube.

What the Government heard through consultations on an Accessible Canada

(Summer 2016 to winter 2017)

• Insufficient support for costs associated with disability, including assistive devices and services, is a major cause of poverty among persons with disabilities.
• Barriers to employment, whether due to unfair hiring practices or inaccessible workplaces, can perpetuate poverty. Poverty, in turn, poses a barrier to social inclusion.
• Government needs to make sure that federal services and programs are accessible.

What we heard – Christian’s story

Christian is a single, hearing-impaired man living in poverty. He regularly volunteers in his community and loves helping people. As a child, he had little formal education, which led to literacy issues. He also faced abuse from his caretakers, and these issues follow him to this day.

Throughout his life, Christian struggled to make ends meet and faced employment discrimination because of his disability. “Going to different interviews would be very frustrating… because there’s a barrier when it comes to the interview… maybe if there were interpreters [it would help]. I have lots of support when it comes to volunteering, but no support when it comes to working.”

Christian believes that employers should be aware of the difficulties that hearing-impaired people face. He says that support for interpretation services would help deaf people overcome the many challenges they encounter in order to work and in life.

He points out that everyday services, from policing to health care, would also benefit from having interpreters on staff so that hearing-impaired and deaf people can communicate in cases of emergencies.

“If I show up [to get emergency services] and I am deaf, they have to have an interpreter because a lot of times we’re stuck… if there is an emergency, they need to provide an interpreter.”

See Christian’s full story on youtube.

What Government Heard through the Expert Panel on Youth Employment

(Summer 2016)

What we heard

Youth Contest Winner Cheyenne Hardy made a number of specific suggestions to improve income security, including making post secondary education more affordable and accessible for students from low- and middle-income families.

People told us that government programs have helped Canadians facing poverty and struggling to pay for education for themselves or their children. We were told that government assistance helped them afford more educational opportunities. However, many participants were not aware of available programs, while others were not sure how to access or apply for them. Others found application processes confusing, with complex forms and multiple steps.

In addition, people spoke positively about programming and supports delivered by Pathways to Education^{Footnote 1}. They said it was valuable for vulnerable youth seeking to graduate from high school and transition into post secondary education, training or employment.

Despite the available support from governments, people told us that the costs of education and training remain too high and that this can make it difficult for them to upgrade their skills. We heard that the greatest barrier to post-secondary education is the high cost of tuition, related expenses such as textbooks, and housing. We also heard of the struggles of low-income parents trying to put their children through school and adults trying to complete higher education in order to get a better job.

“Training, training, training. Poverty reduction should start by equipping everyone in society with the tools to adapt to changing employment opportunities, so that we can all be flexible, adaptable and able to seek and find employment in a variety of different areas.”

What the Government heard through Federal-Provincial/Territorial consultations on the Labour Market Transfer Agreements

(Summer 2016)

• Better Employment and skills training programs should:
  • aim to develop a workforce that is educated, empowered, adaptable and productive;
  • be driven by labour market demand and employers’ needs; and
  • recognize the needs of vulnerable populations.
• Employers play a key role, both in providing training opportunities for job seekers and employees, and reinforcing skill acquisition in the workplace.
• Individuals who are not eligible for Employment Insurance may not be receiving needed skills and training supports.

What we heard – Juanita’s story

Living in poverty and on the brink of it for years, Juanita knows how tough life can be. She recently got a job as a coordinator for a community newspaper after being on income assistance for over 30 years. It was a difficult choice to make – she was scared to begin her career later in life and risk losing her income assistance benefits.

Ultimately she decided to apply for the job, but there were more challenges to face. For example, when she initially applied, she didn’t know what a cover letter was. Fortunately, she learned how to successfully write one with the help of a community empowerment group that teaches development skills to women to help improve communities.

Juanita says that leaving income assistance was a major accomplishment for her. She hopes that people coming together in her community can help solve many of the persistent poverty issues.

See Juanita’s full story on youtube.

What we heard – Stacey’s story

Stacey is a young single mom. Not having enough money to buy everything she needs, borrowing has become the solution. She knows too well the daily struggle of having to make difficult and sometimes impossible decisions to try to make ends meet.

One of these hard decisions was whether or not to have a job even if it meant getting fewer benefits and making less money.

“If you’re working, you have no coverage, so what would you rather? […] I would rather work in my opinion.”

As a working mom, if she didn’t have a good job and help from friends and family, she would not be able to provide for her family. “I would owe my life pretty much to payments […] I would not be able to go forward.”

See Stacey’s full story on youtube.

What we heard

Youth Contest Winner Donia Arfaoui calls for more training opportunities and work placements for young people, especially vulnerable youth, so that they can get started on successful careers as part of a three-part plan to reduce poverty.

What the Government Heard through Consultations on a Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

(Summer 2016)

During the engagement process for the Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, the Government heard that the Strategy needs to link to broader social issues including poverty, child care, pay equity, homelessness and affordable housing, which contribute to gender inequality and serve as barriers to well-being and freedom from violence.

What we heard

Youth Contest Winner Mehr Saini suggested a number of innovative ways to reduce poverty, including encouraging Canadians to volunteer their time to help out in their communities.

Colonialism, racism and exclusion

In speaking with First Nations (status and non-status, on and off reserve), Inuit and Métis, we heard that colonialism has contributed to higher rates of poverty and continues to increase the risk. They also highlighted that poverty must be understood from a multidimensional lens, as it permeates all aspects of their communities (for example, social well-being, health, economic development, environment, justice, culture, housing and infrastructure, water, education) as a result of colonialism.

“If you’re going to break the cycle of colonialism, it needs to start by the Government admitting that they don’t have the answers.”

We also heard that the term “poverty reduction” is not culturally appropriate for some Indigenous groups, because it takes a negative view rather than a strengths-based approach. People told us that we should be talking about well-being and supporting resiliency instead.

“There is no word for poverty in the Inuit language.”

We were told that racism is pervasive in all supports and services, and absolutely must be addressed. It was suggested that First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural values and identities have been devalued and marginalized in Canada, and their voices have too often been disregarded. Several Indigenous people said their people have been viewed as incapable, when in fact they are capable and resilient.

“There is systemic racism in the social and health services. That poor level of service impacts Indigenous people in every aspect of their lives.”

We heard there has not been enough recognition of First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments. Participants told us that mainstream (federal, provincial and territorial) policy approaches have been based on inappropriate assumptions, while the issues are only really understood, and answers found, within the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities themselves.

“The top-down approach doesn’t work. The solutions need to come from the First Nations themselves… They live there – they know what will work.”

Indigenous women, in particular, said that social, political and economic exclusion has limited their access to supports. For example, when they go to cities for services they are likely to experience feelings of social exclusion, which leads to them not seeking or receiving the help that they need.

Indigenous women also told us that poverty is about more than a lack of income—it is also social disconnection—and explained that cultural activities promote social and economic well-being by improving self-confidence and building identity.

People said the Government should support more culturally appropriate approaches by providing funding and then stepping back, so that First Nations, Inuit and Métis can design and deliver solutions tailored to their particular needs. We also heard that people are encouraged by, and want to see the Government fully implement, the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,^{Footnote 2} and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.^{Footnote 3}

“Government partners need to get out of the way sometimes rather than creating roadblocks or just an additional layer of bureaucracy.”

Funding

Many First Nations, Inuit and Métis told us that the process to get government funding is culturally biased and that, as a result, organizations that may be best suited to provide culturally relevant supports are losing out. We heard that the impact of cultural bias may be worse in places with a higher proportion of unilingual or first-language Indigenous speakers.

We were told by First Nations, Inuit and Métis that their communities and organizations are underfunded and that there is a lack of equity in funding. We also heard that sometimes one or more Indigenous groups are excluded from programs or services that other groups are funded for.

“The Aboriginal Head Start program has been successful, but the Métis are not funded through it.”

Most First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups we spoke with told us that short-term funding cycles have negative impacts. We were told that communities and organizations require long-term sustained funding to offer high-quality community-based programs.

Resources and economy

We heard that job opportunities are lacking in many communities, and that First Nations, Inuit and Métis have not been included in or had access to opportunities in the natural resources sector. People also told us that traditional economies that help people meet their basic needs (for example, fishing, hunting and trapping) have been diminished or lost. As one example, in some communities the animals are disappearing because their habitats have been destroyed by resource extractive industries (for example, mining and forestry) and climate change.

Remote communities and cost of living

People told us that the rates and effects of poverty are higher in remote and isolated communities. The cost of living (for example, the prices of food and housing materials) is so high that most people cannot afford a decent standard of living. They often face a lack of services or lower-quality services compared to urban communities. The costs of leaving the community to get help can be very high, both financially and personally.

“In some of our remote communities, a bag of milk costs anywhere from $14-$20, a bag of apples $16, and two litres of orange juice costs $22! People who need to rely on social assistance are doomed to live in abject poverty.”

The absence of quality supports in northern and remote communities forces Indigenous people to migrate to cities, away from their families and cultural supports, which can cause mental health changes including loneliness, disconnection and depression. These structural gaps can cause some people to not seek help when they need it, or to settle for low-quality care.

Child welfare

People pointed out that poverty contributes to the over representation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children in the child welfare system. We heard that there are more children in care today than there were at the height of the residential schools.

“Canada is repeating the 60’s scoop/residential schools through the child welfare system.”

We also heard there are not enough supports for youth when they reach the age to leave child welfare. While other children (not in child welfare) can typically depend on their families as they grow into adulthood (into their 20s and longer), children in child welfare often face an abrupt end to support at the age of 18. Due to the high rates at which Indigenous children are placed in the child welfare system, this puts Indigenous children at higher risk of experiencing poverty and its negative impacts.

“When a kid in child welfare turns 18 they’re on their own – they’re expected to be independent. Why? Other kids can depend on their families way past that age! If you ask homeless youth on the street, you’ll find out that for so many, their past includes child welfare.”

Justice system

We know that Indigenous people are over represented in the criminal justice system, both as victims and offenders, and the rates are particularly high for Indigenous women. ^{Footnote 4}First Nations, Inuit and Métis told us that the justice system is broken, including the police, courts, custodial institutions, and probation and parole programs.

We heard there are not enough culturally appropriate programs in jails, such as spiritual and healing supports, or for people when they are released from custody. As a result, when Indigenous people leave institutions they often end up impoverished, homeless and far from their home communities with little to no supports. We heard this is especially true for Indigenous women, and causes them to be more vulnerable to violence once they are released.

Homelessness

The people we spoke with noted that First Nations, Inuit and Métis are over represented in the homeless population, while they acknowledged that exact numbers are difficult to track. Low income, lack of affordable housing, lack of culturally appropriate housing, racism, addictions, mental health concerns, disabilities, being released from incarceration and family violence were all cited as contributing to homelessness. We also heard that Indigenous women and families who are fleeing violent situations are sometimes unable to access emergency services and supports.

Housing and infrastructure

We heard that First Nations, Inuit and Métis face a number of challenges associated with housing and infrastructure. For example, some First Nations and Inuit communities lack basic infrastructure such as roads, clean water, sanitation and sewage, face critical housing shortages leading to overcrowding and have homes in need of repairs.

People told us that existing efforts to address housing issues may not always be culturally appropriate. Inuit participants, in particular, noted that the Housing First model^{Footnote 5} does not work well with the collectivist nature of their culture. They told us that when an Inuk is in a homeless shelter, they have the support of the other Inuit who are there, but when you take them from that close-knit community and put them in a small apartment they are isolated—their community connections have been broken and they can become despondent. People explained that this has led to people going back onto the streets to reconnect with others.

“We need funding for infrastructure. We can’t apply for program dollars if we don’t have the infrastructure to support it. How can we apply for childcare funding if we don’t have anywhere to put a daycare?!”

Urban transitions

For people who leave a reserve or remote community, moving to an urban setting is a challenge that can be made harder by discrimination, stigma and exclusion. For example, we heard that many people struggle to find affordable housing and face issues of discrimination and racism; for example, when landlords refuse to rent to them.

Food security

People told us that food security is a major concern related to poverty, especially given the much higher cost of living in many northern, remote and isolated communities.

We also heard that food is an important part of culture and belonging for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. For example, an Inuk participant described the monthly feasts and community kitchens that take place with their organization, which helps clients feel included and connected with their Indigenous identity. We also heard about the NunatuKavut Community Freezer program, which provides country food for people who are unable to fish, hunt or gather.

“When you’re trying to teach a kid math, and you’re thinking he has home issues, when really he’s just hungry.”

“Food is more than nourishment—it’s social cohesion.”

It was pointed out that Indigenous people may not access social services (such as food banks) affiliated with religious institutions, especially given the history and inter-generational trauma associated with residential schools.

Coordination of supports

People mentioned that often if a person receives one benefit they will lose another—especially when one of the benefits is provincial or territorial and the other is federal. For example, in Saskatchewan if a First Nation person has been receiving provincial social assistance and they get approved for post-secondary education funding (a federally funded program), their eligibility for social assistance ends. It was noted that the amount of education funding alone is not enough to survive on.

“I have poor health and can’t afford to pay for health benefits, dental, or prescriptions.”

“I’m supposed to be going back to school in the fall, but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to. The education funding isn’t enough – I can pay my rent, but I won’t have any money left for food. I looked for a cheaper place to live, but I couldn’t find one – my place is already small – rent is just expensive here. I could work part-time for money to buy groceries – but I can’t even do that, because I don’t get to keep what I earn – my pay will get taken off my education funding. I’m really discouraged. So right now, I’m trying to decide whether I’m going to stay in school and not have enough money to eat, or drop out of school so I can pay rent and buy food, but never get ahead in life. I’m not sure what I’m going to do at this point.”

Education

“When I was going to university, I had to pretend to be somebody else just to get through. People thought I was Chinese! They think Inuit aren’t as smart.”

We heard from participants that elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools are not welcoming spaces where Indigenous students can feel like they belong. People explained that when their children go to school, most of the teachers do not speak an Indigenous language and do not understand or value Indigenous cultures. One Inuk participant said that when he went to university, the culture of the school and people there made him feel that his identity as an Indigenous person would not be accepted.

“In the public system, it felt like Métis history was a ‘two-line tack-on’ to the lesson plan… We’re an afterthought because there’s no Métis-specific curriculum. Teachers in Batoche didn’t know the true history of Batoche… We still read books that talk about the Riel Rebellion. It wasn’t a rebellion, it was a resistance! It’s still the colonial perspective in the history books.”

People pointed out that there is a high turnover rate among teachers in First Nations communities. There is also low enrolment for children and youth in cases where schools are located far from their communities.

When youth have to leave home to attend school in urban centres, they face new challenges. For example, in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg and Yellowknife, we heard that children from surrounding First Nations need to leave their homes to finish high school. There is no school in their community, or the school does not go up to grade 12.

People said that there is not enough funding for schools on reserves, that school curricula should be culturally relevant, and that education in the North does not prepare young people well enough for higher education or participation in the job market.

Training and employment

First Nations, Inuit and Métis told us about the lack of training and job opportunities in their communities. They told us programs could be doing better at ensuring that training is targeted to available jobs. They also said that when it comes to public service positions, governments are not doing a good job of training Indigenous people to advance in their careers, though there are some successful programs that could be enhanced for better outcomes.

“The ASETS program has been effective at eliminating poverty and reducing working poverty, but it is micro-managed and the Métis receive less funding.”

Inuit participants told us about a model for on-the-job training, the Housing Internship for First Nations and Inuit Youth program, where community members are taught to build houses, which provides more housing in the community and strengthens the community itself as its population develops new skills.

Racism was frequently cited as a barrier that prevents Indigenous people from obtaining meaningful and rewarding employment.

“When the Government comes in and builds houses, what are the advantages to the people in the community? They get a few houses, but nothing has been done in terms of building capacity or leaving a lasting, longer-term impact.”

What the Government heard during Employment Insurance (EI) Service Quality Review consultations

(Summer 2016)

• EI service delivery needs to be more focused on understanding the needs and priorities of citizens.
• Canadians generally find it difficult to communicate with Service Canada (for example, difficulty understanding language used in application forms, and difficulty getting accurate and clear information from service agents).
• Information available on the EI program is sometimes difficult to understand which can lead to mistakes during the application process.
• More needs to be done on the part of the EI program to inform citizens of what is available to them in terms of training and other support measures.
• Call Centre accessibility is the primary frustration for Canadians and needs to be improved.

What the Government heard during the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) consultations with northern residents

(Fall 2017)

• Not everyone in the North knows how important it is to file a tax return in order to claim the benefits they are entitled to. Participants called for more information and assistance on claiming benefits, credits and deductions.
• Telephone and mail services in the North are not always reliable. Making payments can also be difficult because of limited banking and Internet capabilities.
• There is a need for CRA employees to interact with clients in a way that is sensitive to northern realities.
• Some taxpayers in the North are not aware of the northern residents deductions and it can be difficult to meet some of the requirements. Some participants also think that the CRA conducts repeated and unnecessary reviews of tax returns from those who claim these deductions.

What we heard

Youth Contest Winner Ritika Arora suggested the creation of “HelpingHubs” that offer a one-stop resource point to support people living in poverty, focusing on all aspects that impact each person living in poverty.

What Government and the Co-Creation Steering Group are hearing through consultations on the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy

(June 2017 – ongoing)

Canadians expressed strong interest in the Government pursuing innovative approaches to persistent social challenges. Community practitioners and other stakeholders called for a federal Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy that:

• focuses on improving outcomes and quality of life for people in vulnerable circumstances, including those living in poverty;
• aligns with and reinforces other federal initiatives, such as the Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Innovation and Skills Plan and the National Housing Strategy;
• improves the capacity of on-the-ground actors, including not-for-profit organizations, social enterprises and government service providers, to deliver existing programs better and to innovate and collaborate with diverse partners;
• invests in new social innovation and social finance funding platforms that are community-based as well as national-scale; and
• supports knowledge sharing between community practitioners, including efforts to increase data collection, impact measurement and community-academic research partnerships.

The consultation and engagement process is ongoing. A full report summarizing what we are hearing will be released.