In 2012, the Metcalf Foundation published a Summary Report - The Working Poor in the Toronto Region. Who are they, where they live and how they are changing. The authors are John Stapleton, Brian Murphy and Yue Xing. The full report is available to download from the
metcalffoundation.com
A quote by David Hulchanski, Professor Factor-Inwentash Faculty for Social Work, and Associate Director, Cities Centre, University of Toronto summarizes the report "The working poor in the Toronto Region pour our coffee, serve us in stores, and work in our offices and factories. Their story is important. They are growing in numbers. It is a problem that is simultaneously political, social, locational, and economic."
The authors use the term to refer to people with non-trivial earnings who live in a household with a low income. Their definition has five specific criteria;
- has an after-tax income below the median Low Income Measure (LIM),
- has earnings of at least $3,000 a year,
- is between the ages of 18 and 64,
- is not a student, and
- lives independently.
The report showed that the working poor had increased by 42% between the 2000 and 2005 census in the Toronto Region, compared to a 24% in Ontario as a whole and 15% across Canada. This to me is dramatic in itself that in our municipalities like Toronto, Province and Country the number of working poor is increasing at double digit rates. As the population ages this is unsustainable.
The summary report identifies seven key features of the working poor in the Toronto Region:
1. They most commonly work in sales and service occupations
2. They work a comparable number of hours and weeks to the rest of the working-age population
3. They are more likely to be living without an adult partner than the rest of the working-age population
4. Working-age immigrants to Canada are over-represented among the working poor.
5. They are only slightly less educated on average tan the rest of the working-age population.
6. Fewer own their own homes.
7. They tend to be youger as a group than the working-age population as a whole.
So what does this have to do with Milton. Well, it indicates the problem is trending in a negative direction. It suggests that the number of people at risk of homelessness is likely to increase. It helps us understand that those at risk of homelessness are not by default the unemployed, unmotivated or other stereotypes. It says they can be hard working members of society who can no longer support themselves. As the report also states "Although work can provide a ladder out of poverty, this is not always the case."
The authors hope the summary report will stimulate further research and understanding.
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