Poverty Shouldn't be a Life Sentence

Published May 13, 2009 @ 09:49PM PT

A new report out of Canada has found that factors such as employment, income, healthcare and housing continue to adversely affect poor people throughout Canada. The study, based on surveys with hundreds of men in Salvation Army homeless shelters, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to end the cycle of poverty for marginalized populations.

Here are the details from Canada's Salvation Army:

These findings show that nearly 30 percent of homeless men are employed and nearly two-thirds receive money from some source of welfare or a job, yet many still find themselves within the shelter care system. The findings conclude that a national housing strategy, which includes social services, like job training, health care and counseling, must be prioritized by federal officials in order to end the cycle of poverty.

"Our study found that there's an immediate demand for affordable housing," said Commissioner William W. Francis, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda "But, housing by itself, will not solve homelessness. It's only through a strong foundation of social supports that homeless individuals can begin to transition out of poverty and into permanent housing."

While it is difficult to compare the differing causes of homelessness among Canadians and Americans, U.S. policy-makers should look at the recommendations of the report. The most important concluding argument, in my opinion, is that indifference to the plight of those in extreme poverty is the very reason poverty persists. Thus, by directly and comprehensively addressing the root causes of poverty and homelessness - housing, access to healthcare, employment, and a livable wage - we can make real strides towards ending the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

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Comments (6)

Thanks for writing something about Canada! I'd like to know more about the causes of homelessness in Canada, if you know more about it. I always assumed they were fairly similar to those in the US.

Posted by Lianne Lavoie on 05/14/2009 @ 07:16AM PT
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First off I hope the Canadian Salvation Army is better than the US One- US one leads millions of dollars, to financial institutions. Then tell people they cannot help them buy shoes foe work.

There is nothing illegal with a non profit spending just 10 cents of each dollar donated for direct services. Nor investing in banks.

Some folks make a living collecting for the US Salvation Army. They get up to half of what you donate. Around the winter holidays some people volunteer. Not all. My nephew with aids, uses this to raise spending money

I donate to smaller groups, as As as Hospitality House Inc. at www.Hospitalityhouseofmaine.org.

They wish to END ALL POVERTY.

If you do not believe me about the American Salvation Army, ask to see their yearly financial report. It shocked me a decade ago.

Sound like the Salvation Army of Canada Sounds much bertter than our American one-If they make reports on poverty.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 05/16/2009 @ 08:25AM PT
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I thought Canada has universal health care... dont they?
As far as the Salvation Army, which is a non-profit charity, why are they allowed to spend the money elsewhere?

Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 05/16/2009 @ 11:04AM PT
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Health care is great, but that alone does not remove all poverty. You have other things like rent repairs and replacements, clothes, utilities, along with food.

I must confess I do not know much on Canadian cut off levels, they seem to want to make it a needs required to live level based upon an article in 2001.

The American Poverty level is based upon only the cost of food.

Charities in America are allowed to INVEST their donated monies. All they MUST spend upon direct services to still be considered a charity is 10% of the amount donated to them.
That is America's IRS ruling

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 05/16/2009 @ 02:53PM PT
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Im sorry, I should have clarified myself. I didnt mean to make it sound like health care is the only answer. I was just wanting to learn about the health care system that Canada has.

I have lived a life sentence of poverty. I grew up in a single parent household that was very poor, I got married and lost my husband and raised my kids pretty much in poverty, and then I finally get a good paying job just to become permanately disabled....So Im really in poverty now. My state of California is about to make it worse for disabled people like me.
They gave us a social security raise on the first of this year and turned around and took it away in May. Now they are going to cut more out of our checks come July. There is no one in U.S. that recieves less help than the disabled except maybe the single unemployed. Dont get me wrong, I thank God everyday for what I do have.
I do believe there needs to be some new laws concerning Charity. There also needs to be more public awareness of these charities and how they spend the donated money.
Once I found out the facts on Salvation Army I started checking them all out because I donate furniture and cloths that other people throw away, nice things. I quit donating to Salvation Army and refuse to even shop there.
I just learned that Yahoo has a site under groups where you can give things away and/or announce things that you need or looking for. The group is called freecycle. Didnt mean to get off topic but if that might help someone to know.

Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 05/16/2009 @ 05:01PM PT
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Sharon, Thanks for saying who you are I have lived my life in poverty and my mother was a ward of the state. So poverty is what my familes knows best. I try to help others facing homelessness.

Here in Maine the disabled are luckily untouched bythe budget cuts, but we one of 16 states paid under what the fair-market value of rents per months.Why don't they cut from people other then those TADF and shool kids, when they cut out free lunches, they are saying our precious kids can eat slop- that is not right.

Your not that far off topic because like you say somone might be able to utilize www.freecycle.com We have to make are inadequate pay go futher.

Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 05/16/2009 @ 08:12PM PT
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Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.