The Lakehead Social Planning Council is asking the city for more help reducing poverty, through projects like a $16.00 per hour living wage initiative.
LSPC Director Marie Klassen told City Council that people need more support in light of the the end of the basic income pilot.
“I believe that the provincial government’s decision to abruptly cut off the pilot project […] puts everybody into a crisis mode.”
The final payments for the basic income pilot were sent out March 31st.
Klassen notes they’ve heard from people who are struggling to continue paying the lease for their housing, adding “the disruption has started, and unfortunately, we believe that it’s going to be a more costly measure in the long run.”
Poverty and homelessness remain a struggle for many people in the community, emphasizes the LSPC.
Researcher Bonnie Krysowaty explains Shelter House is continually hosting twice as many people as it’s built for, and homelessness rates are going up.
The Point In Time count of homeless people rose from around 390 to about 470, between 2016 and 2017.
Krysowaty adds poverty rates aren’t decreasing.
City Council voted to ask City Administration what they can do to further support the LSPC’s efforts to tackle poverty and homelessness.
