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Income Security: A Roadmap for Change

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(278%) could not af<strong>for</strong>d to pay <strong>for</strong> their utilities (heat, hydro and water) 19 <br />

Transportation was also a struggle given rising gas costs and the need to<br />

travel to grocery stores and other shops <strong>for</strong> essential needs 20 <br />

• Indigenous peoples are eight times more likely than the general population to<br />

experience homelessness in major urban settings 21 <br />

• In 2014, low-income households spent on average 59% of pre-tax income on<br />

home energy, while the highest-income households spent only 17% of their<br />

income on home energy 22 <br />

3. It’s harder <strong>for</strong> people to climb out of poverty.<br />

Consider this:<br />

• According to one federal definition of low income (the Low-<strong>Income</strong> Measure),<br />

there were 194 million low-income persons in Ontario in 2015 (the most<br />

recent data available) 23 In the same year there were 943,368 children<br />

and adults in Ontario receiving social assistance – either Ontario Works or<br />

ODSP 24 This means more than half of the people living in poverty were not<br />

receiving social assistance and were unable to access the allowances and<br />

benefits that are available only through Ontario Works and ODSP 25 <br />

19 Ibid<br />

20 Ibid<br />

21 Source: Canadian Mental Health Association, Aboriginal People/First Nations<br />

(Ontario) CMHA available https://journalslibraryualbertaca/aps/indexphp/aps/<br />

article/view/19006 pg 14<br />

22 Based on analysis by the Financial Accountability Offce of Ontario; please see<br />

http://wwwfao-onorg/en/Blog/Publications/hespending<br />

23 Source: Statistics Canada Table 206-0041 http://www5statcangcca/<br />

cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=2060041&&pattern=&stBy­<br />

Val=1&p1=1&p2=31&tabMode=dataTable&csid=<br />

24 Based on Ontario Works and ODSP Monthly Statistical Reports <strong>for</strong> December 2015<br />

Source: http://wwwmcssgovonca/en/mcss/open/sa/indexaspx<br />

25 As announced in the 2017 Ontario Budget, the government will provide free<br />

prescription medication to all children and youth aged 24 and under, regardless of<br />

family income, starting in January 2018<br />

<strong>Income</strong> <strong>Security</strong>: A <strong>Roadmap</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Change</strong> 39

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