Manitobans Call for a Renewed Poverty Reduction Strategy The View from Here 2015 Manitobans Call for a Renewed Poverty Reduction Strategy Building Momentum: Creating a Vibrant Portage Together Poverty is connected to a broader concept called social exclusion, or social inclusion: where people have the resources to participate fully in the economic, social and cultural activities of society. Importance of a Plan – currently the All Aboard Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Strategy & Poverty Reduction Legislation, requires reporting each year 4 pillars, 21 indicators View From Here is the community’s plan https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/view-here-2015

Poverty in Manitoba In 2011 in Manitoba, there were 105,000 to 164,000 Manitobans living in poverty, depending which measure is used. Depth of poverty – how far below the poverty line – average 33% below the poverty line. Depth is between 25 – 33 percent below the poverty line over the past two decades Low income cut offs- after tax, 1992 base Statistics Canada in 1992 measured what the average family spends on shelter, food and clothing at 43%. A family that spends 20% higher than this, or 62% is said to be in “straightened circumstances” and below LICO. After 1992 they adjusted it using the consumer price index. Low income measure after tax – relative – half of the median income – disparity of income Market basket measure, 2011 base – Market Basket Measure cost of a specific basket of goods and services representing a modest, basic standard of living. reflects actual living costs in different regions and communities not sufficient to cover the additional costs of things like recreation, a telephone, education, replacement of furniture and appliances, etc. Source: View From Here

Low Income in Portage la Prairie 12,045 people in PLP >18 675 (205 of these 6 and under0 18 – 64 = 970 Over 65 = 400 Source: National Household Survey in 2010 for PLP Census Metropolitan area

Gender analysis: below LIM in PLP 2,045 people below LIM – 750 men, 1,295 women 18 – 65 – 340 men, 630 women (2 x) Over 65, 90 men, 310 women (3 x) Source: National Household Survey in 2010 for PLP Census Metropolitan area

Equity leads to equality Equality only works if people start in the same place Equity is fairness – differences or history can create barriers Need equity to have equality Groups more likely to experience poverty Aboriginal people Newcomers People with disabilities Seniors & children Women, single parents In portage 20% of population is Aboriginal – 14.2% below the LICO PWD 12.4% Seniors Female lone parent households 27.7%

View from Here – comprehensive plan Housing Income Security Education Funding Food Security Transportation Disability Supports Health Child Welfare Importance of a comprehensive plan with targets and timelines Several indicators including: Reduce poverty using LICO AT by 25% in 5 years and 50% in 10 years

Housing Core housing need 9 % of Portagers 10.3% of Manitobans Supply: create new social housing units Demand: rent subsidy to improve access Rent Assist: New in Manitoba budget 2014 Lowest income people are very affected by changes in vacancy rates 4.8% average vacancy rate in Portage 0% vacancy rate for bachelor apts.

Rent as % of EIA Inner City Winnipeg: the heart of hearts Since 2000, total incomes for people on EIA have gradually increased, largely due to new benefits such as Rent Assist and child tax credits. For example, General Assistance incomes have increased from $463/month in 2000 to $677/month in 2014. EIA incomes have in most cases not kept pace with rent increases. The biggest positive change in this period was the introduction of Rent Assist in 2014 that significantly reversed this trend of declining affordability for some income categories. The following chart shows a ratio of EIA income to the lower end of market rents (calculated at 75 percent of average rent for each household type). For example, in 2000, a modest bachelor suite rented for 51 percent of the total income of an individual on General EIA assistance. By 2013, this suite cost 68 percent and dropped to 63 percent in 2014. Even with these changes, most households on EIA in private market rent are in severe housing need, paying more than 50 percent of their income in rent. – Data from Family Services. Source: The More Things Change: Low Income Housing in Winnipeg Today, Josh Brandon CCPA, forthcoming Single parents: National Child Benefit and the Universal Child Tax ben. Rent Assist 2014 budget: increase $50 - $70 / month

Housing construction Inner City Winnipeg: the heart of hearts Manitoba Housing owns the Province’s housing portfolio and provides housing or subsidies to 35,555 households under various housing programs. Within the portfolio, Manitoba Housing owns 17,874 units of which 14,254 units are directly managed by Manitoba Housing and another 3,620 units are operated by non- profit/cooperative sponsor groups or property management agencies. Manitoba Housing also provides subsidy and support to approximately 17,700 households (including 4,300 personal care home beds) operated by cooperatives, Urban Native and private non-profit groups. National Social Housing Construction In 1993, the federal government withdrew from housing. Until then, about 10 percent of the housing built each year in Canada received federal subsidies to make it affordable to lower income households. Three distinct periods of social housing in Canada can be identified over the period 1979 to 2013 (see figure below): 1) Robust social housing construction in the 1980s; 2) extreme austerity of the 1990s with almost no new social housing; and 3) a renewed, but reduced commitment (largely provincially driven) to social housing construction in the 21st century. Manitoba Housing and Community Development. 2014. Master Project Information. (March 31 2014). Based on Michael Shapcott (Wellesley Institute)’s work, and data from: CMHC. 2013. CHS – Public Funds and National Housing Act (Social Housing). CMHC. 2014. CHS – Residential Building Activity. cmhc.ca/en/hoficlincl/homain/stda Source: The More Things Change: Low Income Housing in Winnipeg Today, Josh Brandon CCPA, forthcoming

Living Wage Hourly rate to meet basic needs, once government transfers taken into account Sets a higher standard than the minimum wage Benefits: reduced absenteeism & health care costs Living wage campaigns: Victoria, Calgary, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kingston 38,000 Manitobans make minimum wage and 73,700 just make 10% more Living wage – household can meet its basic needs, based on actual cost of living in that community – based on the principle that working full time should provide for basic needs. Hourly rate after government transfers taken into account like the Universal Childcare beneft 2 parents, 2 children working full time, estimated expenses, saving for education, renting, childcare for a 4 year old and a 7 year old. Does not include saving for a home or for retirement or owning a car. Assumes child care is available, and housing is available, transport is affordable. Sets a higher standard than the living wage 2013 Winnipeg: $14.07/ hour Brandon: $13.40/ hour – increase from $11/ hour in 2008 b/c of increased cost of shelter Thompson $13,46/ hour High cost of work/life conflict - $4.5 - $6 billion / year abesenteeism Reduced turn-over, reduced recruitment costs, higher skill, improved productivity, improved customer satisfaction. $5.8 billion in health care cost of work/life conflict US: 277 employers committed to living wage and 140 cities have a living wage policy or regulation in the US. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/family-living-wage-manitoba

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