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Homelessness In Canada

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Every night there are at least 35,000 people who go without homes in Canada, yet, the Canadian government has little to show for prevention. The “social assistance” (welfare, disability support payments, old age security and employment insurance) provided does not begin to cover for basic living expenses. Today in Victoria, one month's rent in a studio apartment is anywhere from 800-1200 dollars, yet a single recipient of “social assistance” in BC will receive a total of 610 dollars to cover all of their basic needs. Many lower and middle-class Canadians live one day at a time having to make tough decisions whether to pay the hydro bill or fix their car. With the cost of living rising and minimum wage at 10.85 an hour, it makes it almost impossible to be above the poverty line, especially with single income …show more content…

She is working a minimum wage job and making 10.85 an hour. She works five days a week 8 hours a day her paycheck is 868 dollars. Meaning she is making 1,736 dollars a month, now if she has to pay rent for a two-bedroom apartment which is at least 1,500 dollars a month in rent. From that 1,736 dollars, she's now down to 236 dollars and still unable to make ends meet. If she is unable to make ends meet there is a high likelihood her and her families can end up homeless. I don’t believe that the BC provincial government is taking the necessary steps to minimize poverty since in Greater Victoria alone approximately 1,700 people are going without homes. With the cost of living being well above most peoples grasp, it is practically impossible for millennials to find affordable renting opportunities, let alone buy property. I agree that we are going in the right direction by raising the minimum wage to 15 dollars. Although, this slow increase of 4.35 dollars does not make up for the lack of compensation to account for inflation. To be sufficient, it must increase to at least 18 dollars an hour to live comfortably in today's

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