This week marked both the United Nation’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and World Food Day, and we have learned the many ways that poverty continues to plague Canadians. What’s needed are more strategies and policies to be put in place so that NO Canadian is denied their basic human rights, like access to food and housing. Preventing poverty in the first place is key.
People find themselves living in poverty for varied reasons, unique to every individual and household. Poverty is a complex issue – there is no one way in or out. There are many misconceptions as to how and why one may end up in poverty. Often it’s unfairly and unjustly seen as a shortcoming by an individual who will not, or cannot, do what is required to maintain a reasonable life.
For this week’s “Ask the Hub” post, I’ve decided to share with you two pieces originally created by the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network, which examine poverty in Canada.
The first document defines and dispels seven common myths about poverty and uses data from the Niagara region to put a local face on their information. The myths they’ve addressed range from who is at fault for someone being impoverished, whether a job is the key to avoiding poverty, and how education affects poverty.
The second document is a more straight-forward look at just what poverty is is and why it must be addressed. It is broken into four sections, which look at poverty in a broad sense, why it must be addressed, explains how it is an individual experience that affects an entire community, and how much it costs to allow poverty to exist.
Both documents are required reading for anyone looking to better understand poverty, its connection to people and the price tag that it comes with.