Living on a low income affects people’s lives in many ways. Living in poverty can mean having fewer opportunities to fully participate in important day-to-day activities like work and education. Further, health and social research also shows that those who live on a low income also experience poorer health than those who are better off.

This submission to the Ministry of Child and Youth Services about the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy outlines some of the key areas in which people with low income experience poor health in our province. Our research demonstrates that the health of the poorest Ontarians can be improved by investing in housing and homelessness, income security, and health equity. The new Poverty Reduction Strategy should make good health for all Ontarians a cornerstone.