MEDIA
Media Release
October 4, 2011
New report says some of Kingston’s poorest actually have jobs
Annual Vital Signs report shows the plight of the working poor is a serious issue in Kingston
Some of the poorest people in Kingston are working in full-time jobs. That’s one of the key findings from Vital Signs, the annual report card published by the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area.
The research gathered for Vital Signs shows that many low-wage workers can’t make ends meet. The report found more than one in ten of the people using local food banks have a job. It also found that those who make minimum wage can’t afford adequate rental housing and nutritious food for their families.
“For those who make minimum wage, the numbers don’t add up. They don’t have enough money to eat healthy food, live in adequate shelter and afford the things we take for granted. Something always has to give,” said Vikram Varma, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area.
Vital Signs found that the exact number of the working poor, as compared to those who fall into traditional definitions of poverty (such as those on government assistance), is hard to gauge. But the overall number of families in the Kingston census area who live in poverty is one in ten.
The report also found that shifting age patterns were putting strains on the community.
Seniors housing options are becoming a challenge. There is a serious lack of long-term care beds. Diseases related to aging, such as Arthritis, are increasing. The challenges are different for young people. The youth unemployment rate in Kingston is three times higher than the overall unemployment rate for all workers. On the positive, Vital Signs found that Kingston’s public-sector-dominated economy has helped the region weather the economic downturn.
“Our seniors need more services. Our young people need more opportunity. Overall, our local economy remains strong,” said Varma. “Vital Signs is designed to help the community to recognize what we do well and to identify areas where can do better. We’ve also highlighted some of the great work being done by local organizations in addressing some of these issues. I’d especially like to thank the City of Kingston, the United Way serving Kingston, Frontenac,
Lennox & Addington, the Kingston Community Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and Kingston Community Health Centres for all their assistance in helping to prepare the report. ”
The report calls on the community to advocate, volunteer and donate to help solve some of the problems Kingston faces. A donation to the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is one way to make a difference. The Community Foundation encourages individuals and organizations to establish and build permanent endowments to support local charitable organizations in their efforts to help make Kingston a better place.
Vital Signs will be available in today’s (October 4th) issue of the Whig Standard Newspaper. Kingston is one of several community foundations from B.C. to Nova Scotia who are producing a Vital Signs report this year. The national Vital Signs report by the Community Foundations of Canada will appear today in the Globe & Mail.
Vital Signs is available online at www.cfka.org.
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Editors Note:
Interviews are also available by contacting:
John Suart
Project Manager, Vital Signs
Email: go@johnsuart.com
Phone: 613-583-3062
About the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area (CFKA) is a public foundation and one of the 178 Community Foundations in Canada. CFKA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of upstanding citizens in their respective communities. CFKA is a registered charitable organization which since being founded in 1995 has assisted local philanthropists to effectively grant $6 million to registered local charities. In 2010 Community Foundations across Canada distributed $150 Million in grants to Canadian communities.
About Vital Signs
Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our communities, identifies significant trends, and supports action on issues that are critical to our quality of life. Vital Signs is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada. The Vital Signs trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada.
