New research coming out of King’s University College shows an alarming number of Londoners are relying on social assistance.
In the last decade, the number of people collecting either Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) has skyrocketed, according to data examined by researchers Dr. Don Kerr and Dr. Tracy Smith-Carrier at the London Poverty Research Centre at King’s.
"London's population grew by 8% or 9% over the last decade. When it comes to a person living on Ontario Works it has increased at twice that rate," said Dr. Kerr. "The number of persons living on Ontario Works has gone up by about 18% for the city of London. When it comes to persons living on ODSP, it's up by over 60%."
With the London Census Metropolitan area's population sitting at 502,700 in 2014, it means roughly 1 in 12 people living in the London CMA are living on social assistance. Provincially, only 1 in 15 Ontarians recieves social assistance.
Dr. Kerr points out a single person on Ontario Works is expected to live on only $700 a month, and someone on ODSP only receives approximately $13,500 a year.
"That is a punishingly low level of income support. Can you imagine trying to live on $13,500 a year? Or even worse, when it comes to Ontario Works, can you imagine trying to live on $700 a month? That would barely cover your shelter costs," said Dr. Kerr. "That is concerning. Such a substantial proportion of our neighbours are experiencing this hardship."
Dr. Kerr called the amount of money those on social assistance receive "pathetic " and urges politicians to increase the monthly allotment.
"I don't understand why the politicians are ignoring this," said Dr. Kerr. "Canada is a wealthy country. We can afford it."
As part of their research, Dr. Kerr and Dr. Smith-Carrier examined social assistance data from nine CMAs in Southwestern Ontario and Toronto. London had the second highest welfare caseload, second only to Windsor.
"There is about 20,000 fewer people working in London today than over a decade ago. Over that same period, we have seen some population growth for the city of London. Our working age population has gone up by 5-6% but there are in fact fewer jobs," said Dr. Kerr. "I think it is directly related to the difficulties that the region has experienced because our manufacturing sector was hit really hard."
One in eight preschool aged children live in households reliant on social assistance, while one in nine London women are on social assistance. Many of those womenare single parents.
Dr. Kerr believes the figures are staggering enough that federal and provincial politicians should take note and start injecting cash into this region to combat the problem.
"There is a lot of infrastructure spending right now in the GTA. But the proportion of London's population on social assistance is quite a bit higher than in Toronto. Has the region been neglected by decision makers in Ottawa and Queen's Park? That's a good question," said Dr. Kerr.
