OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the affordability of a nutritious diet for households in Toronto that are supported by welfare. METHODS: For three hypothetical households, welfare incomes were compared to the monthly costs for food, shelter, and other essential expenditures in Toronto. RESULTS: If households lived in market rental accommodation, average monthly incomes were insufficient to cover expenses for the single-person household and two-parent family, and barely adequate for the single-parent family considered in this study. However, the single-parent family's actual income fell below expenses for six months of the year. For households with children, the relative inadequacy of welfare increased as children grew older. Living in rent-geared-to-income housing afforded substantial financial advantage, but the welfare income of single-person households was still insufficient to meet basic needs. INTERPRETATION: These findings indicate discrepancies between welfare incomes and costs of basic needs, which may explain the vulnerability of welfare recipients to food insecurity.
OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the affordability of a nutritious diet for households in Toronto that are supported by welfare. METHODS: For three hypothetical households, welfare incomes were compared to the monthly costs for food, shelter, and other essential expenditures in Toronto. RESULTS: If households lived in market rental accommodation, average monthly incomes were insufficient to cover expenses for the single-person household and two-parent family, and barely adequate for the single-parent family considered in this study. However, the single-parent family's actual income fell below expenses for six months of the year. For households with children, the relative inadequacy of welfare increased as children grew older. Living in rent-geared-to-income housing afforded substantial financial advantage, but the welfare income of single-person households was still insufficient to meet basic needs. INTERPRETATION: These findings indicate discrepancies between welfare incomes and costs of basic needs, which may explain the vulnerability of welfare recipients to food insecurity.
Authors: Patricia L Williams; Christine P Johnson; Meredith L V Kratzmann; C Shanthi Jacob Johnson; Barbara J Anderson; Cathy Chenhall Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2006 Nov-Dec
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Authors: Patricia L Williams; Cynthia G Watt; Michelle Amero; Barbara J Anderson; Ilya Blum; Rebecca Green-LaPierre; Christine P Johnson; Debra E Reimer Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2012 May-Jun