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EDMONTON, AB – The Alberta College of Social Workers, the Edmonton Social Planning Council, and Public Interest Alberta have their report on the state of child and family poverty in Alberta.
Around 160. 000 children in the province suffer from the effects of child poverty, equivalent to one in six children.
The economic fallout from the pandemic has contributed to the inability to access support services such as indigenous communities, immigrants and refugees and families in rural areas.
The data from the report describes the impact of poverty on child development, including issues that affect mental health, education levels, employment and housing throughout life through adulthood.
In the report, unemployment in Alberta hit a record high at 15. 7% in June 2020.
Employment figures have hurt families’ ability to support their children in the face of food insecurity.
Food insecurity rose 7% to 19. 6% in households with children which is quite a high figure given in the report.
In addition to food insecurity with very little affordable food to buy, it means families are happy not to buy healthy food as it would cost a lot more. Families resort to fast food at every meal.
Although many problems have arisen due to the pandemic, Sandra Ngo, research coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council, says people are to blame too.
« However, the state of child and family poverty is not solely due to the pandemic, » added Ngo.
“If anything, this crisis highlights existing problems. COVID-19 has revealed deficits in caring for the most vulnerable people in our society. ”
Joel French, Alberta’s Executive Director of Public Interest, has warned that the provincial government cuts have had a significant impact on family poverty.
« One of the lessons from this report is that Alberta does not have enough revenue to properly and sustainably fund essential public services and social assistance, » added French.
« If Alberta took over the tax system of another province, we would raise between $ 14. $ 4 to $ 25. 5 billion more per year in sales. The provincial government needs to make some significant changes so that everyone can not only survive but thrive in Alberta. ”
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Edmonton, Don Iveson, Alberta, Lockdown
World News – CA – COVID-19 Affecting Child And Family Poverty In Alberta
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