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| Hamilton's Population |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Thursday, 16 October 2008 00:39 |
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Hamilton's population Hamilton is one of the largest and most diverse cities in Canada with a unique historical and cultural background. However, in 2001, an estimated twenty percent of Hamilton’s population lived below the poverty line with many of these residents being homeless or at risk for homelessness. Groups that experience poverty most are those with disabilities, visible minorities, Aboriginals, and recent immigrants. The growing need for space in emergency shelters, affordable housing, and food bank services only underlines this complex issue. Although attention to the problem of homelessness and poverty has caused an increase in the number of available beds in shelters and other services, shelters still have high occupancy rates and the waiting list for affordable housing is extensive with about 4,000 active applicants. Many who are able to afford shelter still spend 50% or more of their income on housing, putting them at risk for homelessness. The social determinants of health dictate that poverty and homelessness can have serious effects on both physical and mental health. Foot, skin, and dental health are common issues, as well as the difficulty in obtaining adequate nutrition. Chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, are more prevalent in the homeless than in the general population. Addictions and mental health issues are also prevalent. With proper support difficult to find, mental health problems can make it difficult to keep jobs thus reinforcing the cycle of poverty. The area that is now called Hamilton was first settled by the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy of Six Nations, whose descendents now make up about 2% of Hamilton’s current population. Europeans became permanently established in the area during the late 1700s. Currently, Hamilton is a city of approximately half a million (490,268 at the time of the May 2001 census). Although Hamilton has historically been considered an industrial city due to the presence of steel manufacturers Dofasco and Stelco, the major employers in the city are the health care and education industries. The median family income in Hamilton is similar to that of the rest of Ontario, but this comparison is obscured by the growing wage gap between the rich and poor. Hamilton is one of Canada’s most diverse cities, with one-quarter of the population being born outside Canada. This is the third largest such proportion in Canada, after Toronto and Vancouver. Top countries of birth for newcomers to Hamilton include the former Yugoslavia, Poland, India, China, the Philippines and Iraq, with most new immigrants arriving from Asia and the Middle East. The eastern portion of the city has a large population of residents of Asian origin, and this part of Hamilton has experienced an exponential population growth due to increases in immigration. Poverty is a significant issue in Hamilton. An estimated 20% of Hamilton's population lives below the poverty line, including almost one in four children. Much of this population is homeless or at risk for homelessness. Groups that are most likely to experience poverty are those with disabilities, visible minorities, single men, those with mental illness, Aboriginals, and recent immigrants. The following facts demonstrate the depth of the complex issue of poverty: · Emergency shelter use in Hamilton has doubled between 1995 and 2006; · One in five renters in Hamilton spends over 50% of their income on shelter (The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation defines rent that is 30% of income or above as unaffordable); · More than 15,000 people visit Hamilton’s food banks every month; · There has been an increase in the number of shelter beds in response to public attention to homelessness, but shelters still have high occupancy rates; · The waiting list for affordable housing is extensive. In 2006, over 4,000 applicants were on a waiting list for social housing. Between 1998 and 2003, this waiting list increased by 97%. Hamilton has been actively addressing issues of poverty and homelessness in this community. The city has developed a strategic plan to address homelessness and the Hamilton Roundtable on Poverty, a group that links over 900 anti-poverty agencies, has set the goal to make this city the “best place to raise a child.” There is an extensive shelter system and the total bed space has increased 76% between 2000 and 2006. There are about 500 emergency beds (mostly for single men), 100 beds for women seeking safety from violence, and a seasonal Out of the Cold program. In addition to shelter, there are a number of other programs in Hamilton to prevent/address homelessness, such as those below. Resources in Hamilton: Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program 905-546-2424 Financial assistance for those occupying substandard housing to repair housing to minimum health and safety standards; works with Hamilton Home Emergency Repair Program to allow immediate repairs Rent Bank Program of the Housing Help Centre 905-527-7479 Interest-free loans to cover up to 2 months of rent CityHousing Hamilton 905-546-2424, x37456 234 units of affordable housing in Hamilton for those with special needs Native Women’s Centre 905-522-1501 Emergency shelter for all women and their children regardless of age, ancestry, culture, place of origin, sexual orientation. Food, transportation, and counselling provided. www.nativewomenscentre.com Recommended Reading: To learn more about Poverty in Hamilton, go to the Hamilton Roundtable on Poverty website: www.hamiltonpoverty.ca |
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 17:55 ) |
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