The pending explosion of homeless single women on Vancouver Island is very real. It is not a question of if, it’s a question of when. For many it’s already here. The most at risk section of society to homelessness are women 60 plus living alone.
Women living alone that have no private pension plans, or other sources of income, will be totally reliant on Old age Pension, Canadian Pension Plan if they are eligible, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Rents on the island are so high now that over 50% of income that these women receive will be used to pay their rent. By the time utilities have been paid there will be precious little left for other basic necessities.
Decisions will then have to be made between buying healthy food, basic personal products and health care with potentially devastating mental and physical results.
This issue can only be dealt with by the Federal and Provincial governments.
This issue does not need to studied, committees do not need to be formed, the answer is very simple, more money is needed for these at risk women. The human cost of doing nothing will be devastating and the financial cost will cripple our existing medical and social services.
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That is exactly what should be done. Use the system that is already in place to monitor and where necessary increase the the GIS amount to a more humane and reasonable amount.
I have always thought the easiest way to monitor people with low incomes could be checked as part or the yearly income tax return. A perfect place to see who is below the poverty line. then some adjustments could be made and followed up.