Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jun 2006
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181

POVERTY PROJECT

On Friday, the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty  Reduction reveals its 
community plan after a year of  study and discussion.

In preparation for it, The Spectator is presenting a  daily 
exploration of poverty in Hamilton and  commonly-held beliefs about 
its causes and also its  consequences.

Myth Two:

"The Poor Will Just Spend Their Benefit Cheques On Beer And Popcorn"

Of course, drug and alcohol abuse, problem gambling and  just plain 
bad decisions can land people in poverty,  (although divorce or the 
death of a spouse are probably  more common causes). But the image of 
the poor as  rampant partiers doesn't wash.

Social workers say drugs, alcohol and mental illness  hit hardest 
within a small subgroup of the poor: the  homeless.

What about welfare recipients? In 2000, the Mike Harris  Tories 
announced mandatory drug tests for those on  social assistance.

Toronto, Hamilton and countless social agencies opposed  the idea. It 
never went through, and vanished with the  Liberal change in government.

But at the time, the Centre for Addiction and Mental  Health (CAMH) 
explored the issue. First, it said,  drug-use data is notoriously 
sketchy due to  self-reporting. (It's likely higher than data show.) 
But among Ontario adults:

* Booze is the most common drug, used by 80 per cent

* 8.6 per cent used marijuana

* 4.6 per cent used cocaine

For welfare recipients, the CAMH said data is rare.  U.S. studies 
show their use is comparable to those not  on welfare; higher rates 
for women on welfare were  found in one 1994 study.

A 1990 Ontario study found people in subsidized housing  actually had 
lower drug use than those not in  subsidized housing. And if the goal 
is to get people  working, drug use is a poor indicator of 
employability:  seven of every 10 drug-users already have jobs.

Just Who Is Poor, Anyway?

Here's a look at poverty in Hamilton by population group:

Total population: 20 per cent are poor

Children (0-14): 24 per cent

Seniors (over 65): 24 per cent

Lone-parent families: 56 per cent

New immigrants (1996-2001): 50 per cent

Disabled people: 29 per cent 
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman