Welcome to the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry

The existence of poverty is shameful!
To be poor is not.

We advocate with and for people living in poverty.

We strive to educate and create systemic change.

 Question: What is the face of poverty?
The Answers:   

  • According to Statistics Canada, the poverty line for a single person living in Regina in 2018 was approximately $22,500 a year. The new program, called Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS), began accepting applications from new clients on July 15, 2019. In 2023 a person on SIS living alone gets $975 X 12 or $11,700 a year, about half that amount. For people in rural areas, the amounts given are even less, even though rural areas are generally no cheaper to live in overall. https://uregina.ca/~gingrich/skp2018r.pdf.
  • In 2023 working-age single adults represent half of the 1.8 million Canadians living in deep poverty in Canada and have an average annual income of $11,700. These adults account for 38 per cent of all food-insecure households; 45 per cent of food bank users, and for 89 per cent of shelter users. https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/432492/Canadian-group-advocates-for-tax-credits-to-help-struggling-singles.
  • Poverty is associated with a host of health risks, including elevated rates of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, infant mortality, mental illness, undernutrition, lead poisoning, asthma, and dental problems.                   
  • Regina point-in-time (PiT) count provides a snapshot of people experiencing homelessness on a specific day (but cannot enumerate the full extent of hidden homelessness), identified: 286 in 2018, and 488 in September 2021.   https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/report-regina-sees-increase-in-homelessness
  • PiT Counts are the most effective tool in taking a ‘snapshot’ of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a specific day. However, they cannot accurately enumerate the full extent of hidden homelessness in a community. PiT counts typically only identify those who are visibly homeless or 20% of the homeless population, while an estimated 80% are hidden homeless.   https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/understanding-hidden-homelessness
  • In 2018 the poverty rate for children and adults living in couple families was eight per cent. But 48 per cent of children living in female lone-parent families were poor.
    From Poverty in Saskatchewan: http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/skp2018r.pdf

  • Addressing housing affordability is the most cost-effective way of lifting people out of poverty, for reducing childhood poverty and increasing economic mobility.  https://www.habitat.org/costofhome/housing-affordability-and-families                           

  • The costs of poverty go beyond the dollars and cents spent on maintaining Saskatchewan’s social safety net – the lost opportunity costs and the consequences of growing inequality among our province’s residents impact all of us. Being poor prevents the disadvantaged from achieving their potential.
  • Poverty is not just about money, it’s about being excluded from community life. Exclusion and isolation only further exacerbate poverty’s harmful effects.
    Let’s Do Something About Poverty PDF    .
  • Low income people need more social assistance- especially the homeless who are more likely to be held in detention once they are arrested and charged by the police.
    Poverty and Criminal Justice System Go hand in hand: https://johnhoward.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/counter-point-1-poverty-and-crime-is-there-a-connection.pdf
  • The cost of poverty is very expensive. The Saskatchewan Health Quality Council latest estimates for Saskatchewan indicate that the health-related costs of poverty alone are in excess of $420 million. The total cost from all sources is nearly $3.8 billion or more than 4% of provincial GDP. https://www.saskhealthquality.ca/blog/the-costs-of-poverty-in-saskatchewan-and-how-we-can-address-them/.