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Core Service User Survey 2006

Executive Summary

The purpose of The Core Service User Survey is to identify gaps in existing services and other services that are needed to allow ALL citizens to fully take part in our community. It is also an effort to give a voice to those without one.

A couple of terms that need an explanation, used throughout the report are Emergency and Core services. For this research, emergency services refer to meal programs (soup kitchens), food banks and shelters. Core services mean having safe, adequate, affordable housing, the ability (financially) to purchase and prepare your own food at home.

At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be that much to discover from this research; the potential respondents appear to be ‘down on their luck’ or ‘having a rough time’. But, there is so much more bubbling beneath the surface, including education levels, health issues and combinations of health and addiction issues.

The demographic structure of our survey sample was not balanced.

  • Gender is split 2:1 (female 35.1% male 64.9%)

  • Family structure is primarily single – 90% (female 35.7% male 64.3%)

  • Education levels are interesting - 53.5% more than Grade 12 (female 18.3% male 35.2%)

There is no evidence in this sample to suggest transience. Based on the survey:

  • 58.6% of respondents were born here, or consider HRM to be their hometown.

  • Migration from other areas, such as other Canadian Provinces and the USA is 28.6%

  • Migration within Nova Scotia is 12.9%.

Ethnic Identity breaks down like this:

  • Caucasian – 84.5% (female-31.0% male-53.5%)

  • African Nova Scotian - 2.8% (male-2.8%)

  • Aboriginal - 12.7% (female-4.2% male-8.5%)

There is a significant representation of Aboriginal people in this sample. In HRM, Aboriginal people account for 1% of the total population (Statscan, 2001 Census Data). In this study, they account for almost 13% of the sample population. This has been found in other research and indicates this group is over-represented.

The contradictions in our findings are the most telling. While 57.1% of the sample felt that their basic needs were being met, 68.6% were depending on meal programs either daily or weekly. One would assume eating would be a basic need, yet most of the respondents stated a need to use meal programs and believed that their basic needs are being met.

The health situation is of concern. There were 83 incidences of specific health issues. These were not simple health concerns, but major illnesses needing regular medications and monitoring. It has already been well established that social and economic factors impact health more significantly than lifestyle alone. This population has a triple threat of poverty, poor diet and lifestyle and chronic disease, particularly addictions.

The incidence of addiction is high. Over 50% of the sample indicated some form of addiction. 15.7% cited having more than 1 (or multiple) addictions. A notable percentage, 9.8%, reported having health problems and multiple addictions. That makes an already difficult situation more challenging.

The poverty level benchmark used in Canada is the Low Income Cut Offs or LICO. This is determined by number of people in a household, residing in a particular size of community. For HRM, the base is community population between 100,000 and 499,999. Three quarters of the sample is recorded as having a social income opposed to an earned income. A single ‘employable’ person on Income Assistance is entitled to an annual income of $4992. The LICO in HRM for a one-person household is $17,515. The level of income for this group is only 28.5% of the LICO.

More startling detail is that this has 82.3% paying more than 50% of income to shelter. 100% of the sample reports paying more than 30% of their income for shelter and at that, there are major issues with what they are paying for. Shelter cost has risen markedly in the past number of years. We have a strong economy and low interest rates to thank. The down side is that there are not enough ‘affordable housing’ (means you pay less than 30% of income to shelter) rental units.

There are serious gaps and inequities in available supports. The Department of Community Services, responsible for the well being of most of those sampled is creating or has the largest gaps in service delivery. Information exchange is sparse and a lot of times it happens at the street level. The information is inaccurate, out dated or doesn’t apply to each person the same way. There have been numerous studies done regarding this and many good recommendations made. The Provincial government has been slow to implement. Community Services is not alone. Addiction services are not meeting expressed client needs.

People, who struggle with addiction, need help when they need it…not when a bed is available. Over half of respondents (52.8%) told us that they either didn’t know where to get help or couldn’t get help for their addictions. For example, the gambling help line is most times not staffed or you get a busy signal or voicemail. If you’ve lost your last dollar in a slot machine and you are in emotional turmoil, voicemail isn’t going to help.

The most important factor in any vibrant, sustainable community is that all of its citizens be included. To be included, you should be able to take part in the community and feel that you belong. Of this sample,

  • 50.7% did not feel like they were part of the community

  • 49.3% did not feel that the community cares about them

That tells us that this group does not feel included in the community they call home.

The underlying causes of needing to use Emergency Services, as Core Services have to be repaired in order to improve living standards. Also, when people have a sense of value and belonging, they can do remarkable things and give back to society. That’s something we are all entitled to as residents of HRM, Nova Scotia, Canada and most importantly as human beings.

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