The Gap Between Rich and Poor
THE INCOME GAP
The top 10% of income earning families in Red Deer earned an average of 6.38 times more than the income of the lowest 10% of income earning families. This gap grew by 3.0 % from 200188.
AFTER TAX INCOME
Census family is defined as a married couple and the children, if any, of either or both spouses; a couple living common law and the children, if any, of either or both partners; or, a lone parent of any marital status with at least one child living in the same dwelling and that child or those children. All members of a particular census family live in the same dwelling. A couple may be of opposite or same sex. Children may be children by birth, marriage or adoption regardless of their age or marital status as long as they live in the dwelling and do not have their own spouse or child living in the dwelling. Grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parents present also constitute a census family.
The median money income for census families in Red Deer was $71,300 in 2005. This was 0.4% higher than the provincial level and 17.7% higher than the national level.
Since 2001, the median census family money income in Red Deer has increased by 20.6%, which is 11% greater than the provincial rate of increase and 55% greater than the national rate of increase89.
COST OF LIVING
Average wage in Red Deer is $19.57 per hour90.
An average family of four with two working adults requires net $4300/month to meet their basic needs. Basic needs include housing, food, utilities, child care, clothing, education, leisure/recreation, furnishings, house keeping supplies, transportation, medical needs and savings91.
Based on this 2006 average wage, each worker in a family of 4 (2 persons working and 2 children) needs to work 5.5 hours per day, 5 days a week, to meet basic needs92.
If each worker earned $12 per hour, each worker would need to work 9.0 hours per day, 5 days a week, to meet their basic needs.
Please see Appendix 9.0 for more information.
LOW INCOME MEASURES
Low Income Measures (LIM’s) are a relative measure of low income. This measure has been developed by Statistics Canada93.
FAMILIES IN LOW INCOME SITUATIONS
In 2005, 15.4% of Red Deer families were categorized as low income according to LIM. This is 5.8% lower than provincial numbers and 40.9% lower than national numbers of families categorized as low income94.
CHILDREN IN LOW INCOME SITUATIONS
Low Income Measures (LIMs) are a relative measure of low income. This measure has been developed by Statistics Canada95.
In 2005, 18.5% of Red Deer families with children 0-17 years of age were categorized as low income according to LIM. This is 13% lower than provincial numbers and 30% lower than national numbers of families with children categorized as low income96.
SENIORS IN LOW INCOME SITUATIONS
Low Income Measures (LIMs) are a relative measure of low income. This measure has been developed by Statistics Canada.
In 2005, 4.0% of Red Deer families with people aged 65 or older were categorized as low income according to LIM. This is 73% lower than provincial numbers and 350% lower than national numbers of families categorized as low income97.
OVERALL POVERTY RATE (LICO)
In Red Deer, 13.6 % of the population or 9,015 people were living below the low income cut off line in 200198.
Of that, there were 31.4 % of unattached individuals and 9.7 % of economic families who were below LICO in 2001, for the city of Red Deer99.
The provincial average for unattached individuals living below LICO was 33.2 % and for economic families at 10.5 % in 2001100.
The national average was 16.2 % of people or 4, 720, 485 lived below LICO for 2001101.
NUMBER OF PERSONS IN RED DEER THAT ARE RECEIVING VARIOUS FORMS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT
EI claimants for Red Deer for the year 2006 was 16, 175. Health Region or for SFI (welfare), from the provincial government was found.
Important note: Only claimant data where the weeks paid and benefit rate are greater than zero are included102.
In the David Thompson Health Region 15.0 % of residents less than 65 years are receiving support, as of March 31, 2006103.
In December 2006 there were approximately 2400 residents receiving the Alberta Child Health Benefit, 90 residents receiving Alberta Health Benefit, 900 residents receiving Alberta Works Income Support, and 300 Alberta Works Learning Benefits. The following values as estimated (data just for the city of Red Deer is not available)104.
In December 2006 there were 66,854 Red Deer residents receiving the Alberta Child Health Benefit and 2,456 Red Deer residents receiving the Alberta Adult Health Benefit (estimate)105.
In December 2006 there were 24, 660 residents receiving Alberta Works Income Support Benefit (estimate)106.
In December 2006 there were 8,016 residents receiving Alberta Works Learner Benefit (estimate)107.
Please see appendix 9.1 for more information.
USE OF FOOD BANKS
Red Deer Food Bank hampers contain enough food for 5-8 days for a family and can be custom made to suite their specific needs. Families are generally eligible to receive them 6 times within a 12 month period.
There were approximately 20,000 client visits to the Red Deer Food Bank with 11,000 food hampers distributed to the region in 1999. In 2006, there were approximately 21, 000 client visits to the Red Deer Food Bank with 15,000 food hampers distributed to region.
In 2006 they have also expanded to look after 35 different agencies throughout the Red Deer Region covering 20,000 square kilometers. This is nearly tripling the size of area being covered since 1999. In terms of weight about 750,000 pounds of reclaimed goods are just part of what is going out yearly108.
USE OF FOOD BANKS AT RED DEER COLLEGE
In 2006, 26 students from Red Deer College utilized the food bank services109.
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