KELOWNA — On any given night, Inn From the Cold will see a range of people at their shelter: men who can’t find a job, women who have no place to go — for the most part, younger people. But so far this year, there’s been about 30 percent more seniors staying at the shelter. For a region with a high population of retirees, it’s a disturbing trend.
“I think it’s rising, because the population is aging in general but it is alarming from our perspective because people as they age are more vulnerable in general,” said Tara Tschritter, Shelter and Volunteer Coordinator at Inn From the Cold.
Seniors poverty appears to be growing problem not just in the Okanagan but across the country. According to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), poverty rates have declined in developed countries — except in Canada, where it’s increased 2% from 2007 to 2010. Seven percent of seniors now live in poverty — that’s about 400,000 nationwide.
Experts believe the great recession has hit retirees harder than most. In BC and specifically, the Okanagan, it might have to do with a lack of affordable housing.
“If people are on income assistance, they’re getting $375 a month, you can’t find anywhere to rent,” said Tschritter. “So although there may be supports in the community to help people get into housing, it’s difficult if there isn’t the rental pools out there.”
To help seniors, critics say increases need to be made to the Canadian Pension Plan — the current maximum is about 1000 dollars a month.
The federal government won’t go near that but say changes have been made for both seniors and people as they work towards retirement.
“Looking at the aging demographics…we’ve reformed our (programs),” said Ron Cannan, Kelowna – Lake Country MP, referring to the change in Old Age Assistance from 65 to 67. “So that’s part of transitioning for seniors. Today’s seniors… we continue to focus on housing transfers to the province and our territorial partners.”
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