WINNIPEG — It’s a commitment to live five days on the same budget as someone on social assistance.
“It’s pledging that you are going to walk beside your neighbours and your community related to issues around hunger and poverty,” says Winnipeg Harvest’s Janelle Duerksen.
The province says a single person living on employment and income assistance receives a monthly cheque of $655.00.
Winnipeg Harvest says, after you subtract rent and utilities, the average you are left with to pay for food, entertainment, and hygiene products is $3.96.
“$3.96 is not sufficient at all to have adequate meal that’s nutritious and meets all your dietary needs,” Duerksen said.
According to Winnipeg Harvest, 60,000 Manitobans use the food bank every year. For many the budget of $3.96 is a reality, and as the price of food continues to rise, buying food becomes increasingly difficult.
“At the end of the day food is there, it’s available, but we’re simply not given enough adequate power to purchase that,” Duerksen added.
The poverty pledge focuses solely on food, but for people who live on this budget, they also need to pay for all personal care items like soap, shampoo, and feminine hygiene products, fitting those costs within the $3.96 daily payment.
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