THE BIGGER PICTURE

By the year 2021, the population in Canada of people 65 years and older will double from 1.5 million to 3 million. By 2031, more than 1/4 of Toronto residents will be seniors.

COMMUNITY, MUNICIPAL, PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL COMPARISONS

North Toronto is unique in its demographics and subsequent needs.

AREA                                  AGE 45+ (%)                                         AGE 65+ (%)         

Toronto                                     49.2                                                     19.9

North Toronto                          54.7                                                     24.7

Ontario                                      35.0                                                     12.5

Canada                                     33.2                                                     12.4

HOUSING PROFILE OF NORTH TORONTO

§         43% are one person households

§         58% live in rental accommodation

§         the average gross rent of $843 is 15% higher than the City of Toronto average

§         35% of renters pay more than 30% of their income on rent

§         since the 1995 cancellation of Federal and Provincial non-profit housing programs, no assisted and little low-cost private housing has been built in Toronto

POPULATION DATA (1996 Census)

North Toronto                                134,600

Toronto                                     2,655,700

NORTH TORONTO: COUNTRY OF BIRTH OUTSIDE CANADA

In North Toronto, 28% or 38,000 people list their countries of birth as follows:

U.K.                              18%                         U.S.                      8%

Philippines                    7%                          Poland                  4%

Germany/Hungary/         3% each                 China/Yug.              3% each

Hong Kong/Iran

Other Countries - fewer than 3% each

NORTH TORONTO POPULATION BY GENDER

Male                 45%

Female              55%

Residents over age 65:

Male                 37%     (7,495)

Female              63%   (12,800)

Total                 100%  (20,295)

HUNGER AND POVERTY

In Ontario, the use of food banks by elders has doubled from 1995 - 2000, mostly female elders.

There are more food banks than McDonald franchises in Canada.

One can conclude that the problems of poverty and hunger in North Toronto are major and largely unseen, given the age, income and gender demographics of the community.

INTERSECTIONALITY

There is a term, intersectionality, which refers to what occurs when age intersects with other aspects of a person's identity. Intersectionality intensifies the depth of social, economic and healthcare problems and makes effective community planning and resources critical to the wellbeing of the entire community. These other aspects include:

§         disability

§         elder females

§         longevity

§         income/poverty

§         single isolation