- About Youth Vital Signs
- Who We Are
- Background
- Key Findings and Grades
- Arts Scene
- Going Green
- Poverty
- Youth Voice
- Youth Spaces
- Health and Well-being
- Youth Housing and Homelessness
- Education and Learning
- Safety
- Employment and Training
- Transportation
- Culture, Identity and Belonging
- Mobile Text Survey
- Grader Profile
- Differences Among Us
- Youth in Action
- Links to Community and Resources
- Find Us
Key Findings and Grades - Poverty
FAST FACTS
High Poverty Rate
In 2006, 23% of children and youth age 18 and under in Vancouver lived in households with incomes below the poverty line, while the national rate was 16%. For youth age 15 to 24 living on their own, the poverty rate was 70%.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
Low Wages
More than 60% of workers in Canada who earn minimum wage or less are under 25. B.C. has not raised its minimum wage of $8 an hour since 2001, and has an even lower “training” wage of $6.50 an hour for inexperienced, young workers.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census
The Growing Gap
The gap between rich and poor in metro Vancouver grew by nearly 9% between 2001 and 2005. In 2005, the average income for the richest 10% of residents was $145,800, while the average income for the poorest 10% was $14,100. This means the richest 10% averaged more than 10 times the income of the poorest 10% of our residents.
Source: Statistics Canada Tax Data
YOUTH IN ACTION
Step Up
Step Up is a program that offers social nights for youth, with a purpose. Youth gather at Check Your Head’s Vancouver office to hash through systemic issues that create inequality and poverty in our lives, and come up with solutions. They’ve developed a workshop on the roots of poverty to empower low-income youth and share the message through hip-hop, movies, theatre and more.