Greater Montreal is home to more than half of all people who live in poverty in Quebec, totalling 615,000 people.
Poverty rates are higher for children, single-parent families, single individuals, recent immigrants, members of visible minorities, and a growing number of workers.
Poverty can be persistent or temporary, brought on by difficult situations (job loss, family upheaval, mental health issues, difficult immigration experiences, etc.) or other factors (age, disability, ethnocultural background, etc.).
Poverty has a significant impact on several aspects of life, including academic success, housing conditions, food security, physical and mental health, and life expectancy.
Poverty is a major cause of social exclusion, just as social exclusion is in turn a barrier to overcoming poverty. It’s a vicious cycle!
Poverty is not an individual issue. It concerns everyone! Poverty has a cost, as it deprives society of its full pool of talent and resources. It costs Quebec between $15 and 17 billion per year.
