Debunking Misconceptions About Poverty

11 min read

When you think of poverty, what do you see? Do you picture someone with torn clothing, who doesn’t have a job, who doesn’t know where to find their next meal? Those ideas might be influenced by social stigma and common misconceptions about what poverty is like for someone in Metro Vancouver. Realistically, poverty impacts multiple generations of people, it can happen for a variety of reasons, and it can often go unnoticed if you are unaware.

In British Columbia, nearly 12% of the population are living below the official poverty line. According to Food Banks Canada’s yearly Poverty Report Card, more than one in five British Columbians are also experiencing food insecurity — not knowing if they’ll be able to get enough nutritious food every day.

The people who feel this pinch aren’t just adults. Campaign 2000, a non-partisan coalition, reports that 1.4 million children fell into poverty from 2020 to 2022, a 5% increase that is the largest jump the organization has ever seen.

At Union Gospel Mission, we don’t want people living in poverty to be seen as numbers, to be seen as separate from the rest of society, or to be misunderstood. We want to break down common misconceptions about poverty, in order to overcome stigma, and create deeper compassion and empathy for what hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing in British Columbia daily.

Misconception #1: “People experiencing poverty are lazy and don’t want to work.”

Truth: People experiencing poverty are often working multiple jobs.

One misconception is that people who are living in poverty are disinterested in work and disinclined to make an effort. This is a damaging and false belief because the reality is that many people who experience poverty hold one —if not multiple — jobs.

Poverty is a systemic issue that stems from many complex reasons — but unaffordability where people live can also contribute to poverty.

Rent in British Columbia is notoriously high, with Vancouver having the highest rental rates in Canada. Groceries, gas prices, and daily living expenses take their toll on everyone living in the province, but especially on those who don’t make an adequate living wage.

When it comes to gaining employment, some people have a disproportionately harder time because of existing discrimination. This includes people who are Indigenous, who are from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, who are new to the country or refugees, or people with disabilities. Women still experience a substantial pay gap when compared to men. These factors are outside of people’s control; and are not because they are unmotivated or don’t want to work.

“Many people experiencing the impact of poverty actually work in traditional market jobs, but are underpaid,” said Kris, the Vice President of Outreach and Community Services at Union Gospel Mission. “Some work in non-market jobs like being bottle pickers and recyclers. In all of these people is the strong desire to work and live sustainably in our communities.”

Another uncontrollable factor as to why people live in poverty is because of chronic illnesses or tragic accidents that hinder their ability to work. Many people live on disability assistance, but at Union Gospel Mission we’ve served many people at our shelter, community meals, and transitional and permanent housing who say their assistance payments are not enough.

Ed from Mission lives on disability assistance because he has both cancer and lupus; but after paying rent, he can barely afford food each month.

It’s not due to lack of motivation that leads people to poverty, but a range of systemic and often uncontrollable issues.

Misconception #2: “People experiencing poverty waste their money.”

Truth: People experiencing poverty spend a higher percentage of their money on essentials than higher-income families.

2024 October UGM Thanksgiving Community Meal

Another misconception about people living in poverty is that they simply waste the money they have, and that’s what keeps them entrenched. However, research shows that’s not true.

Low-income families actually spend more of their money on essentials like shelter and food than higher-income families. Some federal statistics on spending show that low-income families spent more than half their budget on food and shelter, as well as clothing. That was in 2019, and one can assume that number has risen based on inflation and the economy.

Union Gospel Mission’s New Westminster Resource Centre serves a high number of seniors who are living in poverty. These community members rely on their pensions and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to get by, but it’s still not enough to cover rent and food. This can also mean that not only do seniors experience poverty, but they might also experience homelessness, or turn to addiction to cope with their stressful situations. Their lack is not their fault, says Jenn, Case Manager, but a result of not having enough support and resources accessible to them.

Individuals and families going through poverty are often focused on stretching the money they have, and it’s inaccurate to believe that their income is spent frivolously.

Misconception #3: “People experiencing poverty are bad parents.”

Truth: Parents experiencing poverty are doing their best in difficult circumstances.

This next misconception is harmful, and at Union Gospel Mission, is a concept that has been proven false.

“Parents are resourceful and despite their difficult circumstances, we see them find ways to make ends meet for their families,” said Thomas, Community Chaplain for the Children & Youth program at UGM.

“They pick up pantry basics at food banks. They apply for UGM’s emergency food hampers and grocery gift cards. They work several jobs. They find ways to make sure their kids eat every day, go to school, and attend UGM’s Eastsiders After School Program for more support and mentorship.”

There were nearly two million visits to food banks all over the country in March 2023 according to Food Banks Canada. Of all people who receive items from food banks, children account for 33%. This means parents and families are actively seeking out resources to put food on the table for their children, contrary to the misconception.

Candice, UGM’s Director of Outreach & Intake, says parents who are caught in the cycle of poverty are “heartbroken.”

“They’re usually the most self-sacrificing people. They feel guilt that they can’t give their kids the latest things or even basic necessities, but they fight everyday to keep their families alive and keep their kids happy.”

Candice thinks of Holly, a mom of five kids. Her daughter passed away tragically in 2022. While dealing with her grief, Holly has been a resilient and strong mom for her four other kids. They live in subsidized housing in Vancouver, and Holly lives with gratitude, even after all she’s been through. Holly is just one example of a parent who’s giving her kids the best life she can, even amidst hard and difficult financial and emotional circumstances.

Misconception #4: “People experiencing poverty don’t value education.”

Truth: People experiencing poverty have less access to resources and opportunities.

This is another misconception that is rooted in stigma and the belief that people in poverty are lazy, unmotivated, and have chosen to live this way.

Growing up in poverty can affect children and the education level they receive. The reason for this is not that they don’t value education, but that lower income households might have less access to resources and opportunities. Educational opportunities can also differ between geographic locations. Families might not be able to afford extra educational support like technological devices or tutoring.

This isn’t every family nor every child, but in 2000 and 2015 Statistics Canada did a study on the academic scores of students from low- and high-income households. Students from higher-income households had higher test scores and higher educational achievements years later. Children from low-income families also are 25% less likely to gain a university degree. This can also contribute to the cycle of poverty, as many jobs require a university degree for higher pay.

Higher education comes at a higher cost, and if an individual is trying to focus on stretching their dollars just to survive, it’s understandable that some costs have to be cut.

In this CBC article written by a man who grew up in poverty in Toronto, he recounts the impact of poverty on his mother’s level of education.

“My mom eventually sacrificed her education to work full-time and pay the bills. I, too, dreaded the decision to pursue my master's degree because it forced me to take on substantial debt. And still, I pursued it because of my grandma's lessons, keeping a part-time job, finessing and penny-pinching to get by,” wrote Shaquille Morgan.

He later said he decided not to return to school in favour of keeping his current job and financial stability. This is sometimes the tradeoff people who experience poverty or who are at risk of it have to make, and it’s not out of devaluing education, but valuing survival.

And as Kris points out, “Education alone does not guarantee someone won’t struggle with poverty.”

Misconception #5: “People experiencing poverty struggle with substance abuse.”

Truth: Substance abuse is experienced across socioeconomic divides.

Not every person who experiences poverty also struggles with substance dependence. Poverty can put someone more at risk of developing substance use disorder, but going through one complex issue doesn’t mean the other will always follow.

Candice says people who don’t experience poverty struggle with substance abuse just as much as those who do — the difference is that people living in poverty are more likely to be penalized for it. She says they’re more likely to be pulled over, arrested, and punished with heavier sentences because of social stigma. Wealthier people, she says, can hide their addiction more; and thus are less likely to face punishment or social exclusion because of their ability to blend in with the rest of society.

Poverty is already a very tough experience for people in BC. Instead of making assumptions about addiction, it’s important to recognize that people going through poverty are navigating complex health challenges with the tools available to them.

Misconception #6: “The government spends too much on poverty relief; people experiencing poverty are getting a free ride.”

Truth: People living in poverty are still struggling to make ends meet.

This last misconception we’ll be tackling in this blog post is something we wish was true. If poverty relief was overly funded, UGM and other poverty reduction organizations wouldn’t have much to do. However, the hundreds of individuals and families that come to UGM for food assistance, grants for times of financial crisis, clothing for hot or cold weather, and housing, prove the opposite.

The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition criticized BC’s Budget 2024, saying its economic investments did not target poverty enough. The Coalition noted that social and disability assistance rates were not promised to increase, and shelter and transitional housing was underfunded.

The provincial government released its updated 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy later in the year, with 10-year goals of reducing overall poverty by 60%, child poverty by 75%, and seniors’ poverty by 50%. The strategy notes initiatives to prevent poverty like increasing access to subsidized childcare, opening more shelter spaces, raising minimum wage and the BC Family Benefit, and others. These steps are in the right direction, but people living in BC are suffering from poverty right now, and need solutions that will target their urgent needs immediately — not just in 10 years’ time.

Candice puts it this way: “The government needs to spend money on things that will release people from generational poverty, including housing, education, and employment opportunities. Children need to live somewhere where they can have access to better groceries, where their parents can afford childcare, where people can start to save money instead of just scraping by.”

UGM supports hundreds of families with emergency food assistance each month. These supports are meant to be used when families can’t afford all the food they’ll need to get to their next paycheque. Candice says UGM is at maximum capacity with the number of families they can accommodate each month — and that means that the poverty relief people in Metro Vancouver are receiving is not “too much” but rather not enough.

“Parents shouldn't have to choose between diapers and food, or go hungry to feed their kids,” says Thomas, “and children shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.”

“Food is a human right.”

Understanding and having empathy for people experiencing poverty goes a long way. It’s okay to have misconceptions, as long as we’re open to them being corrected by facts. Poverty is heavy, it’s common in BC, and it’s something we must do more to overcome. Building a better future for generations to come means we need to take urgent action now, and it starts by changing our mindsets to be fully aware of and educated about what people in our communities are facing.

People experiencing homelessness also face an uphill battle against stereotypes — which we debunk here. To learn more about poverty in BC and Canada, read our comprehensive overview.

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