“You shouldn’t have to decide on between paying lease or consuming dinner, however that’s the selection we face”
(Pictures by Claudine Baltazar)
In 1975, on the age of 21, I moved from California to North York. My dad and mom had grown up in Toronto and needed me to expertise the town too. I took some promoting and enterprise programs at Seneca Faculty, however by no means graduated with a level or diploma. I had just a few jobs through the years, principally in gross sales: I labored in beauty gross sales at the Bay, wrote name scripts for telemarketing firms and did fundraising for not-for-profits. I by no means made some huge cash—my financial savings all the time hovered round $2,000.
The price of dwelling was less expensive again then so I by no means needed to fear about discovering inexpensive meals or housing. My first condo, in 1990, was a one-bedroom in North York that I rented for simply $300 a month. My subsequent place, in 1993, was a $700 two-bedroom that I shared with a buddy. On the weekends, I took out a $20 invoice from the ATM, which coated each groceries and leisure. I might purchase bread, cheese, bologna slices and pasta all for $10, with quite a bit left over to hang around on the native bar.
In 2009, on the age of 55, I moved right into a rent-controlled rental in North York, at Marlee and Eglinton. The lease was $900 a month, and I break up the fee with my accomplice, who’s an impartial filmmaker. We have been fortunate to seek out such an inexpensive dwelling scenario—market lease on the time was $1,100. I used to be working in gross sales for a vitamin firm, incomes minimal wage and bringing dwelling $400 every week; my accomplice was incomes about $1,000 a month.
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At 58, I used to be identified with osteoporosis, hypertension and a thyroid situation. My physician informed me to consider slowing down and I retired in 2012 [what was she doing at that time?]. I didn’t have a lot cash to fall again on, with no financial savings and solely $3,000 in my chequing account, however I figured I might decide up some part-time work if I wanted to. I regarded for workplace jobs—telemarketing, customer support, submitting—however I couldn’t discover something. So, I went on welfare for about six years, bringing in round $345 a month. These days, at 69, I obtain $1,700 a month from authorities help, $232 from the Canada pension and $1,500 from old-age safety. My accomplice, brings in about $1,200 a month. We nonetheless can’t afford to purchase meals.
I stay proper throughout from an City Contemporary, however it’s too costly for me. As a substitute, as soon as a month, I am going to No Frills or FreshCo, that are comparatively low cost. I purchase greens to make a giant salad—lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, purple peppers. That lasts me a few week. That’s what I often eat, as a result of I can’t afford to purchase different groceries. Generally I’ll splurge and purchase almond milk (it helps wth my osteoporosis), pita bread and cheese slices, or contemporary fruit, like apples and strawberries, in the event that they’re on sale. All of it prices about $60—the utmost we will afford to spend on groceries. The remainder of our revenue covers our telephone and web payments and the fare for public transit, which we use to journey to group meals applications and meals banks across the metropolis.
We go to meals applications about six instances every week—in North York at a meals truck run by Ve’ahavta, a Jewish non-profit; in midtown at St. Clement’s Church; and downtown at Toronto Attorneys Feed the Hungry. They serve lasagna, salads, rice, meatballs and tuna sandwiches—meals that I can’t afford to make at dwelling. From the North York Harvest meals financial institution, the place we go twice a month, I can get Campbell’s soup, zucchini, Kraft macaroni and eggs, which I wouldn’t be capable to afford in any other case. If I didn’t have entry to those applications, I’d starve. However I fear whether or not I’m getting all of the vitamins I want, particularly with my osteoporosis.
We spend our free time speaking to the individuals we meet at these meals applications. It’s good to remain linked to our group and socialize with others. On the similar time, it’s irritating to comprehend that I’ve labored exhausting my entire life and nonetheless can’t afford to purchase meals.
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We don’t have a lot housing safety both. Our lease has risen to $1,100 a month, which my accomplice and I break up. Our landlord is in his 70s. He might promote our unit at any second—there’s no safety or ensures. I’m solely 69, cellular and in any other case wholesome. However what’s going to occur as I grow old and want care? This month, I solely have $1,500 in my financial savings account—and I haven’t even paid my lease. If we wish to deal with ourselves, we’ll go to Tim Hortons and get a doughnut. There are not any fancy dinners or journeys. I attempt to keep constructive amid every thing. I volunteer with group applications that assist college students and new immigrants. I make collage artwork. I write tales about my life.
Meals banks aren’t the reply—the federal government must do extra to assist feed individuals. We want inexpensive supermarkets with inexpensive groceries, the place individuals pay what they will. There needs to be extra inexpensive land, the place individuals can develop their very own meals gardens, as a method to economize and grow to be self-sustainable. You shouldn’t have to decide on between paying lease and consuming dinner, however with rising rental prices and unaffordable meals pricing, that’s the selection we face.
—As informed to Mathew Silver
