Excerpts from report:
'Surviving on hope is not enough' examines how provincial and local policies concerning income support affect women's health.
The health of populations - individuals, their families and communities - is determined by the complex interaction of many factors - social, political, economic, legal, cultural, historical and biomedical. Of these determinants of health, income has long been recognized as one of the most important. The relationship between socio-economic status and health is well established. People with higher incomes and higher socio-economic status tend to live longer, have lower rates of illness and injury, and are more likely to report that they have good or excellent health. People living in poverty have a lower life expectancy and higher rates of illness across a wide spectrum of diseases.
… There is very little built into the system that allows women to develop labour market skills without putting themselves and their children in financial jeopardy because of lack of child care, transportation, and training funds.
This Manitoba research examines women's experiences with income support programs. It also explores the ways in which community supports, advocates and the appeal process can affect women's access to justice.