One-in-four Torontonians are food insecure. For low-income neighbourhoods like Davenport West, the median after-tax income is just $27,338 per year, leaving many families to choose between food and other essentials. This situation demands action. It is time to introduce a living wage in our communities.

A living wage is not the same as a minimum wage. Rather, it is the hourly wage one must earn to cover basic expenses and participate in community, calculated based on the real costs in a given city. The living wage includes necessities like food, shelter and transportation, but not things like retirement savings, savings for kids’ education or home ownership.

Written in partnership with Kim Samuel, Founder of The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness and our Director of Development and Communications, Maria Rio. They advocate for living wages by highlighting the connections between poverty and social isolation.

Read our full piece in The Toronto Star.

Learn more about the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness.