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An internal report presented to the community services committee of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board highlights some grim realities regarding income trends in the district. That report, entitled Income and Poverty in Nipissing District, was the subject of discussion during Thursday's meeting.
Of note, the report states the areas with the highest prevalence of low-income households in the province are made up of Nipissing and seven other districts in northern Ontario.
Income and Poverty in Nipissing District examines and compares income distribution locally and provincially, based on the recent 2021 census income data. It also analyzes the prevalence of low-income households and provides a comparison of social assistance income. It is the first in what will be a series of DNSSAB reports focusing on income and poverty in the district.
The full Income and Poverty in Nipissing District, Report #1 can be found here, under the "Reports" tab.
Committee members learned the local median income is "significantly lower," than province-wide levels. Nipissing District's median income of $72,500 is 25.5 per cent or $18,500 lower than Ontario’s median income of $91,000.
"In dollar terms, the difference in income between the province and district across the various household types ranges from $9,000 more for Ontario families with children to $18,000 more for other family households. In relative terms, Ontario household incomes are higher in the range of 7.0 per cent for families with children to 21.1 per cent for single households."
Two-thirds of the households in Nipissing District are comprised of families, both with and without children, while close to another third is comprised of single households. The median family household income varies significantly depending on household composition and family type. Median income ranges between $36,000 for single households to $96,000 for families.
"When compared across Ontario’s 49 census divisions/service management areas," the report states, "Nipissing is in the lowest quartile of the household income distribution (along with most other districts in northern Ontario) and has the fifth-lowest household income in the province."
The findings also reference the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in which 89 per cent of Nipissing’s population received some amount of government income — a steep increase from 73.6 per cent in the previous census. However, this increase was also observed at the national and provincial levels and is largely attributed to the government’s COVID-19 pandemic emergency and recovery benefits, which were widespread across the population.
In Nipissing, 8 per cent of the population receives social assistance, which is close to twice the provincial rate of 4.4 per cent.
"Poverty is a complex issue that has significant impacts on individuals, families and society as a whole," per the report. "On an individual and family level, living in poverty makes it exceptionally difficult to meet basic needs, like food and shelter."
There is a large difference in government transfer income within geographic areas of Nipissing District itself, with 15.3 per cent of East Ferris households receiving social assistance, compared with Mattawa where about one-third of income comes from government transfers. The 2021 census data shows the median social assistance income, comprised of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program is $11,400, which is less than one-third the median income for single households (no dependent children) in the district’s general population.
When it comes to inflation, there has been real income growth for the general population since the 2016 census but there has been no growth for OW rates over most of this period, let alone at the inflation rate or higher. The annual income for a single Ontario Works recipient with no other income is about $8,800, which is one-quarter the median income ($36,000) for a single household in the Nipissing District, illustrating the depth of poverty facing many recipients of social assistance in the district and province.
"At the societal level, high poverty rates impinge economic growth and are often associated with a number of social problems including crime, poor health, low levels of education and addiction," the report reads.
According to DNSSAB, the Income and Poverty in Nipissing District report "further informs the Board’s advocacy, policy development, planning and service delivery across the district as it pursues its corporate strategy and vision for healthy and sustainable communities."
Future reports in the series will be based on the most recent information and data available and set the stage for the Board to continue to take action on the corporate strategy and long-term goals, which include removing systemic barriers, providing seamless access, and maximizing human service impact.
