It is inexcusable that in the wealthy part of the world — like Canada — there continues to be such poverty, especially because the problem of poverty is simple and solvable. (If you think Canada doesn’t have enough money, here’s what is happening with defense spending.) And that’s too bad, because just in Ontario alone, Nearly 85,000 people are homeless, up 8% in one year. What would it cost to house every person on Toronto streets? The Star estimates $444M. That is a lot, but also a fraction of the money spent on defence. We need to do more.
I didn’t collect as many stories on poverty this year as compared to last year. I can’t say why. Perhaps the news source I follow have been downplaying it. Perhaps politicians have been focused on other issues, like inflation and affordability. Perhaps I have been worn down. Regardless, I did collect these stories which I thought were noteworthy:
- This is a story on California poverty housing
- More on homelessness in Ontario, here.
- Finally, on a more positive note, is this: The French city where you can eat gourmet food for €1. Relatedly, “Penny Universities”: How coffeehouses changed the world over at the Big Think
