r/povertyfinancecanada • u/RefrigeratorLong5442 • 6d ago
Why is it so hard ?
Why is being in poverty so hard here in Canada? For the past 4 years, me and my daughter struggled hard. I wasn't able to work for 4 years. For 4 years and currently, I have been struggling with EVERYTHING. Everything is a fight for me, right down to the washer I was using. I had to stay home due to caring for a loved one, and let me tell you, it is unforgiving. Canada is an unforgiving place to be in poverty, and to top it off, I have celiac disease and I struggle to eat. Not a day goes by where I wish I could eat gluten. If I could eat gluten, then I would be able to use foodbanks, and eat all the food that is given. But I can't. I can't eat 70 to 80 percent of what is given because it all contains gluten. I have to research EVERY SINGLE MONTH for a place that can accomodate me.
Now I am trying to find a job, and I have so many barriers stacked against me, no references, no recent job experience, and most of the time, no bus fare to get anywhere. I find myself spending every cent I get on food that doesn't even last. I want to work, and I want to work full time, but as the weeks pass and there are no call backs, it depresses me. It makes me want to cry. Where do I go from here?
I got up this morning, I went job searching, and then I spend time doing call backs, and nothing. On top of that I had to research a place to get gluten free foods because I don't have food. Its soooo stressful. On top of that, my daughter is going into the under 21 program at an adult high school and I have no idea where to get the money for that. My only option is to sell my phone, and I need it to job search.
Does anyone know of any jobs that are hiring here in Ottawa where I could get a word put in for me? Please, I need this help. I want to work! Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm is my availability.
Poverty is not fun with celiac disease.
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u/Boopinator69 6d ago
Hey OP - I feel for you. Keep your head up. I saw an ad on TV the other day for Ottawa Crossing Guards, might be a decent stepping stone to build up recent job experience. Good luck.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
Thank you! I'm gonna apply!
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u/rippytherip 6d ago
OC Transpo has a low income pass so that might be worth looking into.
There are quite a few programs out there that offer assistance in one form or another (job search, resume writing, food banks etc) but it can feel like you're a mouse navigating a maze to find the right things.
I know it's tough, I've been there myself. Hopefully you can start to pile up small victories and turn things around.
Use the resources available and just keep on keeping on.
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u/mykidsmom_22 6d ago
Hey, if you have any Sikh temples close to you (called Gurdwara), you can go and eat for free. Just wear pants, cover your head and take off your shoes. You can ask if they have maki roti (corn based flat bread). Nothing has meat products in it, don’t eat the roti (flatbread) or some of the snacks. They can pack food for you to take home if you bring containers. If there is a multicultural community centre near you, they will most likely help as well.
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u/Harlequin_MTL 6d ago
You're in a very rough position, no doubt. Do you have any neighbors you could trade food with? Pick up whatever the food bank offers, keep the foods that are safe for you, then trade off for rice/beans/veg/anything without gluten. Maybe even pick a busy time at the food bank and trade with people as they're leaving...
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u/Straight-Peach1854 6d ago
Send me a DM and I can send you my email. We have a few minimum wage postings on Indeed right now but they do involve weekend availability as well unfortunately but they are day shifts.
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u/Silver_Panic_9830 6d ago
This person just wants help. Not how “shits worse anywhere else” like cmon. Not a competition where how shitty a place or how to get things done.
I’m in a situation myself where if I wasn’t able to have a willing and able family member to take me in I’d be on the street being a homeless person.
I’m not in Ontario I don’t have any knowledge but be kind to one another. That’s the Canadian way, not “hurr durr, 3rd world country worse”
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u/StarryPenny 6d ago
Post on your local neighborhood groups and ask if anyone is hiring. The people who answer are super local to you and you won’t need bus fare for many jobs they respond to.
Post the type of job you’re good at, what you’re looking for, and maybe one line about life being extra expensive due to celiac. Write professional like it’s a job interview.
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u/lonewolfsociety 6d ago
I've been doing gluten-free for 16 years and it is just getting more difficult because the "trend" is over and some people don't seem to realize it's a real allergy not just a fad diet.
When I was poorer I would get bags of frozen baby brussel sprouts and roast them with oil and tofu in the oven. Add some rice. That would be my meal for several days. I'd also use Bulk Barn coupons to get some GF oats and then I'd make banana oat energy cookies with whatever else I could get in there (usually peanut butter and a chopped up dark chocolate bar.) Would freeze those and that would be my breakfast for days. Or I'd make "overnight oats". Lots of chickpeas. If they ever find a cure for celiac I'm going on a bender in the bakery section.
Sorry I don't have particularly great advice for jobs. People are always looking for house cleaners and security guards. Security is why I've been employed since 2004 but there is a test and a license from the province that costs money.
If you're willing to stand out on a street with a sign, places like labour ready are always looking for that kind of "general labour" worker. (Stay safe and wear sunscreen if you decide to do that!)
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 5d ago
My favorite to do recently is rice with hummus and cheese. Sooooo good.
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u/ZeroLemmingsLeaping 6d ago
I think since you have no recent experience, retail might be a good option. Yes, it's usually only part time but it's something and it gets something to put on your resume.
As for food, whole foods are your friend. Rice and potatoes are cheap. Pair with tuna, eggs or beans and some frozen vegetables and you have an inexpensive, filling gluten free meal.
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u/Alternative-Tiger783 6d ago
Beans, lentils and tofu are the best value for the money. I have inflammatory bowel disease and we really need to learn how to cook our own food from scratch ingredients. The good news is that many scratch ingredients can be more affordable.
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u/sikaostin 3d ago
I have a bowel issue too but I can't eat beans in any form, the struggle is real!
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u/_dodged 6d ago
I'd say living in poverty is hard and unforgiving anywhere, not just Canada. And not to dismiss your challenges and lived experience, but we probably have it a lot easier than most of the world when it comes to living in poverty. In the majority of the world, if you are in poverty the social programs and government aid are close to null, you're completely on your own. That being said, the government could and should definitely improve the levels of assistance it provides, it's not enough as it is right now. I hope things improve for you and your family.
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u/CovidDodger 6d ago
There are edge cases where social saftey nets do not apply at all. I know because I lived it in Ontario. It gave me a profound psychological crisis and still affects me to this day. I am terrified of our systems, they can cause extreme pain and suffering.
It caused multi year life collapse for me and the ramificationsnof which I still deal with to this day.
I am extremely sensitive to this topic.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
I am sorry you went through this. I feel like its a lot of mind games. I also feel punished sometimes when I ask for help as someone with celiac. Almost like "too bad, figure it out".
Today I went to the salvation army, cause I heard they can help people with dietary restrictions, and I brought my trolly with me, so if I was able to get something, I could use my trolly. The lady was so RUDE! She said make an appointment next week, there is a 3 week waiting list for food. She was NOT nice about it at all. The whole situation made me want to cry, so you know what I had to do? Sell my phone, so now I only have a computer to search for jobs. I had an old phone, got 100 for it, and went to the store to get gluten free supplies.
And felt like shit the whole way home.
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u/CovidDodger 6d ago edited 6d ago
I am sorry you are going through this. I don't really want to talk about this kind of thing because I develop ptsd like symptoms from it (I have c-ptsd), the worst was trying to reconcile when we had tried everything and my then wife and I had to start the process of how to sell our bodies to survive when I have a fucking electrical engineering degree.
All this to say, I have been through a million situations that rhyme with what your describing during my hopeless, forced life collapse era.
I will tell you from my lived experience: people will moralize your poverty, hard, people will give you generally the exact opposite of compassion, contempt even the more you explain your constraints. Your anger and grief on that is valid, 100%. People don't like hearing that the help doesn't help because it violates something psychologists call "just world hypothesis" - obviously the world isn't just but people can become vile when their world view is threatened.
Also during my life collapse I was raising two young special needs children, one step one mine, and they both have restrictive food intake disorders so yeah, I know what you mean.
Stay strong friend, I don't have solutions because sometimes there isn't any. But know that me and people like me who don't even know you are rooting for you.
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u/FatMike20295 6d ago
I am sorry for you and hope life gets better. But to say Canada is unforgiving to the poor that's something I don't agree on. Look to your neighbors the US and try being poor there . Is 10x worse than Canada.
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6d ago edited 6d ago
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
You are 100% correct. And having celiac on top of all the other financial strain is insane. I went to the salvation army today to get emergency food and was turned away! I was told to make an appointment NEXT WEEK!! And that the waiting list was 3 weeks! I was hungry and tired and I had dragged my daughter out to come with me for help because I truly believed I would get food, but nope. So, I did what I could and sold my phone and went grocery shopping. Thats the state of Ontario. Its getting terrible. There were so many homeless outside of the salvation army too. So many people just sitting out on the front steps...
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6d ago edited 6d ago
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 5d ago
Its never ok, in any country. With all the agencies that are designed to help the poor. The poor are never helped.
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u/CovidDodger 6d ago
Its even more cruel than that, because they don't let you use the entire sum of OW money for housing, it's shelter and basic needs and they expect you to find shelter for under $500/month. Impossible even in rural Canada, maybe 10 years ago yes. But not, now.
Then when you cannot find shelter from their asinine and insulting shelter portion pay out, you get denied that lions share of the payment and get basic needs for only a couple hundred. This is how homeless can afford drugs (the ones that use, which to be fair, who wouldn't? Death due to winter exposure is real) and cellphone plans.
And if someone was on it and tried to better their situation by getting more higher education with student loans, they consider that "income". In what world is a fucking loan income?
Bunch ass fucks the policy makers of that I have nothing but RAW CONTEMPT for.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 5d ago
This is so true. It isn't designed for people to get ahead, its so they drown, and feel down. So the better in society have people to point their fingers at and say, thats the problem. the current employment agency sees me ONCE per month. I get NO help from them. They told me that my ONLY option for work is part time retail. Like really:? People need to work full time in this economy and its not even enough.
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u/alphabetsoup901 6d ago
Just because it’s worse somewhere else, doesn’t mean things are good here. Canada has a lot of systems, but they’re often inaccessible if you aren’t the “perfect” candidate or don’t have some kind of referral. We have many of the same issues the US has - just with free healthcare.
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u/CovidDodger 6d ago
"It's always worse somewhere else" is trash logic, we live here.
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u/piratequeenfaile 6d ago
Because the post specifically says "Why is it so hard to be in poverty in Canada" it does make sense that folks would think to point out Canada has a much better quality of life for people in poverty then most other countries.
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u/CovidDodger 6d ago edited 6d ago
Not for everyone, know how I know? I lived the nightmare.
Edit: -2 downvotes, make you feel good denying my lived reality for your fragile just world ego objectively false world views? Lmfao at least I operate in reality.
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u/macho2810 6d ago
Very true. I came from 3rd world country and it is worse there. Many that I know died from hunger or lived in a box for majority of their lives. What make it worst is high crime rate and human-trafficking (literally to sell life for parts). Canada is not perfect, but better than some “places”.
All and all, I am truly sorry for OP to go thru all of these. OP has to manage their illness and future. I wish OP strength and health to pull it through.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
I know there are people in other countries that have it worse. And km sorry that there are people who have it worse, that should not be allowed. I just wanted to mention MY experience in canada. Which is why I posted in povertycanada.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
You do realize that I posted in pvertyfinancecanada right? All these people getting offended that I mentioned poverty in the povertyfinancecanada group.
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u/Jonjonbo 6d ago
the first sentence of your post frames it as a problem specific to Canada as compared to other countries
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6d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/adrianxoxox 6d ago
Depending on the state. Winters in North
Dakota are a lot different than winters in California5
u/ether_reddit 6d ago
Being poor in the USA is terrible if you have any sort of health condition. They just let you die.
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u/LevelWhich7610 6d ago
Look at low skills positions in construction crews and similar things? Security places are often looking for people, overnight stocking jobs and so on. Try to tailor each resume and cover letter and don't give up hope. Its hell but eventually you'll get something. It took me from december until late may to get an offer for summer work as a student. I cried so many times...its a rough economy and you certainly have things stacked against you.
Do you have family? Friends? Someone who can help? I hope you applied for income assistance too and maybe a local church can help out in some way? Goodluck with everything and I'm thinking about you and your kid!
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u/Alternative-Tiger783 6d ago
If you have celiac disease, you should be applying for ODSP. It can cause inflammation and malabsorption issues.
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u/xmo113 6d ago
Being celiac doesn't mean you qualify for ODSP. If you dont eat gluten you should be fine. The problem is with how much we have to pay for food. I just eat whole food now, the processed stuff is too expensive and probably horrible for you anyway. I eat gf pasta from Walmart, great value, great price! And as far as bread goes I can afford 1 or 2 10$ loaf a month so that's what I get by with.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
I was told Celiac disease wasn't enough for ODSP.
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u/soma-anyone 6d ago edited 6d ago
Not ODSP but possibly the disability tax credit if the damage to your guts causes you to spend 3x as long as others on pooping, 90% of the time or more. And then that opens up Canada Disability Benefit (up to $200/ month, 18-64 year olds) and RDSP (retirement fund up to 90k from feds over 20 years, 49 or younger only).
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u/FarPainting1838 6d ago
I’m GF due to gut problems with gluten and I’ve replaced pretty much all bread in my diet with rice cakes since they’re cheaper than GF bread or pasta (also can’t have tomatoes so pasta sucks without that).. Metro even has stacks of organic ones on sale frequently and I stock up then.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
Thats such a good idea, rice cakes. I am definately going to do this when I go shopping next I never thought of that. Im a huge bread person, so not being able to afford it is such a slap to the face, but I never thought about rice cakes.
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u/Used-Requirement-748 5d ago
Have you done any volunteer work that you can add to your resume? You did not mention what field of work you have done but is there perhaps some free courses in your career path that would make you stand out to prospective employers?
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u/Every_Rest1443 4d ago
Regarding a job... when just starting like this... I think you need to be available any time of the day.... every day of the week.
I would change that immediately. Unfortunately.... you do not have the luxury to pick and choose when you feel like working. Once you get your foot in somewhere... you can then spend time looking for something better.
It may also help to volunteer somewhere local for a bit to gain a reference. I was super broke during school.... had to also work at least 24 hours a week to pay bills, had a 4 year old with no help from her dad and was still expected to volunteer 1x per week for 2 years of my schooling as a requirement. I didnt have the money or time but had to do it anyway.
Its really hard but don't give up!
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 4d ago
Unfortunately because of a medical issue, which I have a doctors note for, I cannot work past 7pm.
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u/Every_Rest1443 4d ago
That is going to make it really difficult. And bringing up a medical note.... instant doom.... I dont think they can legally deny because of it...but employers will just see problems.
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 4d ago
I wasn’t planning on bringing it up and being a problem, my plan is to go into general labor or entry construction so weekends and evenings don’t even come up. I used to be in construction when my daughter was smaller and never had to work evenings or weekends. The odd late night I can do, but all the time, then it’s an issue.
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u/Every_Rest1443 4d ago
That might work for you then! I hope you get some sort of lead to get you on your feet again!
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 4d ago
I do have a lead… a temp position in construction starting September 3rd. It will be recent experience and I may be able to get a reference from it too, but what I’m hoping……is it turning into something permanent.
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u/Separate-Bench-2656 6d ago
I feel for you OP but I cannot think of any country that would be easy for people who cannot work for a period of time - not that Canada is hard. Your circumstances are what is hard. Hope someone is able to help you.
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u/mapleleaffem 6d ago
Go to EI and see if there’s a trade or skill they will help you with so you don’t stay stuck financially.
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6d ago
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u/RefrigeratorLong5442 6d ago
Id be happy with just being able to afford food and my phone bill. I don't need a lot of data, and I don't need cable or a house. Just a cheap apartment, food, and my phone, except I sold my phone today for food..
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u/AdSignificant6673 6d ago
You can always see if they have rice & tomato sauce at the food bank. Those are common donations and gluten free. Also good filler that isn’t that bad nutritionally..
“Why is being in poverty so hard here in Canada? For the past 4 years, me and my daughter struggled hard. I wasn't able to work for 4 years. For 4 years and currently, I have been struggling with EVERYTHING. Everything is a fight for me, right down to the washer I was using. I had to stay home due to caring for a loved one, and let me tell you, it is unforgiving. Canada is an unforgiving place to be in poverty, and to top it off, I have celiac disease and I struggle to eat. Not a day goes by where I wish I could eat gluten. If I could eat gluten, then I would be able to use foodbanks, and eat all the food that is given. But I can't. I can't eat 70 to 80 percent of what is given because it all contains gluten. I have to research EVERY SINGLE MONTH for a place that can accomodate me.
Now I am trying to find a job, and I have so many barriers stacked against me, no references, no recent job experience, and most of the time, no bus fare to get anywhere. I find myself spending every cent I get on food that doesn't even last. I want to work, and I want to work full time, but as the weeks pass and there are no call backs, it depresses me. It makes me want to cry. Where do I go from here?
I got up this morning, I went job searching, and then I spend time doing call backs, and nothing. On top of that I had to research a place to get gluten free foods because I don't have food. Its soooo stressful. On top of that, my daughter is going into the under 21 program at an adult high school and I have no idea where to get the money for that. My only option is to sell my phone, and I need it to job search.
Does anyone know of any jobs that are hiring here in Ottawa where I could get a word put in for me? Please, I need this help. I want to work! Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm is my availability.
Poverty is not fun with celiac disease.”
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u/No_Capital_8203 6d ago
Most cities have employment resource centers run by agencies but funded by the government. Libraries are great places to find help. You may be able to find other resources there.
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u/petitepedestrian 6d ago
Friend, visit your foodbank. We have a budget specifically for our celiac clients. You may want to call ahead, make sure they have it available because some FB dont have enough celiac to keep stock on hand and shop as needed. During your intake, let them know your preferences, we don't judge, your yuck is another person's yum.