[homeles_ot-l] Fwd: New Report on Families and Households in Ottawa

[Terrie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Helene Bouchard <HeleneB at spcottawa.on.ca>
Date: 15 February 2010 14:20
Subject: New Report on Families and Households in Ottawa
To: office at spcottawa.on.ca


 Dear Friends of the SPC:

 In honour of Family Day, the Social Planning is pleased to announce the
release of a new report, “Households and Families in Ottawa”, based on the
2006 census. The report highlights the impact of current demographic and
labour market trends in the composition of Ottawa’s households and
families.  It discusses challenges that families face in the fast changing
globalized market. Furthermore, it raises the increasing importance of
non-traditional families.  The purpose of the report is to assist policy
makers and service providers in making informed decisions, and to provide a
tool to community organizations advocating for change.

*Key findings of the report *

There are more small households and people living alone in Ottawa.  The main
factors are the aging population trend and the faster increase of couples
without children.  In 2006, 42% of couples did not have children. The aging
population trend will pose higher caregiving demands on families in the next
decades.

Youth are experiencing a more difficult transition to the labour market.
There was an increase of 32.2% of adult children (25+ years) living at home
during the period 1996-2006.  Higher levels of education at entry level
positions, unemployment and lack of affordable housing are among the key
factors.  .

One in four families in Ottawa is led by a lone-parent. The number of single
fathers is increasing faster than single mothers, but women continue to be
the majority (83%).   These families exhibit the lowest incomes and higher
levels of poverty.

“Skip Generation Families” are increasing, i.e. grandparents raising
grandchildren without a parent present.  While this trend is present in
Ottawa, statistics are only available for Ontario.  In 2006, there were
22,650 children in the province with a grandparent as a primary caregiver, a
27% increase over the previous decade.  There are gaps in services placing
these families at a risk of poverty.

Immigrant women with children under 6 years face significantly higher
unemployment rates than other groups.  In 2006, their unemployment rate was
30%. A significant number of women with children in Ottawa also have
precarious jobs (irregular hours, non-full time, lower wages and limited
benefits).

In 2006, 32,853 (18.7%) children under 18 years in Ottawa lived below the
poverty line. For youth aged 15-24 the rate was 23.7% (26,610).  This
situation has dire consequences for early child development and compromises
the positive development of an important part of the replacement labour
force.  It also weakens social cohesion creating a “deficit of citizenship.”

The report can be found at http://www.spcottawa.on.ca/z_home_e.asp.





Hélène Bouchard

Office Manager

280 Metcalfe St., Suite 501

Ottawa, ON K2P 1R7

(613) 236-9300 ext 300

(613) 236-7060

www.spcottawa.on.ca





-- 
Terrie ( mocharebyl at gmail.com )
“If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a
participant.” June Callwood
Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and
renders the present inaccessible.  Maya Angelou
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