The majority of Calgary residents are concerned about poverty and affordability in the city, according to a recent report published Tuesday by the Calgary Foundation.
The foundation’s 2022 Quality of Life Report showed how surveyed Calgarians feel about their quality of life, from their sense of belonging to their views on affordability, safety and future plans for living in the city.
About 79 per cent of Calgarians surveyed are concerned about the levels of poverty in Calgary, caused by the rising cost of living and high inflation.
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Many of those surveyed are struggling to find work: 55 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds have had their hours reduced or lost their jobs permanently or temporarily this year, an increase from 51 percent in 2021.
About 19 percent of those surveyed said they cannot meet their basic financial needs, while 85 percent of those surveyed believe everyone is entitled to a living wage ($18.60 an hour). The current minimum wage is $15 an hour.
Those between the ages of 44 and 54 are worried if they can retire.
“I think we’re really seeing the weight of the last few years. People start to feel stretched. Calgarians in that 18- to 24-year-old demographic are extremely stressed financially,” said Taylor Barrie, the Calgary Foundation’s vice president of communications.
“This is a universal problem. This is not just a Calgary challenge.”
Akash Vohra, a full-time Uber driver, said the rising cost of bills and groceries has put a strain on his finances.
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He said his monthly grocery bills have risen nearly 50 percent in recent months. Currently, he spends more than $400 a month on groceries.
However, Vohra’s income was significantly reduced after Uber disabled his account after someone bumped into his car. He said he tried to reactivate his account after fixing his car, but it was an uphill battle.
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“I’m going to work harder. I am going to work 65 hours instead of 50 to cover my expenses because I also have to pay rent and take care of my car and car insurance. Everything went up,” Vohra told Global News.
The report also noted that many Calgarians feel less safe in their neighborhoods than they used to. About 51 percent of those surveyed are concerned about safety in their neighborhood, an increase of 45 percent in 2021.
This concern increases as they get older, the report says.
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But Barrie noted that the majority of Calgarians still say their quality of life is relatively high. About 80 percent of those surveyed reported a healthy sense of belonging, which has been constant since 2021.
“Overall, people have a strong sense of belonging … Even though Calgarians are pretty stretched and stressed, they still rank their quality of life as high,” Barrie said.
“I think at the end of the day, what really matters is that we’ll be able to ride out this wave and come out on the other side.”
Calgary resident Larry Sorochan said he is “pretty happy” with his quality of life in the city. He said he can afford most of his basic needs, even if he has to sacrifice a bit of his social life to do so.
“I drive pretty well. It’s not too bad, but my social life is shot,” he said.
“I feel very safe in the city. I know a lot of people who say they don’t, but I’ve ventured out after dark and I’ve never had any problems … You definitely hear a lot about (crime).
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
