Your Hungry Neighbours Teresa and Violet
Teresa is a single parent and sole caregiver for her daughter, Violet
She has struggled to find employment and affordable childcare, and has been visiting her neighbourhood food bank during the pandemic.
“My daughter is not in school yet and with the pandemic I haven’t had the opportunity to get help finding a daycare. Because of this, I am unemployed, but I’m studying English while taking care of my daughter. It’s hard with small children.
I have only words of gratitude to everyone who supports the food bank. Thank you for all your help because I know that all of those who are in the same situation are very grateful to be able to see a plate of food on their table. It’s because of you that we have the opportunity to have a better quality of life.”
The lack of affordable early learning and childcare options can push low-income Mississauga families to become food insecure. This is exacerbated in single-parent – and therefore single-income – households. Women have also been disproportionately affected by job losses, and the cost of childcare is a significant barrier for low income families to re-enter the labour force.
When single-parent families end up living in poverty, they stay in poverty, on average, over a year longer than couple-parent families.
