Unaffordable cost of living increases poverty in Prescott-Russell

The lack of housing in the region and the increasingly unaffordable cost of living are increasing the percentage of poverty.

Benjamin Richard - Local Journalism Initiative

“If you’re always thinking about, how am I going to have my basic needs met, how am I going to pay my rent, is my family going to be secure, for sure that is the only thing that you will be focusing on”. Christine Nadeau, social services manager for Prescott-Russell, explains why so many people living in poverty find it hard to escape, and thus remain trapped in a cycle of financial insecurity.

When asked if there were more applicants for housing services following the housing crisis, Alain Lacelle, Housing Manager for Prescott-Russell under the social services department replied: “We’ve seen almost double since 2020, almost double the amount of applications, but we have a waitlist for family units for, we’ve just hit the 2000 mark for family units, and about 1170 for the senior housing”. Despite the efforts and services put in place by the United Counties to help people in financial difficulty, there is indeed a lack of affordable housing in the Prescott-Russell region for all groups of age.