Meet Curtis – single and living with an acquired disability
One of five household archetypes experiencing food insecurity
Last month, we shared a blog post describing some of the research The Centre has embarked on to better understand the economic, demographic, geographic and social/cultural characteristics of households experiencing food insecurity. Over the next two months, we are sharing more about what we learned about each of the five household archetypes:
- Single adults living with a disability
- Single mothers
- Newcomers with permanent resident status
- Couples with kids, with a household income over $60,000
In this post, we will look more closely at “Curtis”, and other single individuals with a disability.
Food insecurity amongst single people with a disability
One-third of single people with a disability experience food insecurity. Unfortunately, based on the limited available data, we know very little about those individuals including their race/ethnicity, immigration status, gender and whether they are Indigenous.
Provincial disability income benefits have lengthy application processes that require a high burden of proof which deter many from applying at all. Those who do receive benefits are challenged to make ends meet. Although social assistance rates for people with disabilities are usually higher than other programs, in every province the monthly benefit amounts are well below the poverty line.
Curtis
A decade ago, Curtis was working in a warehouse when he injured himself on the job. He applied for provincial disability benefits, but his application was denied and was given Ontario Works, a last-resort unemployment benefit. Reduced household income paired with a worsening mental illness led to increased stress and a separation from his partner, Maryam. Curtis struggled to find employment that would accommodate his physical disability and lack of related experience. A friend connected him with an entry-level ‘gig’ job, but he worries about the loss of income when he must take a sick day or attend medical appointments. As his income is variable, he’s careful to pay his rent but this leaves little left for his groceries. He gets by making use of the food bank once a month and buying cheaper, less nutritious foods to help stretch his dollar.
Curtis’ story highlights some key themes we heard in our interviews relevant for program design, including:
Low-barrier supports are key: For people in this group who are struggling to access and maintain disability benefits, low-barrier supports to help them patch through periods of unemployment or no income benefits can keep them from losing what stability they have.
Earmark resources to avoid stigma: Participants in this group flagged that they often avoided accessing emergency supports for fear of taking away from families with children. Earmarking specific supports for them may make it easier to get what they need.
Design for transportation barriers: Assuming physical access to spaces where services are delivered excludes many in this group who may be reliant on specialized transportation or may not be able to travel at all. Remote or delivery-based support may improve access.
Critical moments to design for
To prevent, or quickly move families out of, food insecurity, there are a few critical moments we can design for:
- Disability acquisition: For those who acquire a disability as an adult, the weeks and months surrounding that disability acquisition may be critical for avoiding crushing debt or loss of stabilizing factors (housing, vehicles, etc.).
- Job loss or leave: Supporting people with disabilities during periods of job loss or leave in a targeted way may avert the worst, long-lasting consequences and avoid a slide into food insecurity.
- Change in need/life stage: The nature of a disability may change over the life of a person, surfacing new needs and incurring new expenses.
- Partner separation: Several participants in this group experienced a partner separation as part of their disability journey. This can trigger a domino effect, losing housing, a household income stream, and economies of scale around expenses.
Promising system touchpoints
Our interviews and workshop also highlighted some promising system touchpoints to reach single individuals with disabilities, many of which are similar for other archetypes, including:
- Community, Employment, Housing, and Social Assistance Services: Adults with disabilities may be engaged with community and employment services already, creating a context in which food challenges may also be addressed. Low-barrier, universal supports like 211 are also promising.
- Disability Support Services & Healthcare Providers: Dependent on the nature of the disability, this group may have frequent contact with healthcare providers and disability support services.
- Food Banks & Emergency Food Supports: This group may be accessing emergency food supports due to expense spikes and severity of need following lost income.
- Affinity Groups & Social Media: Disability-oriented communities may be powerful channels for benefits navigation, surfacing support options, and steering families towards the resources they need for their specific situation. Social media can be a useful tool for accessing both specific affinity communities as well as broader local opportunities for food access.
You can learn more about all five archetypes in our summary report. Next week, we will be taking a deeper look at the household archetype of a single mother.
If you’d like to discuss the report or receive a copy of the full research report, please fill out our request form or email info@feedopportunity.com.
January 23, 2025