United Way to poll 'Peggers on poverty

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Winnipeg Free Press, Tuesday April 7, 2009
Reproduced with permission.

THE United Way wants to hear from Winnipeggers about poverty.

The United Way is publishing a special poverty survey in today's Free Press as well as putting it online on a special website -- mycitymysay.ca.

Citizens can also call 477-5360 to have the survey mailed to them.

The survey has 16 questions, including: "How would you rate the issue of poverty in Winnipeg?" and "What are the most significant things that lead to poverty in Winnipeg?'

Kingsley Bowles, chairman of the United Way's community investment committee, said Winnipeggers will have four weeks to make their opinions known.

"It is a conversation between Winnipeggers and the United Way to get opinions," Bowles said Monday.

Bowles said since the United Way began doing surveys a few years ago, poverty has consistently been the top concern.

"I expect people will continue to say yes, it's a big issue," he said.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2006 there were 136,000 people living below the poverty line in Winnipeg, including 30,000 children.