OTTAWA—The country’s bishops says Canadians must treat people in need with respect and dignity, not only helping them with material needs but also spiritual and emotional support.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released a new statement on poverty and affordable housing in advance of Pope Francis’ third annual World Day of the Poor, Nov. 17.

“Poverty is not a purely economic deficiency. Persons in need may also require emotional and spiritual support, in addition to social and financial support,” the CCCB statement said.

The report, Poverty in Canada: Ensuring safe, secure and affordable housing, was issued through the Commission for Justice and Peace. It offers a snapshot of poverty in Canada today and addresses the role of inadequate housing in perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

“Through this statement, the Catholic Bishops of Canada call for collaboration between charitable organizations, all levels of government, and dioceses/eparchies, as well as local parishes, to support individuals who are in need,” the CCCB said.

According to the CCCB’s report, between 3.8 million and 4.8 million Canadians are living in poverty, depending on which economic statistics are used.

“This is in part caused by an economic environment of precarious or part-time employment leading to unstable work and income. In an economy that perpetuates poverty, Canadians also face a social assistance system that can be difficult to access when in a position of poverty. These dangers are more prominent among women, as well as Indigenous people, of whom about one quarter currently live in poverty,” according to the CCCB.

“Despite the efforts of many charitable organizations, poverty in Canada continues to be an inescapable cycle for some people, and accessing safe, secure, and affordable housing is still a challenge for many Canadians,” the CCCB said. “Approximately five per cent of Canadians face a housing crisis, with their homes being inadequate or unaffordable. They struggle to provide shelter, food, and safety for themselves and their families.”

One of the issues highlighted in the CCCB report is that Canadians who don’t have adequate housing our any housing at all often face barriers to access government and societal support.

According to the CCCB report, about 25,000 Canadians are “chronically homeless”.

“These individuals become exiles within their own society, and social exclusion itself can be a form of poverty. Because they lack an address, the homeless are often unable to access social programs, send their children to school, or obtain gainful employment. This leads to them living hand to mouth or shelter to shelter,” the CCCB states, while acknowledging the federal government has recently developed a National Housing Strategy with a goal of providing stability to families.

“Access to safe, secure, and affordable housing can reduce stress on families, allowing them to devote time to strengthening their family life, growing spiritually, and participating in the life of the community,” Canada’s bishops said.

“If the disciples of the Lord Jesus wish to be genuine evangelizers, they must sow tangible seeds of hope. I ask all Christian communities, and all those who feel impelled to offer hope and consolation to the poor, to help ensure that this World Day of the Poor will encourage more and more people to cooperate effectively so that no one will feel deprived of closeness and solidarity,” Pope Francis said in a statement from the Vatican in June.

The Pope’s call to action on the issue of the poor is echoed throughout the CCCB statement.

“As Christians we are called together to eliminate that globalization of indifference which today seems to reign supreme, while building a new civilization of love and solidarity,” Canada’s bishops said, citing a 2014 address by Pope Francis to the Patriarchal Church of St. George, Istanbul.

“Human dignity is respected when we actively listen to those in need and respond generously. Denying people adequate housing, however, is a contradiction of their inherent dignity as children of God and members of the human family,” the CCCB said. “This is why affordable housing is so important. It allows Canadians to stand on their own two feet, to support their families, and to provide for those closest to them.

“As Christians, we see it as our duty to support safe, secure, and affordable housing which will in turn recognize the God-given dignity of each person and contribute to the building of a more just, fair, and healthy society as a whole.”

The bishops are calling for a spirit of cooperation between all people of faith and lay organizations as they work together to address the causes of poverty in Canada.

“In order for the overall housing situation in Canada to improve, there must be collaboration between charitable organizations, local governments, parishes, and the individuals these programs target,” the CCCB said. “This will allow for initiatives to focus their efforts strategically while avoiding unnecessary overlap. Through collaboration and communication, the dignity of the human person can be recognized and promoted.”

Canadian Catholic News