Housing

• Lack of rooming houses, other rental options - especially for singles and particularly in rural communities
• Utility bills can pose an extreme burden since they are often are very high, due to poor housing generally, including no/little insulation or improper installation by landlords
• Shortage of affordable, adequate housing for non-elderly single people, seniors & families
• Family & Community Services (FCS) has some housing but waiting lists are long
• No transitional housing in some areas (e.g. shelters, short -term stay options)
• FCS may support some hotel accommodations, but these are often a poor housing situation due to poor quality of the space, and the environment
• First Nations also face housing issues
• There are too many restrictive rules for people living in non-profit housing
• Negative attitude towards people living in subsidized housing
• Home ownership can be difficult when it comes to improvements and upkeep
• No minimum property standards in many towns in New Brunswick. Landlords may do a quick fix on the exteriors, but neglect interiors
• Issue of costs - hydro, insurance, etc.

Other Barriers

• Some support for those who want to go back to school exists but the process is hard for some to understand
• Issues with family breakups, i.e. mother receives assistance, support from the spouse does not go to her. This makes conflict greater.
• Part time work and inadequate employment
• Problems with pensions and other income
• Prescription drug abuse
• Government programs are narrow – as if “one size fits all” · The “system” is a barrier. Processes, rules, restrictions
• Trust is an issue. It is an issue of control
• “Policies” are so broad it makes individual responses difficult
• “Action” is not often there to support people reaching out for help. Lots of talk
• A general “stigma” with one’s address or status
• Lack of information - some service providers are unaware that single parents are supposed to have a case plan that may help them to access services that are available in the community
• Welfare to work/short term projects
• There is some security in being on income assistance (health care, etc.)
• Debt load on young people finishing post secondary education
• Youth 16-19 years are falling through the cracks
• Fear is a huge barrier - fear of losing children, fear of losing income support, etc.
• Isolation in communities
• Sustainability for organizations is an issue. (Some organizations have not had an increase in funding for years)
• Cost of food
• Cost of Education
• High incidences of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in some areas
• People leaving abusive situations
• Low Levels of Literacy
• Cyclical patterns of poverty in which generations of the same families continue to live in poverty