New Seniors Report Shows 3 Out of 5 Female Seniors Live on Less Than $25,000 a Year in North America's Most Expensive City

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 7, 2013) - In Metro Vancouver, more than 3 out of 5 women over the age of 65 live on a total income of less than $25,000 a year. At the same time, the number of seniors working for a pay cheque has grown to almost 85,000 - more than doubling the number of seniors with employment income, as compared to a decade ago.

United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM) and the Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) released these and other statistics in their new report Seniors in the Lower Mainland: A Snapshot of Facts and Trends (http://ow.ly/iwl6Z). Data captured includes geographic distribution, age and gender of seniors in Metro Vancouver broken down into municipalities; the numbers of seniors living alone; housing affordability and homelessness; income; language; health and health care; and information about seniors care and assisted living facilities.

UWLM provided funding to SPARC BC to conduct the research. The report was developed to guide planning with and for seniors living in the Lower Mainland. According to United Way of the Lower Mainland CEO Michael McKnight, it represents an important example of the value United Way provides to the region beyond funding agency programs and services.

Findings include:

• The regional seniors' population is expected to more than double by 2031.
• The highest concentrations of seniors in Metro Vancouver are in White Rock (29.47% of the total population) and West Vancouver (25.5% of the total population).
• Between 2000 and 2010, 10,600 seniors immigrated to Metro Vancouver.
• One quarter of all Metro Vancouver seniors lived alone in 2011, up from the number living alone in 2001. More than 2 out of 3 seniors live alone in the Downtown and West End.
• In 2010 in Metro Vancouver, over 3 in 5 female seniors had a total income of less than $25,000.
• The number of seniors in Metro Vancouver with employment income as a source of income more than doubled from 38,380 in 2000 to 83,320 in 2010.
• The number of seniors on the housing waiting list for social housing increased by 45% from 2009-2012.
• Top three mother tongues of Metro Vancouver seniors are English 51%, Cantonese 7%, and Chinese 6%.

United Way of the Lower Mainland supports seniors to age with dignity by investing $3.3 million in donor dollars annually to prevent seniors' isolation. UWLM funds and evaluates research, identifies gaps, and invests in organizations to support seniors to stay independent and active.

In addition, in 2012, the government of BC gave a $15 million grant to UWLM to manage the province-wide seniors program Better at Home. Better at Home is designed to help British Columbia seniors live in their own homes longer by providing simple non-medical services, like grocery shopping or transportation, delivered by local non-profit organizations.

About United Way of the Lower Mainland

United Way is a charitable organization established more than 80 years ago to support those in need in Metro Vancouver. United Way of the Lower Mainland is dedicated to creating healthy, caring and inclusive communities by breaking the cycle of poverty, helping school-age children make the right life choices, and supporting seniors to age with dignity. UWLM funds about 160 agencies throughout the Lower Mainland to deliver nearly 500 programs.

About SPARC:

SPARC BC was established in 1966 and is a registered non-profit society and federally-registered charity. Our mission is to work with communities to build a just and healthy society for all. SPARC BC delivers the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities and works on a wide range of social policy issues including income security and poverty reduction, as well as accessibility and inclusion. We also provide community development education in small rural and northern communities. We are governed by a Board of Directors with representation from across the province and have more than 17,000 members province-wide who share our vision.