From page 3 Foster's story is not atypical. The services of North Shore Harvest are often called upon by families who were living in rela- tive splendor and have had their circumstances quickly and drasti- cally reduced. They're rubbing shoulders at the food bank with people who have never had a job, “In the land of the rich there is this other cross-section... " said Foster. Labor market information ana- lyst Rick Waters prefers not to go by “average” income levels to determine how many local resi- dents are poor. He feels “median income” statistics derived from Revenue Canada = Taxfiler Information provide a more accu- rate view. By that calculation, in the city of North Vancouver in 1990, the median gross income was $22,151: in North Vancouver District it was $25.985; and in West Vancouver it was $27,238. Such statistics suggest that the poor are in the minority here. But that's cold comfort to the estimat- ed 14,362 residents claiming Unemployment Insurance (UB and the 4,500 receiving welfare in the area in 1993, These two groups account for 6.4% of the North Shore population aged 15 to 64. They're having to deal with one of the highest costs of living in Canada. “The North Shore is as expen- sive as it gels." said Waters, who works for Employment and Immigration Canada. Rents on one-bedroom apart- ments in North Vancouver, for instance, averaged $634 in 1993- 94 — even more than they cost in Metro Toronto. The median price of a house in North Vancouver was $355,000. Meanwhile. among those peo- ple collecting weifare here in the first quarter of this year were 906 single-parent families — the hirgest muimber of welfare recipi- ents —- and 110 two-parent fami- lies. The number of people receiving UL is going down in these parts. A total of $24,102,972 was paid to UI claimants on the North Shore in the first quarter of this year, com- pared with $29,707,067 in the first quarter of 1993, But since 1989, the tally of wel- fare recipients has been shooting up. There are 300 new welfare Pop heist ON AUG, 10 at approximately 4:21 a.m., North Vancouver RCMP received a report of four males trying to steal flats of pop from the Esso Station at 2011 Dollarton Highway. Police responded and stepped two vehicles leaving the scene. A search of the vehicles resulted in the seizure of 45 two-litre bottles of pop and house-breaking instruments. Police said two padlocks were broken on a metal cage at the business. The investigation is ongoing and charges of theft under $1,006, possession of stolen property and possession of house-breaking instruments are expected to he laid. No names have been released. Toy gun prank WEST VANCOUVER police stopped a vehicle on Tuesday afternoon after a passenger in the car was MEDIAN INCOMES A MEDIAN income is deter- mined by placing 100 incomes in order from the | highest to the lowest and identifylug the number at the middle of the list. Labor market informa- tion analyst Rick Waters said this is more accurate than trying to find an aver- age income by adding a number of incomes and dividing them by that num- ber. In that case, a ‘few extremes at the high or low - end can skew the outcome. | claims received on the North Shore weekly, with single (employable) males the fastesi-growing group of recipients. The largest group of Ul claimants fits into the 15- to 30- year-old group. /aters describes them as peo- ple “who never made the success- ful transition from Grade 12 to the work-foree.” Foster finds it alarming that the poor are getting younger. Peuple who should already be in mid-career are instead spending their time lining up for soup and bread, he said. The next largest group claiming UL is people aged 40 to 60 who have already had successful careers but have been caught in the downsizing of companies. Employment and Immigration keeps no statistics on people over 65 who live in poverty. But there's no doubt they exist. in spades, on the North Shore. According to a recent study by the Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society, the fastest-growing group of poor seniors is single women. In addition to the groceries pro- vided to 100 families a month by North Shore Harvest, food is given free to up to 600 people a month through North Shore Neighbor- hood House. About 7,500 people make use of this food bank each Sunday, August 21, 1994 - North Shore News - 5 North Shore welfare numbers increase NEWS photo Nell Lucente LABOUR MARKET analyst Rick Waters, who works for Employment and Immigration Canada, keeps abreast of the lat- est statistics on welfare and UI claims on the North Shore. As the number of Ul payments drops, line-ups for welfare cheques from Social Services are getting even longer. 3397 OE ; Includes solid pine, sofa bette, triple f foam core futon, Scotchguarded futon cover pillows and pillow covers. Whiie quantities lost 259 €. Ist St.. N.Van FACTORY FUTON €ntrance in zeor = Mon-Sat. 11-6 pm Sunday 12-5 pm 42-5 pm reported to be waving a handgun at motorists on the Second Narrows bridge. The 34-year-old Burnaby man was removed from the westbound vehicle by police on the Upper Levels Highway between Caulfeild Drive and the Nelson Creek bridge. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up a toy hand gun. Police warned the public of the potential serious conse- quences of carrying toy or replica weapons. “We cannot over-emphasize the potential for serious consequences that can result from pranks involving weapons,” said a West Vancouver Police spokesman. year, 45% of these recipients are families with children. For the most part, the North Shore’s poorest people congregate in Lower Lonsdale, Maplewood and Lynn Valley. 984-4504 SENIORS! INTRODUCING BELTONE’S NEW HIDDEN HEARING All ) Beltone has developed an amazing new hearing aid called Invisa (pronounced 4 In-VEE-za). 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