Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of deep income poverty in Canada, second only to Manitoba. A recent report highlights that 6.7% of people in the province fall into this category, struggling to afford even 50% of a modest standard of living.
Our own Gary Beaudin, Director of Community Impact and Strategic Partnerships at United Way Saskatoon, has seen this crisis unfolding for decades. “It’s been something we’ve seen coming in my line of work for 25 years,” he said, emphasizing that poverty rates continue to rise year after year.
Gary points to education as a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. Stark disparities in graduation rates—especially between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students—are a major predictor of financial stability. A 2023 provincial auditor’s report found that less than half of Indigenous students in Saskatchewan graduate within three years of starting Grade 10. “We’ve seen those differences and disparities, those gaps, increase year after year,” Gary explained.
At United Way Saskatoon, we know that deep income poverty isn’t just about today’s hardships—it’s becoming generational. “We’re seeing kids whose great-grandparents were poor, and now they’re fourth-generation kids being poor,” Gary said. Social service agencies, many of which United Way funds and partners with, are stepping up to fill the gaps, offering everything from housing supports to mental health services. But while the need keeps growing, funding remains tight.
“There are kids in Grade 9 that we know will not graduate from high school. Guess what, they’re going to be homeless, and then we’re going to have to build more shelters,” Gary said, stressing the importance of prevention. “It’s way cheaper to prevent it, if you can keep kids out of care, out of prisons, or people out of shelters.”
At United Way Saskatoon, we believe in proactive solutions. By investing in education and social supports, we can create lasting change—not just for individuals, but for the entire community.
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Topics : News
