"It's really hard right now"

We recently hosted “kitchen table discussions” with 50 low wage workers. Over a shared meal, we heard their stories, what’s going on in their lives and what they need from government support.

The common theme? Life is tough, and they need more help.

“We basically just live paycheck to paycheck. We don’t really have the opportunity to save or have any disposable income.”

This isn’t an isolated case. Across BC, people are trapped in an economic cycle where full-time work no longer guarantees stability. Even those earning $25 to $35 an hour (once considered a decent wage) are left with nothing after paying for basic costs.

“I earn $31 an hour, but after paying rent and childcare, I finish with zero.”

Housing: A home for exploitation

A shortage of affordable housing has led to overcrowded conditions, exploitation, and in some cases, homelessness.

“I have friends who live in the hallway of another room. When someone needs to get to the bathroom, they have to walk between the beds.”

Low-income tenants often end up in substandard housing, with issues like mold, pests, and absentee landlords. Yet many are too scared to speak out, fearing eviction or rent hikes. There is a clear power imbalance between landlords and tenants, made worse by a lack of regulatory oversight.

Even those trying to avoid the shelter system find themselves priced out of the market.

“Right now, I’m homeless with my baby. Even when I find a room, they say it’s not for babies.”

This illustrates a troubling pattern: discrimination in informal housing markets, particularly against young mothers, racialized renters, newcomers and those on social assistance. The absence of safe, affordable, and inclusive housing options leaves people vulnerable to instability and exploitation.

In Whistler, we met people earning only $20 an hour (working for large, well-known employers), who were paying $1,200 a month for the "luxury" of sharing a bunk bed with four others.

"A private room is now around 1500, and people are sharing bunk beds for 1200. I've lived in staff housing, and it was like, for one of the biggest employers here, if you want to define good, you can say like a person has a private room, and they can have some sort of privacy"

Across the board, the theme is clear: rent is a non-negotiable, but food is something that can be sacrificed.

“The wages are just enough to pay for rent. And then let’s see what we can do about food.”

Food for thought: The rising cost of feeding a family

Food, like housing, is a basic necessity that’s becoming increasingly out of reach for many. Participants consistently mentioned rising grocery prices, shrinking food budgets, and declining food quality.

“$50 used to be enough for a week. Now it’s one grocery trip.”

Many of those we spoke with wanted to eat healthier food but simply couldn’t afford to. This forces people to prioritize cheap, low-nutrition options, leading to long-term health problems.

“We’re definitely eating less healthy. A salad is $17. Pizza pops are $5.”

One interviewee detailed how they now buy grapes by the piece — not the bunch. Others prepare large pots of stew to last the week or limit themselves to one meal a day so their children can eat.

“We pick a couple of grapes from the bag. That’s it.”

The rise in food bank use is no longer limited to the unemployed or unhoused. Increasingly, it’s workers who are turning to these services.

“The biggest reason people used to come to the food bank was unemployment. Now it’s rent and cost of living.”

This shift indicates a structural failure: work is no longer a pathway out of poverty.

Child Care and Health: The Hidden Costs of Affordability

Child Care was repeatedly mentioned as both a barrier to employment and a major financial burden. Across BC, we heard from parents who face long waitlists, inconsistent hours, and rigid eligibility criteria.

“I realized the nanny costs more than my salary.”

This effectively forces parents, often mothers, to stay home or work fewer hours, perpetuating gendered income gaps and reducing overall household resilience. Meanwhile, those who do find childcare often stretch their finances thin, cutting back elsewhere.

Health-related costs also place significant strain on low- and middle-income households. For those with disabilities or chronic illness, benefits are often inadequate.

“I make $1,500 a month on disability. My rent is $1,100. What’s left?”

People are making impossible choices: paying for medication or groceries, delaying surgeries, or going without basic supplies. These sacrifices add up, leading to worsening health and further entrenching poverty.

The Cost of Living Crisis: No Longer on the Margins

Most strikingly, even workers who contribute actively to the community - educators, nonprofit staff and public servants, are now turning to those very programs for support.

“Even the helpers need help now.”

Despite the hardship, many communities have shown incredible resilience. Mutual aid, school food programs, and grassroots coalitions are stepping in where public systems fall short. But local efforts should never replace government responsibility.

We need to turn this tide

When full-time workers can’t afford food or housing, the issue isn’t poor budgeting—it’s systemic failure. The government must take real, meaningful action to make life affordable. That means:

• Building more truly affordable homes so workers aren’t spending half their income on rent.
• Expanding $10-a-day childcare across B.C. to help parents afford to work.
• Cracking down on exploitative landlords and employers.
• Investing in a strong, local food system to stabilize prices and support B.C. farms and businesses.

These aren’t distant policy goals, they’re urgent necessities. Every month of delay means more people forced to choose between rent and groceries, more workers burning out, and more children going to school hungry.

We can end working poverty in B.C., but it will take political courage.

It’s time to demand a province where everyone doesn’t just survive they thrive.