One in four children and one in five adults live in poverty in Toronto.

Fearing eviction, walking to save a token, always choosing the cheapest and least nutritious food, telling government agencies the same information over and over again, and worrying that the opportunities enjoyed by other children will be denied to yours. That’s what life is like for too many of us.

It hasn’t always been like this. Back in the ‘70s, one in 10 adults were poor, not one in five; two in three neighbourhoods were middle income, not one in three; the majority of people looking for work qualified for employment insurance, not the minority; income supports assisted us in times of need, not food banks.

Toronto remains a prosperous and vibrant city, a global leader across a range of indicators, including livability. While the city still works, it no longer works for many of us.