The face of energy poverty in Hamilton

In 1907, Hamilton, Ontario was known as the electric city, where jobs were plentiful and where the cheapest hydro power in the world was produced. This presentation stated that currently, Hamilton which faces one of the highest poverty rates in the province of Ontario, with 96,000 residents living below the low income cutoff. Heat and hydro costs have escalated and have driven more Hamiltonians into deep poverty. Several quotes from residents were presented along with photographs to illustrate the situation. A graph depicting poverty by age demographics was also provided. The presentation emphasized that there is a need for a housing emergency loan program and a utility arrears program for the City of Hamilton, as many tenants are struggling to survive without heat, gas or electricity. The presentation concluded that Hamilton is in need of an effective heat strategy during the summer cooling months because senior citizens, persons with disabilities and families living in low-income, poorly ventilated housing are particularly at risk during an extreme heat event. refs., tabs., figs