The cost to society is extremely high. If young people find themselves living in Maisons de jeunes, this is very costly. The Maisons de la famille are also very expensive, but these are the effects of poverty.
I have been working with people living in poverty for 40 years. I worked in youth protection, I have been involved with welfare recipients, with young drug users and with people who are released from prison. So I am familiar with the various faces of poverty.
If the child of parents on social assistance comes to school dressed differently from the other children, he or she will not be able to afford to take part in school activities. Mom Dion will have to provide the school supplies, and the Breakfast Club will provide the food. What are the labels? Do parents perpetuate the situation or are people marginalized from one generation to the next because of the way in which society is organized?
If we really want to fight poverty, we have to look at these issues as a whole, and examine them in much greater depth than we are at the moment. In the meantime, we must set up programs to help out young people and families.