Toronto’s York University says it is looking for participants from the Northwest Territories to contribute to a nationwide survey regarding poverty within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Earlier this summer, the university said the study – led by Nick Mulé, director of the 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada project – will focus on advancing “social and economic change” in support of the community.
The survey has been rolled out in phases nationwide. People in the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut who are aged 16 or older can begin responding to the survey on Thursday. It’ll be open until August 31, with a second opportunity likely to be offered in December.
In a news release, Mulé said “mounting and disturbing evidence” suggested some 2SLGBTQ+ people “are deprived of basic necessities such as food and shelter.”
The project was awarded $2.5 million through a federal research funding grant.
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According to Mulé, the research is partly motivated by hearing from community organizations that had “hit roadblocks” amid advocacy work when policymakers and governments asked for evidence.
“Recognizing this need for nationally representative data to inform policy, funding and programming decisions in government, academia and at the community level, the project is dedicated to producing high-impact, policy-relevant knowledge,” Mulé said.
The survey will assess income, employment, education levels, housing stability, food security, access to healthcare and social support, and experiences of discrimination. Respondents can express interest in participating in individual interviews, a focus group or both.
