The spatial separation of the poor in Canadian cities

Area of Science:

• Urban Sociology
• Demography
• Social Geography

Background:

• Understanding the spatial distribution of poverty is crucial for urban planning and social equity.
• Visible minorities often face unique challenges in housing and residential patterns.
• Canadian cities have experienced significant demographic shifts and urban redevelopment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the extent of spatial separation of the poor in Canadian cities using 1991 census data.
• To investigate the influence of racial/ethnic segregation, income segregation, and urban redevelopment on the spatial separation of the poor.
• To identify specific vulnerabilities of different demographic groups, particularly visible minorities, in urban environments.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the 1991 Canadian census data.
• Calculation of the index of dissimilarity to measure segregation.
• Statistical testing of the effects of structural factors on spatial separation.

Main Results:

• High spatial separation observed for poor visible minorities in Canadian cities.
• Poor Black populations exhibit high segregation, while poor Asian populations show moderate separation from the non-poor.
• Racial and ethnic residential patterns are strongly linked to the spatial separation of the poor.
• Income segregation did not show a significant relationship with the spatial separation of the poor.
• Urban redevelopment's impact on spatial separation was significant only for Black populations.

Conclusions:

• Racial and ethnic residential segregation are key drivers of poverty's spatial separation in Canadian cities.
• Urban redevelopment processes may disproportionately affect Black communities, indicating potential vulnerabilities.
• Policy interventions should consider the interplay of race, ethnicity, and urban development to address poverty concentration.