Our cause
Today more than ever, we must continue to encourage young people living in OMHM housing to stay in school and give them the tools to succeed.
Today more than ever, we must continue to encourage young people living in OMHM housing to stay in school and give them the tools to succeed.
Tomorrow’s society, and that of the young people who will become its active members, requires access to education and academic success. Promoting school perseverance is, without a doubt, the most productive investment to secure a bright collective future.
However, too many students still fall through the cracks of the system, especially those living in poverty. It is therefore necessary to work together and foster their interest in school, thus ensuring their success.
Tomorrow’s society, and that of the young people who will become its active members, requires access to education and academic success. Promoting school perseverance is, without a doubt, the most productive investment to secure a bright collective future.
However, too many students still fall through the cracks of the system, especially those living in poverty. It is therefore necessary to work together and foster their interest in school, thus ensuring their success.
Why give?
When we speak of school perseverance, we are talking about one’s capacity to pursue studies and to earn a first diploma or qualification.
School perseverance is a key factor in making our children successful—its effects lasting a lifetime, in particular, in achieving satisfactory living conditions. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on school performance particularly for underprivileged youth. In December 2020, the failure rate of secondary school students was three to five times higher than it was the previous year reaching 30% to 50% in some areas (La Presse 2020). The situation is worrisome.
It is to be noted that dropping out of school is associated with a student’s socioeconomic vulnerability. The average annual income of a family living in OMHM housing is less than $20,000.
Investing in school perseverance is a winning solution for all!
A high school graduate is more likely to have better living conditions and rewarding experiences than a student who does not graduate. He or she contributes to the vitality of society (electoral participation, volunteering, blood donation, etc.) and helps maintain a more stable labour market (ensuring essential jobs necessary for Montreal’s economy). Society can thus make an economic gain over a person’s entire working life.
Dropping out of school has a cost to society and increases inequalities between the less and the more fortunate.
Dropping out of school has devastating consequences both on the individual’s quality of life and health but also on the collective economy.
One of the most striking inequalities is that those who dropped out of their studies are more susceptible to face health issues and have a 7-year-shorter life expectancy than high school graduates. In addition, their employment income is 31% lower than a graduate’s salary.
According to Le Réseau Réussite Montréal, 30% of dropouts do not take part in the workforce resulting in higher social assistance costs. They represent more than 2/3 of the beneficiaries of social assistance programs. Dropping out of school also deprives the Montreal economy of millions of dollars.
In addition, statistics show that there is an increase in crime among those who have not completed high school and some, 62% of individuals who pass through the prison system are dropouts.
By donating, it is individually that we can make a collective difference for these young Montrealers.
The Foundation invests in school perseverance, by offering financial support to organizations working with youngsters living in OMHM housing and awarding individual grants to students through a scholarship program.
We encourage inclusive education and the full development of our youth’s potential, in addition to encouraging initiative and creativity and promoting a sense of pride and self-worth.
We strongly believe it is our responsibility to make our city one in which every young person can succeed, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
Growing up in housing managed by the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal
en HLM
GROWING UP IN HOUSING MANAGED BY THE OFFICE MUNICIPAL D'HABITATION DE MONTRÉAL
TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Nearly 10,000 young people under 25 live in OMHM housing spread across 16 of Montréal’s 19 boroughs. More than two thirds are of school age, 33% are in elementary school and 34% are in high school. In some neighbourhoods, more than half of these young people drop out of school without obtaining a high school diploma. Despite the help that subsidized housing may provide, the vast majority of families in low-rent housing communities live in extreme poverty and social exclusion and earn an average annual income of less than $20,000.
More than half of the families are single-parent families and 75% of the single-parent families are headed by women.
These families’ economic situation have a significant impact on their youngsters’ chances to succeed. The school dropout rate is two and a half times higher in disadvantaged areas than elsewhere.
