Poverty Olympics Social Index

  • Number of people Greater Vancouver Food Banks helps feed each week = 9000 (source)
  • Estimated cost of Vancouver and Whistler Olympic Villages = $ 1.261 billion (source)
  • Number of families that could be fed nutritiously for five years on this amount = 29,393 (source)
  • Number of single parent, 2 children families on welfare in BC = 25,115 (source)
  • Estimated Cost of Richmond Speed Skating Oval = $178 million (source)
  • Cost of increasing welfare by 50% for 5 years for single parent, 2 children families = under $66 million (source)
  • Cost of a First Grade ticket to Opening Ceremonies = $1,118 (source)
  • Monthly welfare amount to single person with disability = $906 (source)
  • Cost to Build ten – 64 bed treatment centre with detox beds and transitional housing units = $109 million (source)
  • Estimated cost of Whistler Nordic Centre = $112 million (source)
  • 9,909 on waitlist for subsidized housing BC Housing (as of January 15, 2009)
  • Estimated cost of Olympic spending including Trade & Convention Centre and RAV line = 6.044 billion
  • Number of social housing units that $6.044 billion could build = 30,220 (based on cost of $200,000 per unit of housing)