Maid: a candid look at the climb out of poverty without a stable home, a proper income or family support

If there was ever a show that is providing an opportunity to look behind the curtain at the struggle many Calgarians can relate to, it’s Maid on Netflix. It’s not often I’ve watched a series that resonates so deeply when it comes to what we do at CUPS and across the social sector, but this is it.

From the frank reality of how far a dollar really doesn’t actually go, to the true meaning of emotional abuse, the challenges of systemic red tape and the generational impact of trauma and relationships, Maid hits the mark on so many levels.?

The series is centred around a single mother, Alex, who escapes an abusive relationship and becomes a housecleaner on her journey through homelessness to create a better, more resilient life for her young daughter.?

What’s clear in the first ten minutes is that Alex doesn’t have the cash to get through the day, let alone the next one. She has no job, no access to money and has run away from her home for safety. As you watch her cash flow drain while filling the gas tank, you find yourself standing beside her in her anxiety.?

The living wage in Calgary is $18.60. This fresh calculation from Vibrant Communities Calgary is what a household needs to make per hour to meet basic needs and to allow a family to “fully participate, thrive and build their human and financial assets.” If someone like Alex doesn’t have access to a wage, then what??

They get stuck.

Working through systematic red tape

Red tape is everywhere, and Maid provides a true sense of how easy it is for someone to get stuck trying to access the inadequate supports that are available. Alex needs proof of income to get housing and subsidized daycare. She can’t get a job without having somewhere safe for her daughter to be. It’s a vicious cycle of paperwork and barriers.

We see it every day in Calgary with long wait lists and a growing need for affordable housing. A lot of single mothers and indeed entire families struggle to find a clear path forward. They are living in a precarious situation, but because they aren't in a shelter or on the street, they get bumped down on the housing lists. As the family moves around, the children change daycares or schools and lose consistency when it comes to their education and development.?

This presents yet another reason why we need $10/day childcare in Alberta. A single mom puts her child in daycare to work for a wage that barely covers costs. Working doesn’t equate with getting ahead and they never get out of subsidized housing. We need to make childcare more accessible and affordable to allow these mothers to pursue education and employment opportunities and establish a level of consistency that will improve life for both them and their children.?

Recently, I had the opportunity to present seven initiatives to the provincial Red Tape Reduction Panel, led by Associate Minister Tanya Fir. I shared areas where we experience too much red tape in our system and opportunities to remove barriers and make support and services more accessible for low-income families. From sharing metrics between organizations to demonstrating common goals and shared outcomes, to streamlining change processes and aligning administrative funding with CRA guidance, these are just a few of the steps we can take to reduce red tape and make it easier for low-income individuals and families to access the support they need, when they need it most.

We have had the opportunity to welcome Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services, and Jason Luan, Minister of Community and Social Services, to CUPS this year, to learn more about the work we’re doing. We are going to continue welcoming government officials in the new year to help demonstrate some of the challenges and opportunities we can tackle together.?

Emotional abuse, so rarely talked about, is real abuse

There’s another area Maid explores in depth that is so important: the topic of emotional abuse. It’s not something as easily understood as other types of abuse and I don’t think a lot of people recognize what in fact emotional abuse is. If someone is controlling your finances, invalidating your opinions or feelings, treating you inferior, emotionally blackmailing you...these are all signs of emotional abuse. In the show, the fact that Alex was never physically assaulted had everyone questioning whether she was really abused. In fact, she herself questioned it. It was the social worker that helped her realize she was being abused and was doing the right thing by leaving to make a better life for her daughter.?

We also know that emotional abuse can quickly shift to physical violence. As we recognize Family Violence Prevention Month in Alberta, it’s imperative we understand how prevalent this is in our communities. In fact, Alberta has the third highest provincial rate of self-reported spousal violence in Canada. According to a report on homelessness from the Homeless Hub, women experiencing homelessness report high rates of sexual exploitation, violence and assault, ranging from 37 per cent up to 89 per cent. Violence is a consistent pathway to homelessness and we need to continue to educate ourselves and work to provide better support for these women.

The series Maid is profound and the circumstances are a very realistic depiction of the realities of poverty. This is life for so many people in our community right here in Calgary. They want to get ahead and are trying to get ahead, but they get stuck in a wheel that makes it feel impossible. It’s an important reminder of why we are here at CUPS: to help these individuals and families work through the system, break down barriers and help them find a path forward to a stronger, more resilient future.?

If you work in government, the private sector or social sector, please take time to watch Maid and consider how we can work together as a community to create more solutions.