Peg Sharing Circle - Exploring the Lived Experience of Poverty - Lonny & Greta (2 of 3)

This case study documents the lived experience of Lonny and Greta, a couple living in poverty in Manitoba, Canada. It details their struggles with social assistance, inadequate housing, the impact of a bedbug infestation, and the emotional stress of financial instability and social stigma.

• Lonny and Greta live in a three-bedroom Manitoba Housing unit that is too small for their eight-person household. They face significant challenges with the housing provider, including being billed for repairs despite their low income, such as a $191 plumbing bill and an initial $1,800 bill for windows smashed by neighbors, though the latter was won on appeal.
• A bedbug epidemic has severely impacted the couple's living conditions. They were forced to discard their furniture and cannot afford replacements. Lonny notes a disparity in service speed, stating that residents of Manitoba Housing must wait 20-30 days for a second spray, while the hatching time for the insects is only 10 days.
• The couple has been on social assistance for seven years, receiving $6,000 per month for eight people. Despite returning to school for training, neither has secured employment; Lonny specifically faces barriers due to clearance limitations.
• Living in poverty causes significant emotional distress and social stigma. Lonny describes the experience as "insane" and notes that the stress of paying bills strains their relationship. They also report that their poverty leads others to assume they are lying or have pawned their belongings when items are stolen from their home.
• The couple experiences conflicting approaches to money management when receiving unexpected funds. Greta prefers to use the money to pay bills, whereas Lonny wants to use it to provide treats or items for their children to prevent them from feeling deprived.

APA

Producer),, L. R. (. E. M. (. (2011). Peg Sharing Circle - Exploring the Lived Experience of Poverty - Lonny & Greta (2 of 3). International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/peg-sharing-circle-exploring-lived-experience-poverty-lonny-greta-2-3

Chicago

Producer),, Lonny,Greta,Christa Rust (Interviewer),Jason E.J. Manaigre (Technical. Peg Sharing Circle - Exploring the Lived Experience of Poverty - Lonny & Greta (2 of 3). International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2011. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/peg-sharing-circle-exploring-lived-experience-poverty-lonny-greta-2-3.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Producer), |first1=Lonny,Greta,Christa Rust (Interviewer),Jason E.J. Manaigre (Technical |title=Peg Sharing Circle - Exploring the Lived Experience of Poverty - Lonny & Greta (2 of 3) |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=15 February 2011 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/peg-sharing-circle-exploring-lived-experience-poverty-lonny-greta-2-3 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{producer2011peg, author = {Producer),, Lonny,Greta,Christa Rust (Interviewer),Jason E.J. Manaigre (Technical}, title = {{Peg Sharing Circle - Exploring the Lived Experience of Poverty - Lonny \& Greta (2 of 3)}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2011}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/peg-sharing-circle-exploring-lived-experience-poverty-lonny-greta-2-3}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }