Workers making low wages at full-time jobs are not insulated from using shelters and food banks.

According to the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, one in five jobs in Manitoba is a low-wage job, which means workers are paid less than $10 an hour.

Full-time workers with low-paying jobs are counted among those who live in poverty. Manitoba's minimum wage is $9 an hour or $18,720 before taxes for a 40-hour week - one of the reasons working people are turning to food banks.

According to Winnipeg Harvest, 19 per cent of Canadians who used a food bank last year had a job or had worked recently.

Tom Lewicki is 50 years old, homeless and works full-time at a print shop in Winnipeg.

Lewicki lost his home six weeks ago after his brother, who was fighting an addiction, disappeared with all his money.

'I want my dignity back. I want my own shower and my own toilet - that's all I want. I don't want riches, I just want the little piece of the world that's mine."'—Tom Lewicki

Lewicki said he is lucky compared to others who stay at Siloam Mission, but being homeless is something nobody wants.

Siloam Mission is a faith-based soup kitchen, shelter and drop-in-centre located in downtown Winnipeg.

Lewicki wakes up every morning at 5 a.m. after a fitful sleep to bus across town for work, where he works a full eight hours doing physical labour.

"I haven't had eight hours sleep in over a month," said Lewicki. "You have to put up with smells, coughing and gas. It wears on you."

Siloam Mission has 110 beds available each night, so after dinner Lewicki waits in line to get a ticket for a bed. The tickets are handed out at 8 p.m. and the shelter's beds open at 9 p.m.

Lewicki said he's not the only one needing shelter while employed.

There are guys who are getting up as early as three or four in the morning to get a day's work at a temporary labour agency, said Lewicki.

But Wayne Smith, director of emergency shelter at Siloam Mission, said the economy has limited the amount of temporary jobs available to shelter users.

"We've seen the frustration with a lot of folks that are staying with us that there aren't positions out there," said Smith.

What's next?

According to Lewicki, the lack of affordable housing is what's keeping him from leaving the shelter.

Clean apartments can cost between $600 and $700 a month plus damage deposit and the cheap hotels are too filthy, said Lewicki.

Lewicki said he has difficulty managing his finances, but he has made arrangements with a friend to hold onto some money for him so he can save up for a place.

"My plans for my future are definitely to be in an apartment," said Lewicki. "I want my dignity back. I want my own shower and my own toilet – that's all I want. I don't want riches, I just want the little piece of the world that's mine."