The Government of BC’s Poverty Reduction Planning & Action Program is providing $5M over three years to support local governments to reduce poverty at the local level. The program was developed based on a recognition that local governments are crucial partners in poverty reduction. They see the impact of poverty first-hand and play a central role in developing collaborative local solutions.
Cities Reducing Poverty (CRP) members across Canada apply Collective Impact approaches as they work to move the needle on poverty in their communities. They frame their work under five core conditions, first identified in 2011 by John Kania and Mark Kramer of FSG Consulting, that have been identified as being shared by successful Collective Impact initiatives.
The Dimensions of Poverty Hub is comprised of meaningful and measurable indicators that track progress in poverty reduction beyond the poverty line. Released in July 2019, the Hub serves as the official dashboard for Opportunity for All, Canada’s first poverty reduction strategy. It monitors the ability of individuals and families to better meet their basic needs and move closer to the modest standard of living reflected in Canada's Official Poverty Line.
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British Columbia’s first poverty reduction strategy, TogetherBC, sets a path to reduce overall poverty in B.C. by at least 25% and child poverty by 50% by 2024. These targets were legislated in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Act, with measures aligned with Opportunity for All, Canada’s first poverty reduction strategy.
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Residents of Toronto with lived experience of poverty were active participants in the development of the City’s poverty reduction strategy, TO Prosperity, particularly through the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG).
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Multi-sectoral collaboration between governments, businesses, non-profit organizations, and people with lived/living experience of poverty has been recognized as a core principle of effective poverty-reduction work since the establishment of Vibrant Communities in 2002.
People with lived/living experience deeply understand the realities of poverty. Their stories and experiences serve as powerful tools for building compassion, and for disrupting and clarifying a community’s understanding of its root causes and scope. The invaluable expertise of these individuals adds strength and resiliency to poverty-reduction work, and their first-hand knowledge of systemic barriers is invaluable in co-creating innovative solutions to overcome them.
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