By Veronica Beltran

poverty reduction

Province announces $5 million to help reduce poverty across BC

Sep 23, 2019 | 1:48 PM

VANCOUVER–The province has announced $5 million in funding towards TogetherBC, British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Planning and Action program.

“Local governments see the impacts of poverty in their communities from the front lines,” said Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “These grants are an opportunity for our government to work with municipalities and community organizations in identifying their most pressing local issues and developing local solutions in the fight against poverty.”

TogetherBC’s priority action areas include: housing, families, children and youth, education and training, employment, income, and social supports. Communities interested in applying for funding to support local initiatives can do so online.

Councillor Terri McConnachie believes that the funding is a step in the right direction, “oftentimes when people think of poverty reduction strategy…the mind automatically goes to drug addiction when in fact, one of the largest growing communities that are hitting the food line…that need help just for their day to day sustenance and living are working people,” she said to us in an over the phone interview.

Projects looking to be funded must involve key community partners such as community-based poverty reduction organizers, people with lived experience of poverty, businesses, local First Nations or Indigenous organizations. “Local governments have long advocated for a comprehensive approach to address the reality of poverty in B.C. communities,” said Councillor Murry Krause, UBCM past president. “This new funding program helps to advance TogetherBC’s priorities and will strengthen local coordination and implementation of poverty reduction plans.”

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Earlier this year the province announced $6 million for the Social Planning and Research Council of BC aimed at funding Homelessness Community Action Grants for local projects attempting to reduce homelessness province-wide. Applications for the Poverty Reduction & Action program will be open until Feb 28, 2020.