Extending Opportunities for the Poor

What do we mean by extending opportunities for the poor? We can create opportunities for the poor in the areas of: Employment Education Life Skills Survival Social connectedness

The way to bring the planning of opportunities to reality is through advocacy.

Why extend opportunities for the poor? Any civilized society has an obligation to help its poorest members. Decreasing poverty adds to the workforce. Fewer poor people reduces the tax burden on everyone. Decreasing poverty means increasing the number of consumers, and thereby strengthening the overall economy.

Why extend opportunities for the poor? (cont.) Adults rising out of poverty can break a generational cycle. Reducing poverty decreases medical costs. Reducing poverty increases diversity in all sectors of society. Providing opportunities for the poor gives more people a stake in the society.

Why extend opportunities for the poor? (cont.) Providing opportunities for the poor increases equity. Providing opportunities for the poor can improve their and their children's lives.

When should you work to extend opportunities for the poor? When there's an election approaching. When a comprehensive new initiative is starting. When publicity about poverty or other issues opens doors to opportunity. When there's a crisis that people simply can't ignore.

Who should work to extend opportunities for the poor? Government. Private funders. Community institutions. Business. Human service or other non-profit or community-based organizations. Grass roots or other community groups and community members

How do you extend opportunities for the poor?

Some general guidelines for creating opportunities for the poor: Assess the needs of the population you're concerned with. Where possible, enlist the people you hope to benefit in the planning process. Treat people with respect. Devise opportunities that set clear and reachable goals, where participants can see the changes they've made.

Some general guidelines for creating opportunities for the poor (cont.): Provide the emotional and psychological support necessary for people to change their way of thinking about the world and their place in it. Provide the survival support necessary for people to make the transition to the next step. Leave people enough time to make the change.

Provide employment opportunities: Pre-employment skills training. Career counseling. Employment training. Actual employment. Social entrepreneurship and micro-credit.

Provide educational opportunities: Basic education and ESOL. Post-secondary education. Education for the children of poverty.

Provide training in life skills: Economic literacy. Parenting and other family obligations. Health information and healthy practices. Civic participation. General counseling.

Provide other opportunities: Affordable housing. Providing capital. Preference for low-income applicants.

Provide other opportunities (cont.): Create social capital. Make sure people know about the opportunities available. Advocate, advocate, advocate.