1. Poverty reduction Lower Columbia Region
Emerging from Women Creating Change’s 20/20 Vision for 2020
Surviving not Thriving: Poverty in the LCR
Poverty Reduction Plan
Action oriented plan
Measuring impact over time
Lower Columbia Region

2. POVERTY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Joint paper by SPARC BC, Cdn Centre for Policy Alternatives (BC) and Public Health Assoc. of BC (submitted by CCPA to 2015 BC Budget Consultation)
Costs of poverty:
Health care: $1.2 billion (savings for bottom 1/5 of population)
Crime: $745 million (low literacy/poverty/crime)
Lost Economic Activity: $6.2 - $7.3 billion (increase earnings of bottom quintile to current average household earnings at second lowest quintile)

3. income as a measure of poverty
Low Income Measure
Figure 7: Average income for all families, by community, 2010 to
Variety of ways to measure income disparity: This project has contributed to the Rural Development Institute purchasing access to the Community Data Program which means we (and local government) can now access customized data for future analysis.
The Low Income Measure (LIM) is a relative measure of low income. “The LIM is a fixed percentage (50%) of median adjusted household income, where “adjusted” means that household needs (including size) are taken into account. Adjusted by geographical region.
Report includes children and various family structures
Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) is a hybrid of both an absolute and relative measure – single national figure that references both expenditures on basic items and the distribution of income , as it is an income threshold below which a family spends larger proportion of its income than the average family of the basic necessities of shelter, food and clothing. Hasn’t been rebased since 1992.
Market Basket Measure (MBM) which is an absolute measure based on actual costs of a modest basket of shelter, food, clothing and footware and transportation (see upcoming Living Wage slides)
Figure 9: Percentage of low income total persons by community and BC for 2010 to 2014

4. Living wage International, national and provincial campaign
The Living Wage is considered to be the minimum income necessary for a household to meet their needs and to feel included in society
Calculated using the Canadian Living Wage Framework developed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives
Promoted and coordinated by the BC Living Wage for Families Campaign
Shelter: 3 bedroom rental housing using local market survey and CMHC data
Child Care: Survey of local child providers, assuming full time child care for an average of slightly under 21 days per month
Parent Education: Based on the average cost of a three credit course at Selkirk College and Thompson Rivers University
Nutrition: Food basket established by BC Dieticians and Nutritionists Association, costed by Health Service Area and size/make-up of family unit
Clothing and Footware: Calculated using the Market Basket Measure by CRA with cost of living and rural considerations updated annually
Transportation : cost of owning and operating one used car (as calculated by CRA for the Market Basket Measure) plus the local cost of one monthly bus pass
Other: 75% of food, clothing and footware costs
Health: Cost of Medical Services Plan plus standardized Blue Cross basic dental and prescription costs for a family of four.
2 weeks pay: Emergency fund for lost wages for unpaid sick leave or other issues
Non-wage income (transfer payments): Canada Child Benefit, various childcare subsidies/credits; BC Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit, GST Rebate
Does not include: Savings or debt reduction

5. Promoting the living wage
And the Verdict is……..
Hourly income: $18.21 for 35 hours/week (up from $18.15/hour in 2014)
Gross household income: $66,284 or $33,142 per adult wage earner
2016 Living Wage for Metro Vancouver: $20.64/hour for 35 hours/week
All employees paid at the living wage or better
All contractors and the staff of contractors are paid the equivalent of the living wage while doing work for the Living Wage employer
Encourage other employers to recognize the benefits and pride
Benefits of the Living Wage:
For the family: sufficient income to cover basic costs and have the capacity to participate in the community
For the employer: employee retention and pride
For the community: local spending and reduced poverty costs

6. Food security Food Banks Low Cost Meals and Community Dinners
Community Gardens
School Meals Program
4 food banks: 4 ways of measuring usage
Common theme: demand is growing exponentially – particularly notable are families moving (some returning) from Alberta

7. Housing need Housing stock: age, condition and type
Housing Need: more than 30% of household income spent on housing (less utilities)
See split between rented and owned households in need
Additional low income housing requirements
Independent Low Income Housing
Seniors
Single and two person households
Lone parent families
Social Housing

8. Early years indicators
Low Birth Weight Babes and Infant Mortality
Early Development Instrument
Ages and Stages Questionnaire
Toddler Development Instrument
Child Care: Spaces, Hours and Cost
Sanctuary and Skool Aid
“Studies show that the benefits of early childhood education far outweigh the costs. Ultimately, investment in early education can help to address core economic and social challenges facing Canada. It can help reduce poverty, address skills shortages, improve productivity and innovation, and a host of other national priorities.” Craig Alexander
Chief Economist for TD Bank, 2012 report.
Low Birth Weight (LBW): Trail Local Health Area: 58 per 1,000 births
BC: 56/1,000 births
Infant Mortality: Trail LHA: 1 per 1,000 births BC: 4/1,000 births
Early Development Instrument (EDI): Physical health and well-being,
social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, communication skills and general knowledge
Kootenay Columbia South vulnerability: 22% BC average : 32.2%
Skool Aid: 67 referred in 2010 /196 referred in 2016

9. Composite Index of Youth at Risk
Table 15: Index value and ranking by Local Health Area for Composite Index of Youth At Risk
Local Health Area
 Composite Index of Youth at Risk 
Index Value
Ranking
Ranked from worst to best
Kimberley
0.15 28
Creston
0.11 31
Nelson
0.09 32
Grand Forks
0.00 39
Castlegar
-0.18 53
Cranbrook
-0.24 55
Trail
-0.28 57
Windermere
-0.42 62
Kootenay Lake
-0.51 66
Arrow Lakes
-0.58 69
Revelstoke
-0.62 71
Golden
-0.63 72
Fernie
-0.71 75
% of youth (aged 15-14) on income assistance
for 1 year or more
% percentage of youth (aged 15-24) on income assistance for less than one year
% of 18 year olds who did not graduate
Offences per 1,l00 population for total serious crime
Youth at Risk Composite Index:
Numeric value for 78 Local Health Areas in BC
Positive numbers mean worse than the provincial median
Trail is ranked 57 out of 78 LHA’s (better end of the scale)
Sanctuary Program for 8 – 12 year olds
Youth Action Centres
Freedom Quest
Youth Employment
Need for better integration and planning

10. Other indicators and opportunities
Transportation
Recreation
Reference concept of a single pass for low income households to access public transit and municipal recreation (using LICO scale) – Cranbrook is closest example

11. THINKING STRATEGICALLY

12. From surviving to thriving: creating inclusive communities
2 day poverty reduction planning Summit
Thursday, May 4th and Wednesday, May 17th
Invited participants representing a diversity of interests
Guided by a Design Team
Pre-Summit interviews
Post-Summit Action Plan
Taking a strategic approach that makes systemic change while recognizing the need for shorter term “charity”
Vibrant Communities Canada: Cities Reducing Poverty
How do we build an inclusive community
in which everyone thrives?