Poverty Reduction Strategy October 2016

Transcription

1 Pverty Reductin Strategy Octber 2016 Page 1 f 10

2 Intrductin NaiB Prject NaiB Cmmunity Initiative SPAN Nelsn at its Best (NaiB) is a cmmunity prject initiated and spnsred by the Nelsn Scial Planning Actin Netwrk (SPAN) Sciety in 2013 fr the purpses f examining the nature and scpe f pverty in Nelsn and beginning t reduce the impacts f pverty, where pssible. Tw years were spent learning frm and building relatinships with peple frm all sectrs f ur cmmunity as well as ther pverty reductin grups acrss ur regin, prvince, and cuntry. We have reviewed and analyzed relevant literature and statistics t gain a better understanding f the issue and in particular hw pverty manifests in Nelsn. We have reached ut int the cmmunity t learn frm and engage residents and rganizatins in this wrk. And frm there, we have develped a Pverty Reductin Framewrk (belw) which led t a set f pririties, strategies, and activities t be undertaken mving frward. This Pverty Reductin Strategy dcument is intended t mve Nelsn at its Best alng a cntinuum frm a prject tward functining as a cmmunity initiative t end pverty in Nelsn. Pverty Reductin Framewrk (4 Pillars fr a Healthy Cmmunity) Husing Fd Security Health Care Mental Health Care Transprtatin Municipal Services Educatin Early Care and Learning Emplyment (jbs) Livable Wages Access t livable scial assistance and pensins Training/ Skills Develpment Engaged Business Sectr Ecnmic develpment Equality Human Rights Demcracy Healthy Envirnment Public Educatin Public Engagement Technlgy Etc. Cre Supprts and Services Sustainable Livelihds Justice and Peace Knwledge and Awareness Page 2 f 10

3 The Pverty Reductin Strategy Year 1 utcmes highlighted that all demgraphic sectrs f the ppulatin in Nelsn are impacted by pverty. Nelsn Residents Living in Pverty Senirs Adults Yuth Children Wrk in Year 2 included analysing tax-filer, Statistics Canada, and ther data in rder t priritize specific demgraphic sectrs f the ppulatin and specific areas f interventin fr bth immediate and lnger-term planning purpses. The gal was t develp a flexible strategy that culd respnd t the changing landscape f pverty yet remain cnsistent with a set f lng-term guiding principles and the Pverty Reductin Framewrk. This dcument reflects NaiB s effrts t transfrm the learning achieved during Years 1 and 2 f this prject int a strategy fr the future. (Fr a detailed utline f year 2 activities see Year 2 Final Reprt: Octber 2016). Guiding Principles actively engages and gives vice t peple experiencing pverty prmtes human rights-based appraches in respnding t pverty recgnizes the need fr innvatin and systems change and is willing t pilt new ideas knws that ending pverty requires slutins that can be easily replicated and scaled up believes that everyne in cmmunity must be invlved fr lasting, psitive change t happen aims t perate as a cmmunity initiative rather than as a cnventinal rganizatin Page 3 f 10

4 Scpe f Wrk: 1. Research 2. Infrm 3. Engage 4. Act 5. Mnitr 6. Evaluate Pverty is a cmplex issue requiring significant data gathering and analysis t understand and identify pprtunities fr effective interventin. Fr any cmmunity initiative, implementing effective interventins requires cmmunity awareness and understanding in rder t engage peple in the wrk. Individuals and rganizatins must be engaged n a level that inspires actin even if that actin is simply a respnse t FACEBOOK r a blg pst. Actins must be mnitred and the results f that mnitring evaluated. Mnitring and evaluatin are frms f research that renew the wrk cycle and enable gd decisins t be made abut additinal research requirements and future effrts t infrm, engage and inspire actin. 1. Research Research Undertaking research n pverty is a timecnsuming but central requirement f the wrk f Nelsn at its Best. This diagram illustrates the cre research wrk f NaiB at present. New research themes Infrmatin Scan Human Rights Market Basket Living Wage Data Analysis Pverty Prfile Increasing Affrdability Lived Experience Infrmatin and Ideas Plicy Gvernment Organizatins Prgrams and Services Page 4 f 10

5 and prjects may be added r remved in respnse t new infrmatin including the results f mnitring and evaluatin activities mving frward. Recmmendatins fr mving Research frward: Infrmatin Scan: It is recmmended that Steering Cmmittee members cmmit t sme targetted reading t discuss at the SC table each mnth. A current need is t mre thrughly cnsider the ways in which human rights law might be used by NaiB t supprt lw incme children, yuth and wrkers (pririty demgraphic sub-grupings), r in supprt f systems change (e.g. guaranteed basic incme). The wrk f Canada Withut Pverty shuld be regularly mnitred in this regard. Tamarack Institute s Vibrant Cmmunities has als begun t lk mre clsely at hw human rights might supprt pverty reductin. Nte areas where prvincial and federal plicy needs imprvement in this regard. Data Analysis: Identify an NaiB liaisn t wrk with RDI n the statistics required t prduce the Pverty Prfile fr Nelsn. In December/January each year arrange fr the market basket and living wage calculatins t be updated. This culd be accmplished by advertising the wrk as a research pprtunity fr (LVR, Selkirk, Self Design) students seeking t fulfill an academic requirement. If apprached in this way the wrk als strengthens the Pririty f Yuth Ecnmic Literacy. Identify a persn t act as NaiB liaisn t students and with Living Wage fr Families and Canadian Centre fr Plicy Alternatives t finalize the market basket and living wage. Lived Experience: It is recmmended that the Steering Cmmittee regularly reviews infrmatin generated thrugh the lived experience wrk in an effrt t identify prmising actinable items brught frward by lived experience representatives. Cntinue t supprt wrk initiated under the pilt prject as pssible while awaiting results f grant applicatin fr Living Experience wrk (early January). Plicy: Invite City Cuncil t a meeting t discuss the ways in which City bylaws supprt r d nt supprt peple living in pverty as well as ther City activities that impact (psitively r negatively) n lw-incme residents. Mnitr Cuncil agendas infrm netwrk (especially with pprtunities fr actin) and attend meetings where issues f cncern will be debated. Feed City Cuncil with infrmatin n prvincial and federal plicy imprvements needed identify issues where reslutins drafted fr City Cuncil s cnsideratin and endrsement are wrthwhile. Page 5 f 10

6 2. Infrm verlad, fear and apathy, difficulties reaching peple with a different wrld view. Recmmendatins: Infrm Presentatins Media Materials Online Tls City Cuncil Cmmunity Press Releases Interviews Press Cnferences Key Messaging Takeaways Issue Based Reprts FACEBOOK Website and Blgs Infrming cmmunity members and partners abut research findings is als a cre functin f Nelsn at its Best. The mst significant challenges in this regard are: infrmatin The Educatin and Outreach Subcmmittee wrk n develping key messages fr discussin with the Steering Cmmittee and that these key messages cntinue t frm the basis f NaiB s wrk f infrming cmmunity. Steering Cmmittee members and thers assciated with NaiB distribute printed and nline infrmatin prduced by NaiB and hand ut business cards at every pprtunity Hire a crdinatr t: Write press releases and feed infrmatin t media, arrange interviews and speaking engagements, press cnferences and prepares speaking pints Prepare presentatins t Cuncil and ther grups Write issue-based shrt reprts as directed by Steering Cmmittee Wrk with graphic designer t prepare key messaging materials and review them with the Educatin and Outreach Subcmmittee (and relevant thers) Arrange fr printing f materials Mnitr general accunt Administer FACEBOOK page and blgs Update website (r wrks with site administratr Shauna Fidler f R Brand Designs t d s) Page 6 f 10

7 3. Engage 3 ENGAGE 2 ENGAGE 1 ENGAGE Individual Actin Jint Actins Persnal Relatinships Organizatinal Alliances (lcal, prvincial, federal) Steering Cmmittee Subcmmittees Netwrks gain in strength thrugh strategic effrts t engage peple. NaiB s netwrk building is fcussed n individuals and rganisatins in Nelsn, the Ktenays and British Clumbia but is respnsive t pprtunities t lend the strength f its netwrk t calls fr actin frm thse wrking t end pverty (r fr scial and ecnmic justice) at natinal and even glbal levels. Recmmendatins: Reach ut t engage individuals in discussins n the issue f pverty and the wrk f NaiB. Invite ther than the usual peple invlved in addressing pverty fr cffee, lunch, an afterwrk ccktail as a way t create new pssibilities, identify new allies and expand the netwrk. Fr e.g.: Planning fr a philspher s cafe type grup is underway as a means f expanding the netwrk and keeping the cnversatin ging A pverty simulatin prject using the Nelsn arts cmmunity t assist in its develpment is envisined. Next steps wuld be t cnsult with Sydney Black f the Nelsn and District Arts Cuncil wh recently hsted an artists and pverty frum. NaiB Liaisn: Awareness and Educatin Subcmmittee Build and sustain rganisatinal alliances thrugh , telephne, cnference calls/cmmunities f practice, webinars, ther rganisatins site/ page mnitring; crdinating jint actins with partners; attending wrkshps, cnferences and meetings. Maintain infrmatin-sharing and partnering relatinships with lcal rganizatins and in particular the Nelsn Fd Cupbard, Nelsn Cmmittee n Hmelessness, Age Friendly Initiative and the Mving Tgether Transprtatin Prject Maintain cntact, explre and engage in pprtunities fr jint actin with prvincial rganisatins, in particular the BC Pverty Reductin Calitin, Basin Pverty Reductin grup, BC Families fr Living Wage. Page 7 f 10

8 Internal engagement: Reprt t Steering Cmmittee and incrprate agreed actins int NaiB wrk plan and cycle (research, infrm, engage, act, etc.). Link interested peple int NaiB activities. Orient and wrk with prject facilitatrs, champins, liaisns. Develp an list-serve t supprt a netwrk respnse as calls t actin arise 4. Act The chart belw indicates the 3 Pririties that have emerged thrugh the wrk undertaken t date. NaiB is aware that the needs f lw-incme senirs, affrdable husing, and accessible and affrdable transprtatin are als imprtant areas t be addressed in any pverty reductin wrk. In Year 2, the NaiB Steering Cmmittee identified that much gd wrk is already underway by ther grups in the cmmunity t address these issues. Nelsn at its Best maintains an infrmatin-sharing relatinship with these relevant cmmunity rganisatins and will cntinue t d s. ACT wrking adults children yuth sustainable livelihds rights f the child ecnmic literacy living wage pay equity children's entitlements scial determinants media prject market basket/living wage research NAEDP Frum Emplyer Guide Time is Mney Walkut childcare gvernment human rights (cmmunity) data aggregatin pilt Strategies and activities in these three pririty areas are implemented and expanded as there are champins and resurces t d s. Subcmmittees may be champins. Sme identified activities may be delayed as actin is dependent upn having sufficient resurces (vlunteers, funding, in kind cntributins etc.). It is imprtant that Nelsn at its Best cntinue t prduce a rster f priritized activities t which interested participants can be linked, grant prpsals written r ther resurces targeted as available. Page 8 f 10

9 Recmmendatins fr Immediate Actin: 1. Hld the Living Wage Frum in cllabratin with NAEDP and develp Emplyer Guide Champins: Anna Purcell, Andrea Wilkey NaiB Liaisn: Tm Thmsn 2. Pay Equity Wmen f Iceland s walkut t be prpsed at prvincial pverty meeting as a jint actin drawing attentin t disprprtinate number f wmen in pverty Champin: Valerie Warmingtn NaiB Liaisn: Sustainable Livelihds Subcmmittee 3. Children s Entitlements (e.g. RESP grants) Champins: Laura Munz, Alisn Sal NaiB Liaisn: Rights f the Child (Child Pverty) Pverty Sub-Cmmittee 4. Scial Determinants f Health Champins: Dr. Nelsn Ames and Dr. Lee McKay NaiB Liaisn: Rights f the Child (Child Pverty) Sub-Cmmittee 5. Yuth Ecnmic Empwerment/Literacy Champin: nt yet identified NaiB Liaisn: nt yet identified If the Market Basket/Living Wage research is t be used as a yuth ecnmic empwerment initiative, an annuncement shuld be created and distributed by the end f December There will als be need t vet applicants, prvide rientatin and act as NaiB mentr and liaisn fr students. 6. Funding Supprt Write grant applicatins fr prjects fr which n champins r ther means f implementatin emerge Page 9 f 10

10 5. Mnitr Level f Engagement and Actin Cmmunity, Participant and Other Feedback Strategy Outcmes Research Findings MONITOR NaiB Pverty Reductin Framewrk* NaiB mnitrs research results, cmmunity, participant and ther feedback, strategy utcmes and, in particular, levels f engagement and new r sustained actin generated. The pverty alleviating effects f its wrk are cnsidered qualitatively and, where it is practical and useful t d s, quantitatively. In line with recmmendatins emerging thrugh the Vibrant Cmmunities Evaluatin Cmmunity f Practice, NaiB mnitrs the incidence f pverty in cmmunity but des nt generally attempt t islate the effects f its wrk frm the vast array f ther influences at play due t the high resurce requirements and lw reliability f ding s. Rather, fcussed reflectin and discussins abut the activities and prcesses in play are undertaken regularly. *See Nelsn at its Best Year 2 Final Reprt fr the NaiB Pverty Reductin Framewrk 6. Evaluate Principles Pririties Strategies & Prcesses Gals & Outcmes Infrmatin gathered during the mnitring prcess is annually cnsidered in relatinship t NaiB s guiding principles, pririties, strategies and prcesses, gals and utcmes t ensure that necessary adjustments are made at the fundatinal level, and that activities underway and future planning reflect NaiB and its partners grwing knwledge and experience. Ending pverty is a lng-term gal that requires sustained applicatin f creative innvatin and learning ver time. Thus the evaluatin prcess serves bth as the cmpletin f Nelsn at its Best s wrk cycle as well as its renewal. Page 10 f 10