By Jill Sperling

Locals react to first-ever Poverty Reduction Strategy

Mar 18, 2019 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — The province now has a road map for reducing poverty in British Columbia. 

TogetherBC has been released as B.C.’s first poverty reduction strategy, building upon previously announced initiatives for increasing affordability.

“Having support from the government, from different individuals in the community can really help somebody just be able to get that step up,” said Cassandra Schwarz, Executive Director of the Kamloops & District Elizabeth Fry Society. 

The Elizabeth Fry Society is a non-profit that works to prevent women from getting involved in the justice system by providing affordable and supportive housing as well as wrap-around services. 

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Schwarz says she’s pleased to see more supports for renters. 

“One part that really resonates for the work that we do, we operate a rent bank here in Kamloops, we’ve been operating a rent bank for the last six years successfully but the challenge has been ongoing funding, so having the government invest $10 million into rent banks throughout our province is very encouraging because it really is an important service to have to keep people housed,” Schwarz said. 

The poverty reduction strategy also identifies supports for families and children as a top priority. 

“Making childcare affordable is fantastic, adding more spaces is great,” Schwarz said. “One of the biggest challenges though that’s still not addressed is the ability to hire qualified ECE (Early Childhood Educator) workers. That’s one of the biggest barriers that service providers in our community are facing is being able to actually fill those spaces with the right workers.” 

A prior investment into modular homes throughout the province was also included in the poverty reduction strategy, an investment that includes 104 units in Kamloops. 

“The fact that we’ve seen continued investment in affordable housing units moving forward is good,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milober. “Certainly it’s disappointing that they’re behind schedule in Kamloops and people still haven’t been able to move into those permanent units, but my understanding is that’s close. Unfortunately, what we’ve seen today with this announcement is really just a re-announcement of things they’ve already announced.” 

While numerous initiatives have been compiled into the TogetherBC document, no new plans were included. 

“I really do hope that the government will come up with a plan to help the working poor out there,” Milobar said, “to help people lift themselves up and seize the opportunities that they see.”