Child poverty not improving
Dear Editor: Solving homelessness also fixes other problems, said Gerry Chidiac in a column on Saturday. The city of Medicine Hat has taken a series of measures so that no person is homeless for more than 10 days.
The article did not provide the details. Of particular interest were the unintended consequences: reduced crime rates, reduced workload for first responders, reduced number of visits to emergency and reduced pressure on the courts. And, it can cost over $100,000 a year to service a person on the streets, but roughly $35,000 to provide housing and the other services needed.
But homelessness is only one aspect of the larger issue of poverty in general, and the growing gap between rich and poor.
In particular, there is the damning fact that in B.C. the child poverty rate currently stands at 17 per cent, and has done so for a great many years.
The children involved in this measure are those up to six years of age. We now know that those are critical years for physical development, but also for mental and emotional growth, and for the ability to profit from future opportunity, especially in education.
And this completely unacceptable situation has persisted through years when B.C. has led the country in growth.
To check on what I am saying, visit firstcallbc.org and read the full 2016 Child Poverty Report Card, which includes the sources and methods used. As well, have a look at Wilkinson and Pickett’s book, The Spirit Level, to get the broad picture on the economic and social benefits of reducing the gap between rich and poor.
Our current provincial government, never shy to proclaim its own excellence, in its recent budget was silent on the issue of child poverty.
I’m relying on media reports I’ve seen to say this, but even if there was something, the 17 per cent figure has been unchanged for years. Even if the government believes it is doing something, it isn’t working.
The report card cited above gives many concrete recommendations that would greatly improve the situation in our society for these kids. How can we not act?
How can we tolerate a government that has failed in this basic duty to protect?
There is an election coming. Ask the parties and candidates these questions, and act at the ballot box to protect these children. They clearly cannot do it themselves. Bob Lemon Kelowna