Identifying barriers
Series of community conversations across P.E.I. is raising awareness of the poverty issues facing Islanders and finding potential priorities and solutions
Poverty reduction improves the quality of life for all Islanders, said the chairwoman of a local advisory council.
Roxanne Carter-Thompson, with the Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (P.R.A.C.), said tackling the issue of poverty will help build the economy, strengthen individuals and families, help schools and businesses and allow more people the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to society.
While solving the issue of poverty isn’t a simple solution, Carter-Thompson said she believes P.E.I. is able to take on the challenge.
“I do believe we embody a culture of people who want to help and support each other,” she said, adding poverty reduction will strengthen P.E.I.’s overall prosperity. “I believe that we can collectively come together to create solutions that will address our issues.”
Carter-Thompson spoke to about 30 people in Montague on June 7 as part of a series of community conversations being held across the Island to raise awareness of the poverty issues Islanders face, and to work with Islanders on a larger scale to identify potential priorities and solutions for addressing poverty.
Along with the six community conversations currently taking place, other public engagement included two surveys – one for the public and one for 50 service providers – and 11 small group conversations.
Consultant Nishka Smith, who will turn the data collected into a report, said her findings to date suggest some of the challenges contributing to poverty include wage rates, social assistance and childcare costs. However, one issue stood out above the rest.
“The number one (challenge) was housing costs and housing options, it was identified as a really strong barrier by almost everyone we spoke to.”
Another barrier that came up was difficulties navigating the system and accessing services, an issue the province addressed earlier Friday when Family and Human Services Minister Tina Mundy announced changes to social assistance benefits, which include adding a toll-free phone number as a single point of contact for easier access to governments
social programs.
The public engagement also identified what areas Islanders want the action plan to focus on, which included housing, employment and wages, food security, social services and supports and health services, Smith said.
Community input and findings will be included in the final report that Smith and fellow consultant Paula Gallant will put together and present to P.R.A.C. this summer, with the government’s action plan expected to be released this fall.
Community conversations will continue next week where the public can have its say.
For more information, visit Princeedwardisland.ca/povertyreduction or call 902-368-6185.