Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **Digital Resources

  • 2011 Cost of Poverty BC

     

    Title:The cost of poverty in BC
    Author(s):Ivanova, Iglika
    Subject:Poverty – general
    Publisher:Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC office
    Public Health Association of BC
    SPARC BC
    Place of Publication:Vancouver
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    Living in poverty is hard. Poverty means hunger and inadequate nutrition. It means substandard and unsafe housing, or no housing at all. It means impossible choices, like whether to pay the rent or feed the kids. It means stress and social isolation. And it takes an enormous toll on the people who experience it.
    On this basis alone, most British Columbians believe that our provincial government should take action to dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate poverty. And they are right. But governments often balk at the price tag associated with poverty reduction policies like investing in new social housing, increasing welfare, or implementing universal access to child care. What governments often fail to consider, however, is the large amount of resources that we spend, year after year, paying for the consequences of poverty.
    This study finds that the costs of inaction are so large that they far exceed the costs of poverty reduction. Poverty is consistently linked to poor health, lower literacy, poor school performance for children, more crime, and greater stress for family members. It is society as a whole that bears the costs of poverty, through higher public health care costs, increased policing and crime costs, lost productivity, and foregone economic activity. This study quantifies these economic costs.
    The bottom line is that poverty in BC represents a direct cost to government alone of $2.2 to $2.3 billion annually, or close to 6 per cent of the provincial budget. The cost to society overall is considerably higher — $8.1 to $9.2 billion, or between 4.1 per cent and 4.7 per cent of BC’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product, or the size of our economy). That is as much as $2,100 for every man, woman and child in BC, or $8,400 for a family of four, every year. In contrast, the estimated cost of a comprehensive poverty reduction plan in BC is $3 to $4 billion per year.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.04 POVERTY/2011 cost_of_poverty_bc.pdf

  • 2011 Congregational Action Guide

    Title: Congregational housing action guide: For Edmonton religious and spiritual communities
    Corporate Author: Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative
    Subject:Housing – temporary, emergency, homelessness
    Publisher:Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative
    Place of Publication:Edmonton
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract: Contains concrete tips a religious congregation can use to reach out to the homeless.
    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    D. HOUSING/2011 congregational_action_guide.pdf

  • 2011 City of Red Deer Housing & Homelessness Assessment

    Title: The City of Red Deer housing and homelessness assessment report
    Author(s): Downie, Raymond
    Corporate Author: Broadview Applied Research Group
    Subject: Housing – planning, policy|split|Housing – affordable, social housing|split|Housing – studies, surveys|split|Housing – temporary, emergency, homelessness|split|Housing – studies, surveys
    Publisher: City of Red Deer
    Place of Publication: Red Deer, AB
    Date of Publication: 2011
    Abstract: Recent economic changes and the subsequent impact on the local community, the housing needs and the homeless situation have indicated the need to re-visit previously developed strategies. The focus of this study has been the examination of current and future housing needs and support services, as well as the identification of existing gaps and anticipated programs and services to be developed in response to these gaps. The purpose of the study is to provide the City of Red Deer and the Red Deer District and Community Foundation with up-to-date information of current and future housing needs and to identify current and future gaps between existing programs and services. The resulting information can be used in evaluating and targeting the housing needs of the city’s residents in line with the City of Red Deer’s 10 Year Vision and Framework for Ending Homelessness by 2018 and the 5 Year Implementation Plan for housing and homelessness strategies. Specifically the study was designed to examine housing demand and supply in Red Deer and support services that are available. Gaps, trends, anticipated housing needs and support for various sub-populations were also examined. Emerging from this examination will be a set of policy recommendations for addressing current and future anticipated housing and homelessness needs in the city. Data collection was guided by the key areas identified for investigation – that is housing demand and supply, support services, gaps, trends and anticipated need, and policy recommendations. Data sources included relevant federal, provincial and city documents and reports as well as representatives of organizations that provide services and supports to the homeless in Red Deer. The final section of the report presents policy recommendations for addressing current and future anticipated housing and homelessness issues in Red Deer. In total, 12 recommendations were provided, and are intended as points for discussion with policy makers, government officials and program and service providers.
    Language: English
    Material Type: Report

    D. HOUSING/2011 City-of-Red-Deer-Housing-and-Homelessness-Assessment.pdf

  • 2011 ACCultration

    Title:Childhood immigration and acculturation in Canada
    Author(s):Georgiades, Katholiki|split|Boyle, Michael H.|split|Kimber, Melissa S.|split|Rana, Ayesha
    Subject:Children – health|split|Health issues – mental health|split|Immigration – health issues
    Publisher:Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development
    Place of Publication:Hamilton
    Date of Publication:2011
    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.07 CHILDREN/2011 acculturation.pdf

  • 2011 Changing Families

     

    Title:Changing families, new understandings
    Author(s):Luxton, Meg
    Subject:Family – general
    Publisher:Vanier Institute of the Family
    Place of Publication:Ottawa
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    Families in Canada have changed dramatically since the 1950s, provoking widespread debates about what kinds of families should be recognised and supported socially, especially in law and public policy. This paper reviews those changes, asking why families matter to individual members, to communities and to society as a whole. It identifies some of the key debates provoked by these changes and explores their implications. It argues that the challenge for contemporary thinking about families is to focus on functions and practices – on what people do to take care of themselves and each other, to have and raise beloved children, and to ensure as best as possible, the well-being of themselves, their households, their communities and their society.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.11 FAMILY/2011 changing_families.pdf

  • 2011 Canada Speaks

    Title:Canada Speaks: Exposing persistent myths about the 150,000 Canadians living on the streets.
    Corporate Author: The Salvation Army
    Subject: Poverty – general
    Publisher: The Salvation Army
    Place of Publication: Toronto
    Date of Publication: 2011
    Abstract: A survey from Angus Reid Forum of more than 1,000 Canadians was conducted to determine public perceptions about individuals experiencing homelessness. The report, “Canada Speaks”, provides a unique look into how Canadians feel about the more than 150,000 homeless living on the streets in cities across the country. The report is a part of The Salvation Army’s ongoing Dignity Project – a national effort to educate and engage Canadians about the reality of poverty in the 21st century.
    Language:English
    Series: The Dignity Project
    Material Type: Report

    D. HOUSING/2011 canada_speaks.pdf