WHY WE WROTE A SUBMISSION
Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) has been providing support to people in crisis since 1928. We specialize in assisting vulnerable populations facing poverty, trauma, and other complex challenges. FSGV offers crisis intervention, counselling, and education programs, and our Financial Empowerment initiative provides free financial coaching to help individuals overcome financial hardships. In British Columbia, poverty remains a significant challenge, with over 644,000 people living in poverty, including 35,230 children under six. The work we do uniquely positions us to see the impacts poverty has across our community.
We believe that nonprofits play a crucial role in reducing poverty by building trust with clients and connecting them to necessary services. Because of the belief, we wrote a submission for The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR).
OUR SUBMISSION
We want to start by acknowledging the government’s efforts in reducing poverty rates, but we highlight the need for sustained funding and investment in:
- stabilization reports
- training opportunities for social service workers
- adequate resources for non-profits
FSGV recommends expanding financial literacy programs, providing incentives for savings, improving access to benefits, and promoting financial inclusion for low-income individuals. We emphasize the importance of increasing access to affordable housing and wrap-around support services.
By collaborating with government agencies and stakeholders, our aim is to create lasting solutions and support for those in need.
Overall, our recommendations strive to address the systemic issues surrounding poverty and to empower individuals to achieve financial stability and well-being.