Poverty Reduction Project
A Collaborative Project to Reduce Poverty in Surrey
Eighteen percent of Surrey residents live in poverty. This is lower than the Metro Vancouver average of 21% — but it represents too many families.
Over the past year, the City of Surrey has been participating in THIS (transportation, housing, income and support) a collaborative project to reduce poverty in Surrey.
THIS: is how we end poverty in Surrey
Under the leadership of Vibrant Surrey (Website. New window.), THIS is focusing its research, dialogue and community-based action in 4 key areas — transportation, housing, income and support.
The project has 3 main components:
- A Series of Fact Sheets
- Community Dialogue Process
- Poverty Reduction Plan
Fact Sheets on Poverty
The series of fact sheets compiles existing data related to poverty, and are based around policy areas (transportation, housing, income and support) and population groups.
Community Dialogue
Approximately 100 people, representing diverse community and government agencies, participated in a Community Dialogue with interested stakeholders in March 2012.
The goals of the Dialogue were to inform stakeholders about the Project, and to consult stakeholders on strategies and actions that should be included in the Surrey Poverty Reduction Action Plan. If you are interested in getting involved or staying informed, contact Vibrant Surrey (Website. New window).
Poverty Reduction Plan
The Plan was endorsed by Council in July 2012. The process was a collaborative effort between Vibrant Surrey, SPARC BC, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research: Community Learning and Engagement (CIR:CLE) (Websites. New windows) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the City of Surrey.