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City part of province-wide poverty reduction strategy

Prince George is part of a province-wide initiative to develop local poverty-reduction plans and projects. On Tuesday, the province announced $1.
Homeless youth WEB

Prince George is part of a province-wide initiative to develop local poverty-reduction plans and projects.

On Tuesday, the province announced $1.4 million to support 29 projects in partnership with local governments, as part of TogetherBC poverty reduction strategy. 

Coun. Murry Krause, who is the chairperson of the City of Prince George's Select Committee on Poverty Reduction, said the city received $30,000 to support the development of a local poverty reduction plan.

"Once the committee has completed its work on the recommendations to council, we'll take those recommendations to the community," Krause said. "That funding will allow us to do that work. To make sure we got it right."

Krause said the committee, which includes members of city council as well as representation from a number of public health and service agencies, hopes to be able to complete its work this year and begin the public consultation on the poverty strategy early next year.

Even the size and complexity of the issue, Krause said the committee has broken it down into specific groups of challenges facing people living in poverty, like barriers to accessing education and employment.

The focus on the recommendations has been on what local government can do to tackle the issue of poverty in the city, Krause said.

"Poverty is a complex issue without a singular solution. It requires the co-ordination and partnership of all levels of government, organizations, businesses, communities and individuals," said Shane Simpson, B.C. minister of social development and poverty reduction, said in a press release. "These projects will empower local governments to create on-the-ground solutions for poverty that are tailored to the needs of their communities."