Prince George is getting $50,000 in provincial funding for local-poverty reduction projects.
The funding will be used to reduce barriers to transit and recreation opportunities for individuals and families with low incomes by expanding the city’s leisure access-pass program, with a focus on high-risk schools.
The intent of the program is to increase social inclusion for people living in poverty.
The city’s leisure access pass program currently helps individuals with limited income to participate in recreational activities like public swimming and skating and allows children under 12 to ride the bus for free on Saturday and Sunday when accompanied by an adult.
The project is a part of the third intake from the Union of B.C. Municipalities' (UBCM) Poverty Reduction Planning and Action Program, which supports local government projects or plans to reduce poverty at the local level.
The intent of the funding is for local governments to develop initiatives that are aligned with TogetherBC, B.C.'s poverty-reduction strategy.
"Local governments are best suited to identify chronic and emerging issues in their own communities," said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
"These grants will support action at the local level. Municipalities will work with community partners to develop strategies that can break the cycle of poverty, strengthening communities and improving the lives of all British Columbians."
Williams Lake is also receiving $50,000 from the same pot of funding and will be providing financial and digital literacy support to help vulnerable seniors, who may need assistance with things like transitioning from provincial to federal income assistance programs online.
"These projects build upon local government relationships and will aid participants in identifying the unique needs of vulnerable and low-income people in each community," said Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, UBCM president. "This collaborative approach will assist in building ownership locally along with strategies that address the grassroots challenges in each place."
All projects will involve key community partners, such as community-based poverty-reduction organizations, people with lived experience of poverty, businesses, local First Nations or Indigenous organizations.
Around the province, 18 projects spanning 24 local governments will receive a total of more than $1 million from this intake.
