The BC Poverty Reduction Coalition is comprised of over 80 organizations and community mobilizations that come together to advocate for public policy solutions to end poverty, homelessness and inequality in B.C. We aim to improve the health and well-being of all living in British Columbia. The Coalition advocates for a targeted and comprehensive poverty reduction strategy that prioritizes equity-seeking groups, and a whole government, cross-ministry approach to ending poverty. Our work is grounded in the foundation of universal human rights. Read our Terms of Reference.
To find out more about becoming a member of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, please email info rowan@bcpovertyreduction.ca.
The BCPRC Basis of Unity and values statement was developed at a workshop in June 2019 and refined between June to November 2019. The Basis of Unity lays out a powerful vision for how the Coalition accomplishes its work, in solidarity and collaboration with each other as Coalition members, with staff, and all external stakeholders and allies. The following lays out how we strive to show up in all our work, individually as staff and members, collectively as a Coalition, and externally as a united front.
2023 Projects
Hosting Anti-Oppressive Workshops with Homelessness Services Association of BC: our third round of co-hosted anti-oppressive virtual free workshop series aims to empower members with knowledge, expertise, and tools in anti-oppressive theory and practice. Themes include Disability Justice, Decolonization, Sex Work, and more. This iteration of the series is funded by the Health Science Association’s Equality and Social Action Fund.
Consulted on an inquiry into hate during the pandemic: We participated as a community stakeholder in the BC Human Rights Commissioner's Rise of Hate during the Pandemic Inquiry. Rowan attended the in-person report launch and was in the report projects’ video calling for social condition to be added as a protected grounds to the Human Rights Code.
Introduced the Black CAN Leadership Program: hosted for the first time in February and March 2023. With this program, we support the development of Black leadership in the progressive advocacy sector. This series is for folks of African descent with lived & living experiences of poverty.
Collaborating on research & reports: acted as an organizational partner on the study of 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada; contributed to a Churchill Fellow Scholar’s report on empower[ing] people facing poverty through social and housing status rights-based models; co-authored the Just Transition Briefing Note & Report; and supported CAN leaders to collaborate with UBC, Vancouver Health Authority, Tamarack Institute, and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Social Development.
Updated our policy recommendations for BC’s Poverty Reduction Plan: Our submission focuses on seven “big mover” policy priorities that would profoundly change BC’s social fabric and well-being by largely eliminating deep poverty within five to seven years.
We are grateful for the financial support of the following, and the many individual donors and funders who make the work of the BCPRC possible:
