SPC Monthly Meeting Minutes
(draft)
Apr 24, 2017 - 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Community
Futures Office
In attendance (from
sign-in sheet): Linda Berg, Nancy Gale, Larry Stranberg, Bruce Mack, Diane
Wright, Ashlee Hyde, Carla Bullinger, Shannon Thom, Jay Goddard, Anne Burrill
and Jessica Dunn.
Accept
Minutes & Agenda
During lunch we:
· Reviewed meeting agenda
for Apr 24, 2017
Motion to approve
agenda as presented - MFSC
· Reviewed meeting minutes
from Mar 27, 2017
Motion to approve
minutes as presented - MFSC
New United Way Initiative - BC211
United Way's Ashlee Hyde presented the new BC 211 initiative. BC 211 is a United Way
initiative to serve as a one stop shop to connect people with services they
need.
The UW
appreciates the work of all you service providers.
United
Way is leading this initiative (over 100 locations across Canada)
Outcomes:
timely access to social services (everything from a free meal, to a mattress to
sleep on).
Six
online databases currently exist (including www.accesswilliamslake.org) - precursor
to 211
What is
211 - similar to 911, 611 etc. Phone and online service providing access to
services. One stop shop with highly trained individuals (trained staff answer the phones). Being more user friendly, and at
a fraction of the cost.
So much
duplication across Canada, this serves to reduce duplication
Currently
BC211 serves the Vancouver region, and will be expanding to other regions of BC
(currently accessible to 2.7 million British Columbians in BC).
24-7
service
Free
& confidential
Online,
phone, text and email
In
2017, BC211 will be expanded across the whole province.
United
Way is funding this expansion.
Currently
generating awareness about this service. In our area, the service will be
available online (only). The costs don't match the growing demands (as below):
Call
growth of BC211 - 3% increase
Online
visits growth - 40% increase
Live
web chat with highly trained staff will be
available in our region.
Data
collection/Trends can also help identify gaps (e.g. temporary food bank and
meals program was created after a large number of calls identified this need).
Video
of an actual call was then played for the group.
Q&A:
How
does this connect to the crisis line (e.g. CMHA provincial crisis lines)? Is
there a Seniors focused area of this website?
Q: The
federal and provincial government were not interested in funding this? Are the reasons
known?
A: The
reasons are not known. Perhaps this will change within this election year.
Q: How
is this being advertised to children?
A: New
initiative still, being developed (magnets etc.)
Q: This
is not only about crises?
A: No, this is for
any need. If someone was in a crisis, a crisis line number would be provided.
Household Composition
Leading us into the following item's
discussion, Nancy Gale presented a local picture of household composition. See
handouts provided for more details.
Child Poverty
is increasing. Very common now, children are going hungry (program started
providing meals to 6 children and now serves 44 children). Significant
reduction in problem behaviors are a result.
Demographics
of the community is important to begin tackling these identified issues. Our
sector is affected by local demographics.
Our local
community is aging.
50 - 54
years of age is the largest age group.
Handout -
"A picture of households in Cariboo" (summary compiled by BC Council
for Families and SPARC BC). Note - Doesn't identify seniors over the age of 65
within the categories.
From the
handout: The majority of single parent and couple households have one child
(60.5 of single parent families and 41% of couple families).
Medium
income for single parent homes is less than $15 K (below poverty line).
Extra documents made available: 2016 BC Child Poverty Report Card
(First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition)
Total number of jobs that exist today is lower than the number of
jobs that existed before the 2008 recession.
Income and Employment are the top Challenges in the Cariboo.
It is of value to consider these local demographics when
developing new programs and initiatives. Poverty is a real issue locally.
Discussion & Comments that followed:
Program development checklist
- could be developed.
The focus is always "the middle class", rather than
those living below the poverty line.
Jay - TRU's 5 year school plan has identified that there are so
many barriers to people getting the education they need. The local component of
our five year plan needs to consider the demographics (interestingly, in our
region the typical middle class student is not the target; these students go
away for university to other places).
Statistically: In Williams Lake 23% have no high school diploma
Significant gender disparity in wages Williams Lake: Men in
Williams Lake make more than the provincial average and women in Williams Lake
make significantly less than the provincial average.
25% of children locally live under the poverty line (which is much
lower than the Living Wage). This has great implications for future success.
From a business looking for qualified employees perspective -
bringing qualified people in versus hiring locally is often easier.
Poverty Reduction plan for Williams Lake is greatly needed (St.
Johns New Foundland is one example).
What can we learn from communities that have a Poverty Reduction
plan?
It is important to move the conversation past the aggregate
figures - the distribution is very critical.
Rural Canadians are often ignored (34 million people live in
Canada, but 75% live at the 49th parallel
which is where all the attention goes).
Q: Is there access to grant and/or funding to hire someone to look
at this issue?
A: The Vancouver Foundation could be an option (social innovation
grant program)
We should get the support from the City of Williams Lake (possibly
even the CRD, and/or Chamber).
The Chamber would be a good fit (get the business people first).
Politicians won't care, unless the people are talking about it.
Public Awareness could be a good start - raise awareness of the
issue so people start talking about it. The great lack of awareness and
people's skewed perceptions (e.g. go get a job!) need to be addressed. People
need to know what causes poverty (it is not
a choice) so as to not keep perpetuating it.
Recently BIA has noticed a rise in vandalism crimes - this could
be the "spark" to get people to start talking - as they are
interrelated.
We need to move beyond trying to change perceptions (it is hard to
challenge people's beliefs). Rather a suggestion is to: create a facilitated
conversation and process engaging people to come up with solutions. There is
often two responses from general public - 1) they are just lazy people, or 2) I
can give more to the food bank.
The City needs to be on board with future initiatives. The
Vancouver Foundation funding requires this.
We need funding to move this forward - we need more than a
"corner of the desk".
The impacts of the future legalization of marijuana is still
unknown.
The United Way could perhaps help with Poverty Reduction initiative.
"Make the month" is a good website to gain perspective.
A small presentation could be a great impetus for people to join
the solution driven conversations - hope needs to be created.
Two separate presentations would be most beneficial - one for the
warm and fuzzies, and one for the business minded community.
Next steps - what are the benefits for us as individuals, and us
as a community, to implement a Poverty Reduction plan (show people the benefits
to a poverty reduction plan - how it will benefit them directly).
We need to frame the comprehensive benefits for people including
examples from other communities (demonstrable results from these strategies).
Is there funding sources that could begin this process?
MOTION - Speak to the United Way about securing
funding to hire a project developer - MFSC
Housing is a real concern in our region (rents are increasing 3 -
5%/year and are currently almost $700/month for one bedroom). We are seen as an
affordable place to live only if you
can buy, not if you are a renter.
Resources for more info: BC Community Health Profile
(www.phsa.ca/communityhealth), CTC Profile, BC Council for Families.
Choosing a Poverty Reduction focus
Continue
discussion on bringing an evidence based program to our community to address
local needs.
Tabled to
next meeting
Social Planning Trade Show
Explore
hosting another Trade Show this fall for non-profit agencies.
Tabled to
next meeting
Roundtable Updates (info send via updates
&/or the SPC Facebook page)
Ashlee Hyde
(United Way) - National Volunteer Week this week. More info at the Tourism Discovery
Centre this week to celebrate.
Linda Berg (Boys & Girls Club) - Race for Kids event- teams
needed. Glass Slippers is looking for Men's attire.
Jay Goddard (TRU) - Family Support Institute is offering two
workshops this weekend (see posters).
Anne Burrill - BC Housing has received more funding. Currently
hiring for front line staff. Also looking for landlords.
Kate Lines (BIA) - July 1st - Four Directions Event is underway.
If you have ideas, or want to contribute contact their office.
Carla Bullinger (Communities that Care) - BC Youth Week - May 1 -
7. Recognize youth. Community Action Planning Meeting - was well received and
more info will be uploaded to the school district website.
Nancy Gale (CDC)- received MCFD monies for ADHD programming and
family support and specific interventions.
Larry Stranberg (Community Futures)- Succession planning is still
a priority at this time
Meeting was then adjourned. The next SPC
meeting will be on May 29th.
