The number of children living in poverty in British Columbia is going up, with kids living on-reserve and those in single-parent households most likely to be impacted, according to a new report released Feb 26.
The First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society found that one in seven children lives in poverty in this province.
The report looked at incomes from 2021 which showed a child poverty rate of 14.3 per cent, that’s an increase from 13.3 per cent in 2020.
The 2023 BC Child Poverty Report Card found this increase could be from partial withdrawal of the government pandemic income supports for families. The report also found that compounding the problem of inadequate and declining incomes for families at or below the poverty line, are the soaring costs of food and housing — a trend expected to continue in the near term.
The report also noted that the child poverty rate on some BC First Nations reserves continues to be substantially and unacceptably higher than the overall BC child poverty rate. In 2021, the child poverty rate on 67 BC First Nations reserves stood at 31 per cent or twice as high as the provincial rate. Rural reserves had even higher on-reserve poverty rates than urban reserves, with a rural reserve child poverty rate of 35 per cent. The urban area with the highest poverty rates was Prince Rupert at 22.7 per cent.
With child poverty also expected to rise, we need to do something. The thought of a child going to school hungry, or worried about having a roof over their heads or without adequate clothing is heartbreaking.
This report calls on the government to do a few things to help such as increase the hourly minimum wage, raise income and disability assistance rates’ enhance Employment Insurance; and ensure maternity and parental leave benefits are universally available to all parents among other recommendations.
But what can we do? The first is to recognize and acknowledge there is a problem.
Second is to reach out to organizations that can help. There are breakfast programs and there are local food banks. There are other local charities that have boots on the ground.
If you are able to, find somewhere to make a donation to help. Sometimes it is helpful to find something you are passionate about and align yourself with a corresponding charity.
For example, if you are into sports, find somewhere you can either donate your time or money that helps children who may not be able to afford it otherwise play organized sports.
Or the next time you are at the grocery store, pick up an extra box of your favourite cereal and put it into the food bank’s donation box by the door.
If time is on your side and serving is on your heart, some breakfast programs look for volunteers to serve food to students.
If we can all do something small, collectively, it can add up.
Our children deserve it.