New child poverty report card for BC published

FirstCall, BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, has released their annual 2016 BC Child Poverty Report Card today. The report, funded by United Way British Columbia, shows that BC’s child poverty rate has decreased slightly from 20.4% in 2013 to 19.8% in 2014. The small decline is reflected in the poverty rate for children in couple families. However, there was no decrease in the shocking 50.3% poverty rate for children living in lone-parent families, the majority of which are single mother families. Nearly half (49.4%) of BC’s poor children live in lone-parent families. BC’s child poverty rate is higher than the Canadian average of 18.5% and remains at 1 in 5 children living in poverty in BC. Across the province, 163,260 children live in poverty. Over half of BC’s poor children lived in Metro Vancouver – 82,960 children “During their critical growing years, thousands of BC children and youth continue to be subjected to the stresses and deprivations of poverty because this province has refused to develop a comprehensive poverty reduction plan,” said Adrienne Montani, provincial coordinator of First Call. “Poverty affects children’s development and robs them of their potential,” said Michael McKnight, President & CEO, United Way British Columbia. “It’s imperative for the future of our province that we tackle this issue now. When we invest in our children, we invest in our future.” The 2016 BC Child Poverty Report Card calls not only for a provincial poverty reduction plan but also makes  20 public policy recommendations that would help reduce the child poverty rate to seven percent or less by 2020. United Way helps move families from poverty to possibility. Please give.