TAKE ACTION
Everyone can contribute toward poverty reduction. In fact, poverty reduction requires a collective effort. Find out how you can get involved and start taking action!
- Advocate for a national childcare system
- Share poverty awareness information to business networks such as chambers of commerce and BIAs
- Offer permanent year-round employment that pays a living wage
- Be flexible in the hours of work to help families address their childcare and transportation needs
- Consider compressed work weeks, job sharing, part-time/flexible hours of work
- Create a family-friendly workplace that offers information about childcare services, subsidies for sport and recreation activities, top-up maternity benefits, and flexibility in hours of work so parents can attend school functions
- Sponsor a sports team or support a child to attend a sport or recreational activity
- Encourage employees to network together to share information about resources for families
- Promote workplace Employee Assistance Programs
- Fundraise or donate to a community program that helps families and individuals in need, such as food banks, school bursary funds, etc.
- Consider how school-related fees such as fundraising activities, school supplies and school trips affect low income families; seek solutions to help ease the financial burden
- Establish policies to ensure the needs of low-income families are addressed, e.g. subsidies for school trips
- Be sensitive to the times of year when low-income families are more stressed financially, such as winter due to heating costs and the holidays
- Be aware of the impact that poverty has on children, e.g. low self-esteem, teasing by others
- Put programs and supports in place to help children get the most out of their educational experiencesuch as breakfast/snack programs, clothing and sport equipment exchanges
- Let parents know about financial support programs in the community such as subsidies for sports and activities
- Work with local service providers and community groups to address issues affecting low-income families
- Develop strong and supportive relationships with students and their families
- Write your local, provincial and federal government representatives to take steps to address poverty issues
- Have a display rack with information about community resources
- Provide programming for families at no or low cost such as summer camps, parenting programs, etc.
- Host monthly low-cost family dinner nights
- Offer space for children’s programs such as playgroups
- Fundraise by having a yard sale or silent auction and donate a portion of the proceeds to community agencies that offer programs and services that help families and individuals in need
- Ask questions about income, housing and supports in your clinical assessments
- Implement routine screening for developmental milestones for
children and screen early for chronic conditions that are more prevalent for those living in poverty (e.g. cancer, heart disease and diabetes) - Ask if supplements are being received, such as special diet allowance, dental care for pregnant mothers who receive Ontario Works, or medical allowances for those on Ontario Disability Support Program
- Provide an information board about community resources
- Refer clients in need to Social Services, Legal Aid, Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program, Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program or parenting programs
- Ensure that your forms can be easily read and understood
- Help clients by completing their Ontario Disability Support Program/Canada Disability Pension forms
- Speak out and write government leaders about policy decisions that negatively affect those in poverty
- Stay informed about how poverty affects health
- Continue to educate yourself on poverty issues
- Speak out when you hear poor bashing comments and take steps to correct misinformation
- Find an issue that really speaks to you and get involved, e.g. housing, social assistance reform
- Sign a petition encouraging policy change
- Write a letter to the editor to raise awareness of poverty issues
- Have an informed discussion with your local politicians
- Donate your time, talents, money and/or goods to community organizations that support families and individuals in need
- Volunteer at school nutrition programs, literacy and library programs
- Start or participate in a children’s clothing or sports equipment swap
- Start a community garden in your area
- Donate to local charitable organizations that offer programs and services that help families and individuals in need
- Donate to community initiatives that help children (e.g. building a children’s playground)
- Speak and write to government leaders about policy decisions that negatively affect those in poverty
