Poverty reduction plan aims to cut rate in half by 2023
Calgary has a new strategy for cutting in half the number of people living in poverty by 2023.
It's estimated that one in 10 Calgarians lives in poverty.
The Enough for All plan will dovetail with the city's current 10-year plan to end homelessness by 2018, said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
"In order for the plan to work, the housing-first philosophy means people need to have some place to go," he said.
"The good news is that our vacancy rates have softened a little bit, there are more opportunities to do that. But the revised plan came out about a year and a half ago, with some ambitious goals in it, and we're going to have to move fast to be able to achieve them."
Enough for All is a collaborative effort among Vibrant Communities Calgary, the United Way, the Calgary Foundation, Momentum and the City of Calgary.
In Calgary one in five people are concerned about not having enough money for food, and one in three people are concerned about not having enough money for housing, the campaign said in a release.
"A collection of Calgarians, from all walks of life, have said enough is enough. Great cities, those that prosper and are world class, are cities where everyone comes together and looks after their neighbours," said Franco Savoia, executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary in a release.
Nenshi suggests employers offer direct deposit plans to help those in need find access to banking.
He also encourages volunteers to help those in need with filing their taxes, so they can be eligible for the Canada child benefit.
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