Vibrant Communities began as Opportunities
2000 in Waterloo, Ontario. As a four year
initiative involving eighty-six community organizations in forty-seven poverty
reduction projects, Opportunities 2000 ultimately helped 1600 families. This book includes two background papers on
the driving forces behind Vibrant Communities, as well as ten case studies of
communities across Canada – including Edmonton - that have followed this path.
Vibrant Communities Edmonton has developed
a strategy focused on three areas: workforce development, family economic
support, and community investment. The
Job Bus was designed to provide transportation to work so that employees could
find and keep jobs. The Make Tax Time
Pay campaign sought to make low-income families aware of services available
from the Alberta Child Health Benefit.
The Home Program was created to help low-income individuals overcome the
obstacles in their path to being homeowners.
The British Columbia Capital Region Quality
of Life Challenge focuses on sustainable incomes, affordable housing, and
community connections. As part of the Employer
Challenge, HR Options for Action educates employers about ways they can improve
the lives of their low-income workers.
Mentors help those moving towards sustainable incomes make good choices
through the Mentorship Challenge.
Collaboration between many organizations established the Regional
Housing Trust Fund to address housing affordability and availability.
In the Niagara Region, Opportunities
Niagara offers services such as brokering and coordination, social marketing,
technical assistance and coaching, and improved access to resources, while
facilitating collaboration between community organizations. Target areas in this region include adequate
employment, affordable housing, and accessible transportation.
In New Brunswick, Vibrant Communities St.
John is examining low-income neighbourhoods and targeting the issues that make
it difficult for residents of these areas to move out of poverty. VCSJ has focused on children and youth,
providing early childhood development opportunities for low-income families.
Other targeted areas are education for employment, safe and affordable housing,
and neighbourhood change. VCSJ recently
received five-year program funding from the municipal government for the
neighbourhoods they have prioritized.
Vivre Saint-Michel en Santé is focusing on
social exclusion and poverty in this east-end Montréal neighbourhood. They continue to work for more affordable
housing and lobby for better access to services in the areas of culture, sports,
recreation and commerce. In
collaboration with the Cirque du Soleil and the local school board a program
for promoting arts and culture among youth has been established. As part of an effort to train residents for
employment in local businesses, a development worker is visiting local
employers to match up needs with resources.
This book is useful for anyone interested
in community development; those interested specifically in poverty reduction
strategies; fans of Vibrant Communities Canada.
Visit tamarackcommunity[dot]ca or vibrantedmonton[dot]ca.
Sunday, 05 February 2012 
