Like many coastal regions of BC, the Alberni-Clayoquot region has seen high rates of poverty and inequity. For many years, the ACRD was one of five regional districts across the province reporting the highest rates of poverty. Poverty rates have improved moderately, as illustrated by the child poverty rate, which began to decline in 2016 and has continued to decrease marginally from 32.6% in 2015 to 29.5% in 2021. Currently 21% of all residents live in poverty, with 1880 children experiencing poverty (a 15% poverty rate for children in two-parent homes and a 62% poverty rate for children in lone-parent families. Significant barriers around housing, transportation and health access exist in the region with diversity in the experience of these barriers for residents in urban, rural, remote and/or First Nation communities. Recognizing that poverty is a complex issue which cannot be addressed by any one organization or initiative, leaders in the ACRD have begun to bring together local stakeholders to discuss, identify opportunities and plan around poverty reduction.

The Alberni Clayoquot Health Network (ACHN) has been working with local partners since 2016 to identify action, partners and ways to address poverty in the region. The 2021 Regional Action Plan outlines recommendations across 4 dimensions to address poverty. The ACHN has made a commitment to supporting this process and look forward to future collaborations, revisions and planning with community stakeholders.

Working Together To Reduce Poverty in the ACRD Workshop Report

Theory of Change Summary

ACRD Poverty Reduction Briefing Note

Alberni Clayoquot Working Together to Reduce Poverty Protocol Agreement

Building Prosperity in the Alberni Clayoquot – Poverty Reduction Action Plan

Theory of change online

Generation Squeeze

Federal Poverty Reduction initiative

Tamarack Institute

Living Wage for Families

Canada Without Poverty