Tackling Poverty

Monday, 17 March 2014 at 06:19

The Oxford Poverty Action Coalition are looking for members to assist in the fight to end poverty.

Their ultimate goal is to eliminate poverty while raising awareness and sensitivity to the needs of people in our community.

The Oxford Poverty Action Coalition are made up of local agencies and community members, advocating for positive, social, economic and political change.

Coalition Chair Ashley Farrar developed the group. "I work for the Social Planning Council and I was going around talking to a lot of different agencies and I was hearing over and over again that we need to get together and tackle poverty together, that there was not a united effort to work towards eliminating poverty."

Farrar says they typically discuss the two strains or poverty, those who receive social assistance and those who live on minimum wage. Even with the planned increase of $11.00 per hour, minimum wage salary is 16 percent below the poverty line. "People who are living in poverty in Oxford County over and over again tell us that they don't feel like their respected by our community, they don't feel like they're part of the community and they feel like people aren't listening to what they have to say. So we really wanted to get together to try and make that better."

Tracy Rhea, who is a community member, has experienced living in poverty first hand. "I know that poverty has been around forever, so I don't think we'll completely get rid of it but at least it will give the people a chance to say I actually feel like I belong now, I belong in the community. Even though you don't have as much money you still feel there's somewhere you can go that somebody understands where you've been, feeling that somebody out there wants to help me."

OPAC are currently planning a professional development event for May 6th, 'Live A Day In My Shoes, A View Into Poverty'. Farrar says the event will focus on those working in social agencies, private sectors, the front line but is open to the public. "It gives people the opportunity to be assigned a scenario that is based on the true story of what has happened to someone that lives in Oxford County and you will try to navigate the system."

Tickets for the event are $25. More details on the event and information about OPAC can be found on their Facebook page or you can also contact Ashley Farrar at 519-539-1111 ext. 227 or email ashley.farrar@spcoxford.ca