Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy

About the Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy

The RDCO, in partnership with the District of Peachland, City of West Kelowna, City of Kelowna and District of Lake Country, developed a Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy (COPAWS) to provide a coordinated and shared community action strategy for poverty reduction in the Central Okanagan.

Guided by principles of reconciliation, equity, and inclusion the project will center the voices of those with lived and living experience through extensive public engagement. Through collaborative action, the Strategy will aim to provide everyone in the Central Okanagan a real and fair chance to succeed with improved policies, practices, and resources.

The project is intended to strengthen the partnership between the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), and local Indigenous communities, municipalities, and a number of other community partners and agencies from across the region.

The COPAWS Final Strategy is now available.

The Strategy has been completed and encompasses the input of over 800 residents who participated by providing their insight. The ideas for action were formed from this input, and show a desire for an equitable, inclusive Central Okanagan where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

There are over 40 ideas for action in this report, along with a blueprint for building on the amazing work that people and organizations across the Central Okanagan have already been doing.

The Strategy includes ideas for:

Working together through Collective Action
Reconciliation
Meeting basic needs of residents
Building inclusion and belonging
Focusing on Prevention

The Strategy highlights the importance of working together with clear purpose using the Collective Action model.

Why a regional strategy?

Experiences of poverty are never isolated incidences. They are the result of systems and programs designed by communities. Poverty is not isolated to a geographic area. Changes in the opportunities available and systems of support in one area influence movement of people, either drawing people in for new opportunities or encouraging them to move away for better quality of life. Taking a regional approach is part of making sure that poverty reduction happens in an equitable way that addresses needs of diverse community members.

Thank you for your input!

Thank you to all residents who provided their input in the community forum and survey. Your stories, feedback and ideas are truly appreciated and have helped the Project Team develop a vision and identify actions for the strategy.

What we've done so far

What we heard

A summary of what we heard about the planned Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy is now available! Thank you to all residents who provided their feedback through the community survey and virtual forum.

Learn more about what we heard in the COPAWS Summary Report

Thank you for sharing your reflections on this report. The survey is now closed.

Community Survey

Over 700 residents participated in the development of the Strategy by completing the Community Survey. The survey closed March 7 and encouraged individuals to share their stories, experiences and thoughts on how to best address critical needs in the region and help people out of poverty.

Note: To reduce question redundancy and better understand residents’ needs, this survey also included questions relating to the RDCO’s Regional Housing Strategy (RHS).

Community forum

A free, virtual Community Forum was held Wednesday, March 2 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Community Forums are a way for residents of the Central Okanagan to gather and learn about the strategy and provide their insight into what is challenging, what solutions might be, and a vision for what poverty reduction could look like in the RDCO.

Project Timeline

Background

In March 2019, the Province released their poverty reduction strategy called TogetherBC which set targets to reduce the overall poverty rate in British Columbia. Provincial funding was made available through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to support local governments in reducing poverty at the local level.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) and member municipalities supported applying for a grant with the RDCO as the regional applicant, and in May 2020 the UBCM awarded $149,000 for the development of a regional strategy to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

The purpose of this project is to provide a coordinated, shared community framework for poverty reduction in the Central Okanagan, while building relationships and capacity within and across the region for collaborative action and strengthening coordination between regional systems through improved polices, practices and resources.

The previous work of the Central Okanagan Poverty Reduction Committee (COPRC), the Regional District, and many communities in the region have set the stage for a community driven, regional approach to addressing poverty through an upstream focus. Initial baseline data has already been collected through the Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Analysis, and collaborative relationships are established.

The project processes and resulting Strategy are to be guided by principles of reconciliation, inclusion of residents experiencing poverty and barriers to participation, and reducing poverty to create an equitable and just society. Honouring these guiding principles, we understand that it is paramount that the project process includes direct engagement with Indigenous communities, incorporating indigenous perspectives, honouring Ownership, Control, Access, Possession (OCAP) principles, response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and ensuring a welcoming, safe, and non-discriminatory environment.

Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy

About the Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy

Project Timeline

Background

Member Municipalities and Contributing Partners

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