Faces of Poverty: Saint John residents prove you can fight poverty

from The Sudbury Star

Posted By Laura Stradiotto

Business owners and professionals took the lead in reducing the number of people who live in poverty in Greater Saint John, N.B.

Ten years ago, Saint John had the highest percentage of poor people in the province - 27 per cent of residents were living below the poverty level.

It was a chance meeting between a panhandler and a retired RBC executive in October 1996 that propelled the Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative forward. Bill Gale asked the man for his story before handing over a toonie.

Although he was active at the community level, Gale didn't realize how little money people on social assistance survived on.

Gale invited some business colleagues to the soup kitchen to listen to people living in poverty. What the group heard was enough to inspire action.

"I thought the least we could do was provide education, if nothing else," said Gale from his home in Saint John. "It was a real eye opener for me as well."

In 10 years, the group helped create a teen resource centre, alternative school for pregnant teens and established partnerships between inner-city schools and businesses to see students succeed.

In 2001, the poverty rate dropped to 24.5 per cent. Census data for 2006 won't be released until the spring.

In the last few years, the city's labour force participation rate rose by a few thousand people and the group is hopeful low-income families are moving out of poverty.

"We're just catalysts in the community, bringing together businesses and professionals to work with other groups who want to get things done," said Gale.

After the soup kitchen meeting, the initiative broke up into committees and worked with those living below the poverty level to explore issues like housing, employment and education.

"Knowing they weren't poverty experts, they felt like they had a lot to learn, but they felt that their talents and skills could help to make a difference in people's lives," said Monica Chaperlin, co-ordinator and one of the original members of the initiative.

The group attempted a few projects, but felt they weren't moving far, so they hired a consultant to paint a picture of who was living in poverty, what programs were working and make recommendations.

"The study demonstrated - which wasn't clear before - that Saint John had a high proportion of single-parent families who were living in poverty," said Chaperlin.

Around 70 per cent of single-parent families were living below the poverty level.

"It was pretty astonishing because people have an image that when you live in poverty, it's the guy on the street asking for spare change," said Chaperlin.

The group decided to concentrate on single-parent families. Organizers realized involving the private sector and government agencies were part of the solution, also.

The city's teen pregnancy rate was high and most women decided to keep their babies. Aside from educating teens about safe sex, it was important to support young mothers.

"In Saint John at the time, led by a family physician here, there had been an effort by the community to establish a home for pregnant and parenting teens," said Chaperlin.

"So the initiative joined in that effort and First Steps was the program that evolved."

First Steps accommodates up to 12 mothers and gives them the support to deal with addictions, stress and parenting. The project is financially supported by the province, community groups and fundraising efforts.

Once the program got off the ground, officials learned that most of the young women had dropped out of high school.

"We worked with the school district, among others, to put in place at First Steps an alternative high school, so the women are able to complete their high school," said Chaperlin.

Since the school was established three years ago, the majority of women have moved on, graduated, attended post-secondary school or secured employment.

Along with the school and counselling, there's an on-site day-care centre.

The initiative has expanded over the years, with one of the group's original members, JD Irving, founding PALS - Partners Assisting Local School.

PALS started with a partnership between Irving's manufacturing business and an inner-city school across the street from the company headquarters.

The school is located in a neighbourhood with a high number of families living in poverty.

"It started out with the employer offering willing volunteers to be mentors in the school," said Chaperlin.

Employees spent company time mentoring students.

Other businesses and community organizers became involved and improved the lives of students from establishing after-school programs to ensuring the kids had breakfast.

The pilot project started six years ago and since then, students' grades have improved and a sense of pride has evolved among students and staff.

"Parents now want to send their kids to this school," said Chaperlin.

The program has expanded to include nine inner-city schools. Their work made the province stand up and take notice. The Ministry of Education changed the schools' classification from inner-city schools to community schools, which means more funding and staff to benefit students.

"We know we still have a huge amount to do, change doesn't come quickly," said Chaperlin. "But we really feel like we are laying the ground work. Our next focus is early childhood development."

Organizers want to establish early years centres - like the province of Ontario has done - in vulnerable neighbourhoods and help parents get the support they need to ensure early childhood development.

The group has developed a model for the program and will approach the province and other groups for financial support.

lstradiotto@thesudburystar.com