Meaghon Reid discusses how the lack of affordable housing may lead to younger people leaving Alberta

‘I live in instability’: Survey shows one in four Calgarians can’t meet basic financial needs

The importance of Indigenous ways of knowing and being

Join us to learn, engage and act on poverty reduction in our community

The situation is dire for many, says Meaghon Reid in an interview with CityNews

Alberta’s response to poverty is below the national average: Food Banks Canada

VCC says says Calgary has never seen a housing crisis like this, with rents and interest rates rising, but also basic costs such as food.

Unique school works to stem 'escalating crisis' of Calgary students facing poverty, homelessness

Momentum’s Courtney Mo discusses predatory lending

High cost credit, poverty, and the Criminal Rate of Interest

Franchise fees which have spiked in recent months are compounding the affordability crisis says Meaghon Reid to the Calgary Herald

City councillor has dim hopes for quick resolution to spiking electricity fees

VCC's Meaghon Reid discusses the rise of hidden homelessness with the Calgary Herald

'People are scared': Anti-poverty advocates fear homelessness spike amid affordable housing crisis

University of Calgary researcher, Yun Lee, describes what was discovered in a study exploring experiences and perceived outcomes of I Can for Kids' grocery gift card program

Grocery gift cards for food-insecure households offer greater autonomy, flexibility and dignity

We spoke to the Canada West Foundation's Janet Lane about her recent study about literacy in Alberta

Literacy is a necessary skill for every Albertan to thrive in their work

We’ve assembled resources to help you tell Calgary City Council that affordable housing can't wait

Action on affordable housing is needed now

VCC's Lee Stevens says we can improve the effectiveness of the income support program for Albertans with disabilities by tackling the six main problems

New group of AISH recipients discuss the issues they face

VCC's executive director applauded the decision

Calgary Mayor requesting changes to electricity access fees amid rising energy costs

VCC is examining opportunities to improve the income support program for people with disabilities in Alberta

Another step on the path of reconciliation for VCC and all those that align with E4A

Enough for All strategy receives traditional Blackfoot name

Meaghon Reid was on CBC Radio's Alberta at Noon discussing the state of affordable housing and possible solutions 

Hearing from Albertans about affordable housing

VCC explains the urgent need for affordable housing in Alberta

Officials request feds ‘pony up Alberta’s cash’ for affordable housing

Rising rates will impact those who can least afford it says VCC's Meaghon Reid

Calgary prepares for energy rates to hit record high on Tuesday

VCC explains the panic some are feeling with the lack of housing options with the Calgary Herald's Chris Varcoe

As more people arrive during Alberta's population boom, housing lags behind

Kambo Energy Group’s Yasmin Abraham discusses energy poverty and a new program working with people living on low incomes to make their houses more energy efficient

Working to help Albertans reduce their energy bills

Making Decisions for the Future: Ending Poverty Once and for All

Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning 

Poverty Talks! officially joined Vibrant Communities Calgary in 2016 as an advisory group, offering insight into poverty reduction from a lived experience of poverty perspective. Listen below as Poverty Talks! Chair Sue Gwynn discusses how lived experience guides the Enough for All strategy and why it's important. 

Poverty Talks! and the importance of lived experience guiding the Enough for All Strategy

Poverty Talks! holds community conversations to gain a better understanding of the issues facing people living in low income. Summaries of these discussions are posted below and shape the work of Enough for All.

In 2023 Poverty Talks and Vibrant Communities Calgary partnered with Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty to host a community conversation with seven working parents. A major theme that emerged was the exclusionary nature of the poverty line leading to limited access to benefits, programs and supports. Participants described a cycle that they couldn't get out of leading to feelings of desperation and hopelessness. Learn more about what we heard at the session.

Also, check out the summaries of conversations held in 2022 on transit, affordable housing and food costs below. 

2022 Community Conversations: Public Transit

2022 Community Conversations: Food Insecurity

2022 Community Conversations: What we heard

Poverty Talks! gathered with community members for the 2021 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17. Throughout the event, individuals shared personal stories of people with lived experience.  

Poverty: It's a Trap

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 

What Are We Hearing: Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning

What Are We Hearing: Early Learning and Care

What Are We Hearing: Financial Empowerment

What Are We Hearing: Physical and Mental Health

Poverty Talks! officially joined Vibrant Communities Calgary in 2016 as an advisory group, offering insight into poverty reduction from a lived experience perspective.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel connects with Elder Wanda First Rider to talk about Indigenous ways of knowing and being, the importance of ceremony and teachings, and her perspective on poverty and how everything we need is here.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid chats with Anna Murphy, a community advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ and women’s issues, about trans rights and thestate in Alberta, the poverty statistics of trans individuals, how to create inclusive communities and what allyship truly looks like.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel chats with Meaghon Reid, Executive Director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, about the state of poverty in Calgary, VCC’s Beneath the Surface report,  and what individuals can do in their spheres of influence to affect poverty reduction and build community wellbeing.

Episode 18: Looking Beneath the Surface of Poverty in YYC

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Salimah Kassam, leader of Rise Calgary, to explore what it means to move from a scarcity to strength mindset, the concept of designing systems that create slack for people, and what some of the roadblocks are to shifting perspectives on poverty.

Episode 17: Shifting Mindsets – Scarcity to Strength

In this episode, Meaghon Reid sits down with Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, to explore what the role of business is in society, how that role is evolving, links between business and a healthy society, and the concept of shared prosperity.

Episode 16: Shared Prosperity – the Role of Business in Society

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with James Stauch, executive director of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University, to explore social innovation and social purpose, and how systems mapping is a wayfinding tool that helps deepen one’s understanding of a problem.

Episode 15: Social Innovation, Mapping Systems & Building Trust

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Jessica Cope Williams, Co-CEO of Kindred Connections Society, to explore how an organization’s name can act as a barrier to those trying to access services and what it means to be a connection first organization. 

Episode 14: Mental Health and Connection First Strategies

In this episode, VCC’s Meaghon Reid sits down with Steacy Pinney, CEO of Calgary Reads, to explore how Calgary Reads is spreading early literacy across Calgary through the Dandelion strategy, and the importance of literacy and prevention in the early years. 

Episode 13: Literacy & the Dandelion Strategy

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Sarah Sinclair, a Lawyer who leads the Indigenous justice program Sahwoo mohkaak tsi ma taas (Blackfoot for “Before Being Judged”) at Calgary Legal Guidance, to discuss creating equal access to justice for Indigenous people, how Indigenous Law brings healing, and the need for systemic change in the legal system.

Episode 12: Systemic Change – Indigenous People and the Legal System

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Lee Stevens, policy and research specialist with Vibrant Communities Calgary to explore basic income. What a basic income could mean for Canadians and how it could have a positive impact on our social support systems.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Lee Stevens, VCC’s policy and research specialist and this episodes’ co-host alongside Nevena Ivanovic, public policy coordinator with the Women’s Centre of Calgary and Andrea Cox, manager of government relations with YW Calgary. Together they discuss women and the economy, child care in Alberta, and what’s working in regards to policy.

Episode 10: Child Care, Women, and the Economy

In this episode, VCC’s Meaghon Reid sits down with the CEO of The Alex, Joy Bowen-Eyre, to explore what it means to provide dignified services, how food is a convenor and community builder, and how progress comes from investing energy into policy and advocacy. 

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Hagir Sail, Community Facilitation and Engagement Specialist with Vibrant Communities Calgary to explore allyship. 

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Celestina Akinkunmi with the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) to explore settlement and integration services in Calgary.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Vibrant Communities Calgary and EndPovertyEdmonton’s Executive Directors to get their perspectives on poverty reduction and the future of Alberta.

Episode 6: No Battle of Alberta when it comes to Poverty Reduction

In this episode, VCC’s Meaghon Reid sits down with Momentum’s Jeff Loomis to talk about financial empowerment, innovations like the QUBER Savings App, skills training for the growing tech industry and more.

Episode 5: Building Assets Brings Opportunity

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel catches up with Sue Gwynn from Poverty Talks! to chat about the importance of engaging with the voices of lived experience. Hear about why Poverty Talks! challenges perceptions around poverty, how models and systems keep people in poverty, and why poverty is a trap.

In this episode, VCC’s Executive Director Meaghon Reid sits down with Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Mayor Nenshi is one of the original champions of the Enough for All strategy and emphasizes how ‘my neighbour’s strength is my strength.’ Listen to them discuss priorities for Calgary and poverty reduction and their optimism for the future. 

Episode 3: My Neighbour’s Strength is My Strength

In this episode, VCC’s Executive Director Meaghon Reid sits down with Karen Young, president and CEO of the United Way of Calgary and Area, to discuss how community partnerships deliver dividends in the poverty reduction space. The United Way is a leader in developing key partnerships that drive results. Get to know what the United Way has learned from initiatives like Community Hubs, how businesses are evolving around social purpose, and how they’re taking community action on mental health.

Literary specialist Berniece Gowan discusses how improving literacy levels can shift the needle on poverty reduction.

This policy brief outlines feasible solutions to issues related to eligibility, adequacy, means testing and accountability of the AISH program. The recommendations seek to improve the quality of life for Albertans living on low incomes with disabilities, and ensure they have the necessary income to meet their basic needs.

Liveable Incomes: Improving the Effectiveness of Alberta's AISH Program

The Report to Community outlines key accomplishments and initiatives in the year. Links to archived reports are below. 

Audited financial statements for VCC Initiatives Ltd.

The audited financial statements for VCC Initiatives Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2021. 

Creating a city where poverty cannot exist is an ambitious goal. It means having a city where our health, education, childcare, and transportation systems meet our needs. A city where jobs pay living wages, and our income support programs meet our basic needs. But it’s what Enough for All strives to attain.

We know that poverty is about so much more than just income. In Beneath the Surface - the layers of poverty in Calgary we look beneath the surface of the metrics, and to learn the story behind them. Looking at these multifaceted layers helps us measure what matters and uncover solutions that will chart a better path forward.

View a summary of Beneath the Surface - the layers of poverty in Calgary.

Campaign 2000 summarized the main themes of a conversation held with seven working parents with lived experience of poverty. The conversation was hosted by Poverty Talks! and Vibrant Communities Calgary in partnership with Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. 

This summary is in four sections based on the topics of discussion. Main themes with related content and quotes are presented for each topic. The conversation content will be further analyzed over the next year, alongside content from other conversations across the country, to help create a community-driven indicator framework and recommendations for action.

Calgary's living wage is $22.40 per hour. A living wage is a proxy for the cost of living in a community. It is determined by calculating average expenses, taxes, and government benefits for a given household using local costs. A living wage considers the basic needs of an average household, plus the additional costs we all incur from time to time, to allow a household to fully participate, thrive, and build their human and financial assets (e.g., education and savings).

Employment income that is sufficient to cover the cost of living is vital to reducing poverty and building a resilient city and economy. Since 2008, Vibrant Communities Calgary has been updating the living wage figure for Calgary. This brief provides the details of the calculation, which was done in collaboration with the Alberta Living Wage Network.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 resulted in shifts in the way that organizations and community-based initiatives provide food and revealed gaps and opportunities within the emergency food system. 

In order to better understand and develop recommendations to improve Calgary’s emergency food assistance program, the Canadian Poverty Institute and Vibrant Communities Calgary published Examining Calgary’s Emergency Food Assistance System in March 2021. The purpose of the research was to explore the scope of food insecurity in Calgary in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, assess the effectiveness of the current emergency food system, and identify opportunities for improving the effectiveness of the emergency food assistance system. 

More than a year later, challenges and disruptions continue to shape Canada’s food systems. The resiliency and adaptability of the system is continually tested, and it remains unclear which changes to the Canadian food system, from the COVID-19 pandemic, will be permanent. This report serves as an update to Examining Calgary’s Emergency Food Assistance System. The purpose is to follow up on the recommendations developed from the original study, and examine which changes were temporary or permanent. It also seeks to document stories from the community; celebrating innovative projects and lessons learned. 

The State of Calgary's Emergency Food Assistance System

The Social Policy Collaborative outlines three key policy recommendations to help the provincial government meet its commitment to Albertans in need of affordable housing. The brief also highlights recent polling data showing that 70% of Albertans agree that the provincial government has an obligation to invest in building new affordable housing units.

A path to recovery: Growing Alberta's affordable housing stock and recovery-oriented support systems

Mayor Jyoti Gondek proclaimed the month of October 2022 as End Poverty Month.

End Poverty Month was initiated to raise awareness of poverty and to serve as a platform for Calgarians to participate in poverty reduction efforts in the community. It is centered around the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty held annually on October 17. 

Every year, progress on Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – Enough for All – is evaluated by an independent third-party. The Enough for All 2021 evaluation was conducted by Dr. Katrina Milaney, who engaged stakeholders in a series of surveys, focus groups and interviews. She also completed a review of Champion research and annual reports to compile indicators across levers, including employment rates, income support caseloads, and program statistics.

The year 2021 marked the third year of the second iteration of the Enough for All Strategy. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger. Despite these issues, there were several highlights in 2021. This report shows progress and identifies gaps in the Goals, Levers of Change, Principles and the evolving role of VCC and Champions in advancing the Enough For All Strategy, all in the wake of a global pandemic. Stakeholders believe that because of growing pressures, several years of learnings, adaptations and long-term community partnerships, investment in and commitment to the E4A strategy is more important than ever. 

More Important than Ever: Enough for All Evaluation Report 2021

In 2022 Poverty Talks engaged the community in a discussion on housing. The key learning was that housing is a human right and everyone deserves a safe, secure home. A summary of the feedback and what needs to change is provided in this resource.

In 2022 Poverty Talks engaged the community in a discussion on public transit. The key learning was that being able to travel easily to work, groceries, school and healthcare is critical in overcoming poverty. A summary of the feedback and what needs to change is provided in this resource.

In 2022 Poverty Talks engaged the community in a discussion on food insecurity. The key learning was that a lack of income is at the root of food insecurity. A summary of the feedback and what needs to change is provided in this resource.

The Calgary Social Policy Collaborative asked housing expert Dr. Nick Falvo to complete a situational analysis and identify opportunities for housing affordability advocacy at the provincial level. The Affordable Housing Brief lays out general themes, key research and facts as well as the existing policy landscape.

Calgary Social Policy Collaborative: Affordable Housing Brief 

Poverty affects every aspect of your life, not only the ability to meet your basic needs — your health, relationships, how you’re impacted by climate change, even how safe you are while you walk through your neighbourhood. We do the poverty snapshot to understand how people experience poverty and what policy makers can do to help. 

On Nov 1, 2021 the Government of Alberta released Stronger Foundations: Alberta's 10-year strategy to improve and expand affordable housing, intending to outline the action needed to provide more affordable and accessible housing options for Albertans. While some aspects of the strategy are supported by VCC and the Edmonton Social Planning Council, there are also elements that pose considerable risks.

Check out their analysis What you need to know about Stronger Foundations: The Government of Alberta’s affordable housing strategy.

Analyzing the Government of Alberta’s affordable housing strategy

Earlier this year, the Calgary Foundation released its 2021 Vital Signs report, reflecting the feelings of 1,000 Calgarians who shared their unique perspectives and impressions of life over the past year. It struck us that this timely snapshot of life in Calgary touched on some important themes such as quality of life, racism, and how people are coping with the pandemic. Check out our infographic below that shows how Enough for All continues to align with some key issues identified by Calgarians.

Infographic: Enough for All alignment with Calgary Foundation's Vital Signs Report

Since 2008, Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) has been updating the living wage figure for Calgary on an annual basis. The framework for calculating a living wage is adopted from the Living Wage National Framework created by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 

Income from employment that is sufficient to cover the cost of living in a given region is not only vital to reducing poverty but is a necessary component to a resilient city and economy. People need more than the bare minimum, this includes enough income to cover bank fees, education and training, internet costs, and the ability to save for an unexpected event. Other principles identified by Living Wage Canada include a wage that enables working families to have sufficient income to cover reasonable costs, promote social inclusion, and support healthy child development.

Working in collaboration with other municipalities, VCC has adopted the new standardized methodology to calculate the living wage rate for Calgary. The 2021 living wage is $18.60 per hour, a 10% decrease from the 2020 living wage of $20.69, and a difference of 24% from Alberta’s minimum wage of $15 per hour. The primary reason for the decrease in the living wage is attributed to changes made by the provincial government to Alberta’s childcare subsidy program. 

The year 2020 marked the second year of phase two for Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, Enough for All. The COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest ‘story’ of 2020 and the impact of the pandemic on community efforts to reduce poverty cannot be understated. Limitations in support services due to closures and reduced capacity because of restrictions due to COVID-19 have likely increased the risk that people in need of support ‘fell though the cracks’. This year’s evaluation report is written within this context. This report shows progress and identifies gaps in the Goals, Levers of Change, Principles and the role of the Enough for All Champions and Vibrant Communities Calgary in advancing the Enough For All Strategy in the midst of a global pandemic.

Building Back Better: Enough For All Evaluation Report 2020

Earlier in the year, Poverty Talks! hosted a series of Community Conversations, engaging people experiencing poverty about what questions they would ask the municipal candidates running for City Council. The Poverty Talks! Peer Connections Team then used the feedback as a framework to create a survey to send to the candidates. Many candidates responded, and the report outlines their responses. 


With affordability and inflation top of mind for many in 2022, VCC continued work advocating, educating and mobilizing

This guide will help you meaningfully engage with candidates on affordable housing, income security, and public safety

Not filing your taxes? You could be missing out!

Test your knowledge of the rich culture, history and language of Indigenous peoples and communities around Alberta

Not surprisingly, the cost of living is up over last year

Calgary’s Living Wage is $22.40 per hour

Every year Enough for All is evaluated by an independent third-party.
The evaluation captures our community's progress towards achieving systems change priorities. The evaluation also provides direction to Vibrant Communities Calgary on its role in successfully advancing the Enough for All Strategy.

More Important Than Ever: Enough For All Evaluation Report

Our collective progress towards achieving Enough for All

Learn more about the steps taken to advance the development of an Indigenous gathering space within the City of Calgary

Public transit must be connected, convenient, accessible, and affordable

Transit – moving the conversation beyond ‘affordable’

2020 Evaluation Report highlights progress in poverty reduction

Building Back Better – Enough for All in action

Collective impact and collaboration at the centre of reducing poverty in Calgary

Enough for All Changemakers constantly ask ‘what’s possible?’

Highlighting the experiences of poverty in all 14 wards of Calgary

Evaluating our collective progress towards achieving Enough for All in 2020

Laying Bare Inequities: COVID-19, Gender, Race and Precarious Employment

Reflecting on Basic Income Through the Lens of Poverty Reduction

Combating poverty in the earliest stages of life

Poverty Talks!

Overview

Community Conversations

Featured

2022 Community Conversations: Public Transit

2022 Community Conversations: Housing

2022 Community Conversations: Food Insecurity

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

What Are We Hearing: Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning

What Are We Hearing: Affordable Housing

What Are We Hearing: Early Learning and Care

What Are We Hearing: Financial Empowerment

What Are We Hearing: Food Insecurity

What Are We Hearing: Income Support

What Are We Hearing: Justice

What Are We Hearing: Physical and Mental Health

What Are We Hearing: Transportation