Cash Poor, Community Rich

This commentary builds on some of the experiences shared at the Jane Jacobs: Ideas That Matter Conference held in Toronto in October 1997.  A major purpose of the conference was to bring together people from around the world to explore the factors that make for healthy communities.  The commentary explores the contributions that communities can make towards reducing poverty.  It is not generally the role of governments to provide direct income assistance – except in a very limited way; governments should assume responsibility for income security.  However, communities can make an invaluable contribution to poverty reduction by ensuring access to key resources: knowledge and skills; goods and services; and contacts, networks and social supports.

ISBN – 1-895796-84-9