Community-Based Poverty Reduction

Unemployment and poverty are multifaceted, complex problems that must be addressed through a combination of public policy and community-based approaches. This paper sets out a framework for community-based poverty reduction. So-called “bottom-up” community initiatives must be understood as an important supplement and complement to a solid social infrastructure which makes adequate provision for income security and investments in education, health and other areas such as early childhood development. The paper proposes that community-based poverty reduction includes four possible streams of intervention: meeting basic needs, removing barriers, building skills and promoting economic development. Specific actions involve linking strategies to help people move into the current labour market and parallel strategies which seek to create parallel structures outside of the economic and social mainstream. The report summarizes the findings from a national survey and a roundtable on building community capacity, both of which were undertaken by the Caledon Institute.

ISBN – 1-895796-98-9