• The Search Conference is a way to solicit input on complex issues and to find common ground in order to create a plan for the most desirable future of a community.
  
  
• Opportunities 2000 sponsored this conference, with over 40 people attending from various sectors: government, corporate, community and people in poverty. The OP2000 Learning Consortium and the Caledon Institute of Social Policy were also represented.
  
  
• Mr. Larry Gravill, Chief of Police for Waterloo Region and the Honourable Elizabeth Witmer, MPP and Ontario Minister of Health, spoke during lunch breaks at this two- day event.

• The conference goal was to bring together all sectors in order to identify issues and solutions to poverty. In preparation for the conference, participants were asked to reflect on the following questions:
  • What do we need to do to eliminate poverty in Waterloo Region?
  • What needs to be done to untie the knots and build better systems?

The following major observations were noted by conference participants:

• Globalization of the economy has weakened the power of the nation-state; community bonds (ethnic, social, geographic) are becoming more important as people seek new sources of support in a turbulent environment.
• Technological change is creating challenges; opportunity for some, struggle for others (less educated, older workers, those who can’t afford new technologies).
• There is a growing number of ‘bad jobs’ (low wage, insecure, part-time, short-term).
• The gap between rich and poor is widening at all levels (local, national, global).
• There is a growing emphasis on combating poverty by enabling people to secure employment rather than by providing people with income assistance.
• There is a growing emphasis on personal and community responsibility - active citizenship.
• Young people are facing greater challenges: student loans are crippling; it’s harder to secure first-time jobs.
• Family breakdown is on the rise; there are more single parents.
• The aging of the population is creating new challenges.
• Economic and political stress in many parts of the world are increasing the numbers of political refugees and economic immigrants.
• A growing number of people are feeling hopeless in the face of an increasingly steep uphill battle.
• Large-scale withdrawal of resources has dramatically weakened the social safety net.
• Federal and provincial governments are downloading responsibilities to the local level.
• Re-organizing of social programs is creating uncertainty and anxiety.
• Local communities (city-states) are becoming increasingly important sites for social action.
• Diverse local stakeholders are being mobilized and are seeking new relationships with one another.

Key themes emerging from the discussion included:

• There will be a greater demand for social supports but fewer services.
• Private charities and non-profits will struggle to respond; volunteers/workers will burn out.
• More resources will go to crisis intervention and less to long term preventive measures.
• Pressure will mount to create a two-tier society (split in access to health, housing, education).
• A growing number of people will experience deeper and more persistent poverty.
• More people will be 'working poor’.
• Many people will experience frustration, anxiety, stress; social tensions will become more pronounced; possibility of social discord will rise.
• Crime and violence will increase.
• There will be increased immigration to the Region and growing hostility and racism expressed toward newcomers as people struggle with one another to meet basic needs.
• Young people will become demoralized; the next two generations will be in jeopardy.
• Mental and physical health of many will deteroriate.
• Businesses will resort increasingly to importing skilled labour from outside the region or the country due to lack of investment in the local labour force.
• Productivity will decrease; the local economy will create less opportunity; brain drain to the U.S. will accelerate.

Community caring (n=55)

• e.g., over 1,100 nonprofit organizations and strong corporate citizenship, accessibility for people with physical disabilities, broad-based support for United Way, strong tradition of social action among faith communities.

• e.g., first poor house in Canada established in the 1800’s, first social resources council, recent announcement of one million dollars in grant money from Human Resources Development Canada, ‘Barter Works’ , Region of Waterloo’s restoration of discretionary benefits lost by social assistance recipients.

• e.g., good youth programs and strong neighborhood associations.

• e.g., third lowest poverty rate in Canada - strong economic growth in region.

• e.g., rich cultural base and ethnic diversity.

• Lack of affordable housing.
• Duplication of services.
• Lack of broad corporate sector involvement in poverty concerns.
• Difficulty finding jobs for people without specialized training.
• Limited access to mental health services.
• Service ‘silos’ - lack of coordination and integration of various public services.
• New Canadians don’t always feel welcome.

Housing Employment Community/learning/employment Transportation Taxation Health and social services

Local government structure Recreation Values Food security Police Community development

V. What obstacles stand in our way of reaching this desirable future?
VI. What action plans can we put into place?

The following table outlines some of the identified obstacles along with possible actions to reduce or eliminate these obstacles.

OBSTACLES	ACTIONS
Values negative attitudes about poverty fragmentation and diversification of services that affect the family unit lack of value for food production	work towards building a ‘Caring Society’ undertake public awareness campaign/support community engagement and mobilization need mechanism to allow children to volunteer/foster good citizenship more inter-generational programs, e.g., adopt-a-grandma develop links with isolated youth and seniors more progressive system recognizing stay-at-home parents educational program to value the prevention of poverty need expectation to invest in the community’s financial and human resources more emphasis on bartering and local production of food
Community inadequate, inappropriate or uncoordinated resources and/or staffing to help strengthen communities	government and community boundaries don’t necessarily correspond no-fee cards - access for low income people during off-peak hours to all services need to develop a community leadership model using existing resources, e.g., school council (institutional memory)
Housing unavailability of affordable, adequate housing five housing authorities, unsure of waiting list size federal/provincial resolution required for operating transfer - municipalities need time to learn about existing stock and current situation	increase availability of affordable housing more active municipal regulatory role: owner-occupied duplexes only make mortgage interest deductible on homes - more affordable no GST on first new homes (progressive) remove provincial land transfer tax on first homes (progressive) incentives for housing developments explore ownership alternatives/develop Habitat-like experiences advocacy at local, provincial and federal level transfer operating and administrative responsibility to go with financial responsibility - clarify regional responsibilities and capacity issues subsidize units in private apartment buildings - need to find a source of funding
Employment ‘non-living’ wage changing technologies create ‘multi-career lives’ skills that people have don’t match employment skills needed over-employment	family friendly policy, job sharing challenge corporate sector to create profits in employees, environmental stewardship, ‘social capital’ corporate pilot projects to demonstrate leadership internal training for jobs/retrain unemployed with appropriate skills encourage training for specific jobs demand basic income, basic benefits promotion of entrepreneurship work with youth
Community learning environment structural obstacles: two education systems, provincial control of education system, hard to fill high level technical skills and apprenticeships	integrate all education and training programs identify job needs (by employers) compared to education design programming to prepare people for non-university, but skilled jobs ensure wages are adequate to move out of poverty, not just have jobs (more than 50 percent of families in poverty are working) look at loan-financing issues link with transportation and child care issues
Transportation population density low difficult to get around region - cities divided jobs and residences not in same place	establish heavily subsidized regional system or light rail system explore options for connecting systems in the short-term; revamp along regional lines in the long term subsidized bus passes go to councils and push for integrated system talk to people and media regarding transportation issues
Ensure basic needs met/social services funding lack of basic income poverty trap - rules that create disincentives	collapse funding envelopes move towards accessible community-based holistic care centres redefine benefit eligibility in living arrangements; allow non- traditional units. create ways to get seed money incentives for private affordable housing explore ‘co-housing’ as an alternative; shared housing look at changes to the tax system

VII. What should be the priority of OP2000? What is your commitment, personally, to reducing poverty in Waterloo Region?

The conference participants identified a number of priorities for OP2000 including:

1. Influence policy - need a policy agenda to impact the changes in government roles, not just locally but also provincially and federally.
2. Build a framework - develop a comprehensive action plan and then act!
3. Initiate a public education and awareness campaign.
4. Continue to establish partnerships within the community, including the corporate sector.
5. Lobby for improved transportation systems throughout the region, including free or subsidized access for people in need.
6. Continue efforts to reduce poverty. Dealing with poverty is an investment in our future. Remember employment does not necessarily reduce poverty.

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