Like homelessness, child poverty is another multi-faceted social issue that cuts across many different governmental ministries. While politicians agree that child poverty should be eradicated, none of them seem to be able to tackle the problem in any meaningful way. In a column in the Times Colonist, Trevor Hancock states that BC has “levels of child poverty that are shameful, that exert a terrible toll on the health of children, and that blunt our human and social development.”
Other developed nations in Europe have very low rates of child poverty – which demonstrates that it is possible reduce. One solution would be a social policy framework that would identify plans and solutions based in evidence that adhere to the social determinants of health. Clearly defined outcomes would ensure effectiveness.