Economic Security Project (BC)

Susan is an advocate at First United Church in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside -- the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. The church lets homeless people take shelter and sleep in the pews. There are more than 2600 homeless people in Vancouver, BC, and the province of BC has the highest poverty rate in Canada. This video was created as part of a slideshow about BC's welfare, or social assistance, program. Watch the full slideshow here.

Video by Goh Iromoto.

Richard receives disability benefits through British Columbia's welfare program. Disability benefits are very low (less than $1000 a month in a city where the average one bedroom apartment costs that much). Richard lived on the streets for many years while he waited to get into social housing -- he moved into his own home just a few months after this video was made. This video is part of a slideshow about welfare (or social assistance) and poverty in British Columbia, Canada. Watch the full slideshow here.

Video by Goh Iromoto.

Judy Graves is a housing advocate with the City of Vancouver in BC, Canada. Judy talks about why welfare (or social assistance) is so important -- and not just to people who find themselves going through a rough time. This video is part of a slideshow about welfare (or social assistance) and poverty in British Columbia, Canada. Watch the full slideshow here.

Video by Goh Iromoto.

Erna Calingasan talks about the struggle to get by working two low-wage jobs. Part of a video series by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives about poverty in British Columbia, Canada.

Video by Goh Iromoto.