October 17 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, a day that reminds us how poverty affects people’s lives and well-being, and why it’s important to work toward ending poverty.
The theme for 2024 is Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment: Acting together for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.
Social maltreatment includes being discriminated against, judged for one’s appearance, blamed for one’s situation, and treated with disrespect.
Institutional maltreatment is reflected in negative attitudes towards people who live in poverty, such as mistrust and disrespect, discriminatory policies and practices, and denying people fundamental human rights such as access to healthcare, education, and housing.
Social and institutional maltreatment intersect to increase the injustice experienced by people who live in poverty.
According to the United Nations, adults and youth who live in poverty experience:
- a lack of nutritious food
- unsafe housing
- limited access to health care
- dangerous work conditions
- unequal access to justice
- a lack of political power
As the UN’s Secretary-General states, “Eradicating poverty is an essential foundation for humane, dignified societies that leave no one behind.”
Covenant House Provides a Hand Up
At Covenant House Vancouver (CHV), we provide programs and services for all youth who are experiencing homelessness to help empower them to change their lives and break the cycle of youth homelessness.
Every day, our Outreach Team connects with youth who are living on Vancouver’s streets, are precariously housed, or are new to the Lower Mainland.
The Outreach Team builds relationships with young people by meeting them where they are at and by being a consistent, supportive presence in their lives. They offer food and support by connecting youth to services, hygiene supplies, and minor medical attention.
Workers also invite youth to attend our Drop-In Centre where youth can access a variety of services, including:
- hot breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- showers and laundry
- food, clothing, and hygiene supplies
- recreational activities like yoga, soccer, hockey, basketball, and baseball
- help from a housing support worker and independent living start-up kits
- connections to youth workers for support, counselling, and personal planning
- access to an in-house addictions counsellor, and support and recovery programs
- appointments with mental health clinicians and psychiatrists
- referrals to other social services
Covey’s Cupboard
One of the popular services that youth can access at the Drop-In Centre is Covey’s Cupboard. Supported by the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, we provide youth with healthy food items such as canned tuna, granola bars, fruit cups, milk, and frozen foods.
Donations to Covey’s Cupboard are always welcome as due to rising grocery costs and inflation, it’s becoming harder for youth to access nutritious food.
Through CHV’s programs and services, youth are able to acquire the life skills they need, secure housing, set educational goals, find employment, and build resilience to make changes in their lives to help lift them out of the cycle of homelessness and poverty.