Reducing Poverty in Delta

Delta is growing in size and becoming more diverse as it is a an attractive place for young families, new immigrants, seniors, and working professionals who enjoy the city’s amenities, natural surroundings, and small community feel. Delta boasts a well-educated and high-earning (above the provincial average) population, and is seen as a caring community with a variety of supportive services tailored to the needs of residents.

Despite this, many Delta residents are living in poverty. Almost 10% of Delta residents are considered to live in low-income households. Poverty affects people’s ability to access health care, housing, food and safe water, education, employment, and their right to vote. This leads to social inequities and a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break unless the root causes of poverty are considered.

In 2021, the City of Delta received funding from Union of BC Municipalities to develop a Delta Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan with concrete actions to address poverty in Delta. 449 residents and community partners have informed the Plan. The strategy was presented to Council on May 16, 2022. Read the Council Report. Key findings from the document were adopted into Delta Social Action Plan 2023-2028.

Delta’s Poverty Reduction Action Plan Implementation

In 2023, through UBCM funding Delta established two tables to carry out actions outlined in the Poverty Reduction strategy.
1. An action-oriented Delta Poverty Reduction Table of 18 Community Partners was established and advanced various collaborative initiatives, including developing cultural and dietary food preference lists for service providers to use. In addition, staff with the support of community partners developed the Homes for All public advocacy social media campaign and the provincial bc211 database was updated with local social services information and promoted to the public. To ensure sustainability, poverty reduction is now a standing item at the Healthy Communities Partnership meetings (chaired by Fraser Health and City of Delta).
2. A Delta’s Community Voices Table (CVT) of 8 diverse residents with lived experiences of poverty was formed to help inform poverty reduction work. Food security was identified as a priority topic. With the support of staff, the group created an awareness zine about the importance of having access to culturally familiar foods in food banks. In the summer of 2023, Delta’s CVT also organized a community picnic called A Taste of Home featuring local vendors and multicultural cuisine. To ensure sustainability, the City of Delta worked with BC Poverty Reduction Coalitions CAN program to continue to work with the group of residents by providing community leadership training in 2024.
3. In the fall of 2023, the City of Delta developed a Feeding Delta: Community Food Resources brochure that lists free and low cost food services and programs throughout Delta. The same list of food resources has been included under ‘Community Services’ on the interactive DeltaMap.
4. In early 2024, Kennedy Seniors Centre piloted a new 6-week, fully funded food skills program for 12 seniors. The program is run through BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and was a great success. Future food security programs are being planned at Kennedy as a result.
In 2024, UBCM-funded activities are focused on increasing employment and leadership opportunities for newcomers, immigrants, racialized and Indigenous residents as well as individuals with varying abilities.
1. MentorConnect Pilot Project: In partnership with Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC), the MentorConnect program will match immigrant professionals with City of Delta staff working in the same field. The program helps immigrant professionals expand their professional connections and helps local professionals to become better leaders.
2. Information sessions for Delta job seekers: In collaboration with MOSAIC, Delta’s operator of WorkBC centres, the City of Delta is developing a series of information sessions about how to get a job at the City. The sessions will provide information about the types of municipal jobs, selection and interviewing processes.
3. Delta’s Civic Engagement Bootcamp: A 6-week pilot program is being developed in partnership with community agencies to engage diverse residents in building their leadership skills and confidence to be effective change makers in their community.
- Providing $1 million in annual funding to community organizations to support vulnerable children, youth, families and seniors.
- Operating a free Seniors Bus program; over 2,200 seniors used it in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
- Offering a Leisure Access Assistance Program to families on limited income; close to 800 LAAP subsidies were issued in 2019.
- Providing free recreation facility admission for youth between the ages of 10 and 18 (Youth Admission Pass).
- Developed Delta's first Housing Plan that includes strategies and priorities for actions to increase access to rental and affordable housing in Delta. Developed Delta Housing Action Plan.
- In 2021-2023, securing close to $400,000 funding from the Province of BC to develop support systems to assist unhoused community members and residents who are at risk of being evicted.