There was a slight decrease in the number of children living in poverty in the Central Okanagan in 2020 compared to 2019.
The BC Child Poverty Report Card, released last week, shows 4,490 children 91裸聊视频� 12.2 per cent of children 0-17 years old 91裸聊视频� in the Kelowna Central Metropolitan Area (CMA) living in poverty in 2020.
The Kelowna CMA covers Lake Country to Peachland.
In 2019, there were 5,930 children 91裸聊视频� 16.3 per cent 91裸聊视频� in the CMA living in poverty.
High child poverty rates were clustered near downtown Kelowna in 2020, according to the report, which is conducted annually by the First Call Child and Youth Society.
The provincial rate was 13.3 per cent in 2020, compared to 18 per cent in 2019.
The overall child poverty rate on 59 BC First Nations reserves in 2020 was 29.2 per cent with at least 3,900 children living in poverty. The rate on rural reserves 91裸聊视频� 33.9 per cent 91裸聊视频� was much higher than that on urban reserves 91裸聊视频� 25.2 per cent.
91裸聊视频淭he continuing legacy of colonialism is still very apparent in these numbers,91裸聊视频� the report stated.
91裸聊视频淔irst Call also recognizes that reserves do not reflect the larger traditional territories of BC91裸聊视频檚 First Nations where many First Nations children and families live.91裸聊视频�
The report also noted that while the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was one of hardship for many families, 2020 also marked a record low for child poverty rates in B.C. and Canada.
However, it concludes that progress made toward decreasing both the rate and depth of family poverty in 2020 may be all but wiped out by increasing costs in 2023.
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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