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August 29, 2003
Maté takes on poverty
More programs are required to help those in need.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
The fight against poverty in the Jewish community of Greater Vancouver
has a new face. As of Sept. 1, George Maté will take over
from Lani Levine as the new chairperson of Yad b'Yad, the Coalition
on Poverty in the Jewish community. He starts with a simple mission
of helping the estimated 17 per cent of the population who live
below the poverty line.
The first step, Maté told the Bulletin, is to educate
the rest of the community about how serious the problem really is.
"I think we have an awful lot of people in our community that
still need to be convinced that we have a problem," he explained.
"There are too many people living in bad situations and it's
not limited to one set of demographics. I think this community can
do a lot better for them."
Along those same lines, Maté said the public has to better
understand the needs of the poverty stricken in our community in
order to help keep their dignity intact.
For example, he explained, when money or grants are awarded from
the Jewish community to low income families it should be done in
a less demoralizing manner.
"Those who need help in our community have to go looking for
handouts and sometimes expose themselves in a not very discreet
process," he said. "If you want a scholarship for your
child to go to camp you have to come and ask. If you need help to
pay your synagogue or JCC membership you have to go and ask, and
it's degrading for people to do it over and over.
"We want to see if there is a place in our community to create
a way to give people money and allow them to use it for what they
need in the community rather than forcing them to ask for it [each
time]," he continued.
Another goal for Maté's two-year term is to begin setting
up programs and services that can help break the poverty cycle without
just giving handouts.
"I think we need to help create employment opportunities and
find a way to get people into the circumstances where they can learn
to become self sufficient," he said. "I think our community
can create some sort of attainable infrastructure to help them."
The Coalition on Poverty has been hard at work for the past two
years and, according to Maté, there has been positive change.
"If you look at how the [Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver]
has allocated funds in the last year I think something like $150,000
was allocated last year for [programs that help fight poverty],
which is more than ever before," he said. "So the Coalition's
role is really to continue to foster that, to create a greater awareness
for all the people in our community and to help the community agencies
create new initiatives and services."
Maté said that fighting poverty will always be an a uphill
battle, but not an impossible task.
"I've had many people say to me, 'You know, we can't eradicate
poverty in this community. It's always going to be there.' But I
just don't think that's an attitude that I'm willing to accept,"
he said. "Do I think we can beat it in the next year? Obviously
not. But we are a wealthy community. If we can raise $10 or $20
million for a high school, then we can raise money to help people
to live."
Anyone wanting to get involved with the coalition as a volunteer
can attend a meeting, Oct. 21, 5:30-8 p.m., in the boardroom of
the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. For more information,
call 604-257-5100.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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