To really tackle poverty, it will be necessary to listen to all the social actors. This is where the most innovative and sustainable solutions will come from.
If you look in our society for a real plan to fight poverty, you won’t find one. When I say real, I’m talking about a fight plan that would have concrete targets, well-defined actions and transparent accountability. There are many action plans, like that of the Government of Quebec, but they are lost in a maze of actors and a myriad of programs developed by as many government departments and agencies.
This absence of a simple and concrete plan is easily explained: poverty is a complex social problem, which requires multi-faceted and, increasingly, multi-partner solutions. Beyond the action plans, it is now time to emphasize new postures: it must be recognized that this fight against poverty cannot be carried out in silos, by a small group of decision-makers and donors, and that it cannot be designed at the top without a deep understanding of the reality on the ground.
To tackle complex social problems, collaboration is essential. It leads to more innovative, efficient and sustainable solutions than those created by organizations working alone.
When people and organizations from different backgrounds and backgrounds work together for a common goal, their diversity of perspectives, resources and skills generate new ideas. And when members of a community participate in the decision-making process, they are more likely to feel invested in the outcome and support the efforts of those striving to solve a problem.
This is all the more true when tackling problems such as poverty and social exclusion, which affect communities in situations of marginality or vulnerability. More than ever, we need to make sure we give them a voice to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into account in the development of solutions.
I regularly talk about the work of community organizations and I can’t say enough about the respect I feel for their commitment. It is essential to recognize their expertise by bringing them to the discussion table.
In the neighborhoods of Greater Montreal, collaboration is already well established between community organizations, cities and government departments. Now is the time to scale it up.
Many voices, one goal
The pre-budget consultations are well underway, and these will have a direct influence on the dollars available for social programs. But the Centraides of Quebec are not invited to these consultations. However, they are in daily contact with more than 1,200 community organizations throughout Quebec.
I find it important to point this out, because if the second largest socio-community investor in Quebec is not consulted, what are the chances that the smallest organizations will be? Almost zero.
There is, however, a great openness from the new Minister responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action, Chantal Rouleau. She has already told me this on several occasions since her appointment.
However, I believe that we are all caught in an old model of collaboration, based on “I know what is good for you” and “we don’t have time to discuss, we have to act”. This posture must change.
Agreeing to discuss orientations or programs does not necessarily imply taking out the checkbook or imposing deadlines. The objective is rather to consider new ideas, to draw inspiration from best practices, to open up to others, to listen to each other, but more importantly, to understand each other. It is precisely because money is a limited resource that it is imperative to discuss.
Please note that I am not saying that more money is not needed to support the community sector – it really needs it. I’m just saying that money is not the only solution and that it is important to broaden the base of the discussion now, even if it means taking a little more time. Instead of constantly coping with emergencies, let’s find concrete, long-term solutions, firmly rooted in the reality on the ground.
Over the next few months, the government will have to renew its plan to fight poverty. It’s a complex job, we know that. Let us give ourselves the courage and the humility to design this new version by bringing together as many voices as possible around the table, in a single common interest: the definition of a real plan to fight poverty, driven by objectives shared by all actors in the social fabric.
Let’s enter this discussion with this certainty: those who hold the resources are not necessarily those who hold the solutions. Diversity can only improve our understanding of this complex project, which we absolutely must complete.