Projects & Initiatives

The research mandate of the Canadian Poverty Institute is to provide research opportunities for scholars, non-profit organizations and students in all areas affected by poverty in Canada. The Institute works with government, non-profit organizations and churches to research areas of community concern and seek solutions. Research at Ambrose is based on the pillars of diversity and peer-review. Research is intended to contribute to our academic disciplines, the public of Alberta and Canada, and the international partners we serve.

Current projects and Initiatives

Fair Access to Insurance Roundtable (FAIR)

Insurance is a proven method for reducing risk, improving resilience, and promoting recovery from disruptive events. Research has shown, however, that certain populations are less likely to have insurance or appropriate insurance, leaving many un or under-insured. The goal of this project is to improve the social and financial resilience of low-income households by addressing barriers to insurance and building community resilience to mitigate the impact of emergencies. FAIR brings together a diverse set of stakeholders from industry, government, academia and the non-profit sector to discuss effective ways to provide affordable and appropriate insurance, and propose an insurance equity strategy.

Calgary Hailstorm Impact Study

On June 13, 2020, communities of the Northeast quadrant of Calgary experienced a catastrophic hailstorm that caused upwards of $1.2 billion in insured damages. The context of this storm was unique as many residents were already experiencing the financial and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that led to, for example, job loss, food insecurity, and social isolation. As the climate continues to change, severe weather events are expected to increase in both severity and frequency. In anticipation of this there is a critical need to better understand the specific needs of vulnerable populations and communities during and after emergencies. Using a Community-based Participatory Research approach, the purpose of this project is to capture the current narratives from community members about the impact of the hailstorm and identify gaps in insurance, community and government disaster responses in order to inform current and future recovery efforts. This project is made possible by the generous support of The Co-operators Insurance company.

Covid19 and the Newly Vulnerable

The global pandemic has created massive disruption in life as usual. In particular, it has affected a new group of people termed “newly vulnerable”. These are people who were not previously in poverty but have been put at significant risk due to economic and social pressures linked to COVID-19. This research focuses on these newly vulnerable households to understand their characteristics and how best to serve this group to prevent even more Canadians from falling into poverty. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

The New Economy Roundtable

The New Economy Roundtable is a network of public, private and non-profit organizations working together to increase decent work and create a more inclusive economy in Ontario. The goal of the New Economy Roundtable is to increase the number of people who are vulnerable, in equity seeking communities in Ontario who are in decent work. Supported by the McConnell Foundation.

Energy Poverty Roundtable

In order to reduce energy poverty among low-income Albertans, the Canadian Poverty Institute is facilitating the Energy Poverty Roundtable, a collaboration between government, energy providers and non-profit organizations. This collaborative works to coordinate efforts to reduce energy poverty and develop policy and strategy recommendations for government and industry.

The role of the church in poverty reduction

What is the preferred role for Canadian churches in poverty reduction? The Canadian Poverty Institute is partnering with the Canadian Council of Churches, the Centre for Community Based Research, and Food for the Hungry Canada to address this question. Churches have historically been active in poverty alleviation but, given the uneven effects of church efforts in the provision of social welfare and gradual secularization of social services where the role of churches has been progressively assumed by government, a critical discussion about the role of churches in addressing poverty today and into the future is necessary. This project tackles that question, informed by community-based research with the intent of mobilizing knowledge and inspiring community action. For more information about this project contact: Dr. Jim Cresswell

The Canadian Poverty Hub

The Canadian Poverty Hub is an online repository of relevant research and resources about the causes and impacts of poverty as well as policies and best practices in poverty prevention and reduction. The Poverty Hub provides a searchable database for researchers, practitioners and government policy officials to access current research on a range of poverty related issues. Developed in partnership with the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness at York University.

past projects and Initiatives

Poverty and the New Economy

New inclusive business practices and forms of economic activity have the potential to generate quality employment. This research initiative reviews the adoption of new business and economic practices in Ontario and examines their potential impact on poverty reduction. Sponsored by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Justice Sector Constellation

The Canadian Poverty Institute provides support to the Justice Sector Constellation, a network of government and justice sector service providers working together to increase access to justice among low-income Albertans. The Justice Sector Constellation is an implementing partner of the Enough for All poverty reduction strategy being led by Vibrant Communities Calgary.

Justice Sector Coordination Project

In order to increase access to justice services, The Justice Sector Coordination Research Project will examine the justice sector service system in Alberta to identify barriers to service coordination and integration and develop recommendations for more effective service integration. The purpose of the project is to enhance the coordination of justice services in order to increase access to justice for vulnerable Albertans. The goal of the project is to identify barriers to the coordination of justice sector services and develop recommendations to address the barriers identified. This project is being undertaken in partnership with the Justice Sector Constellation of the Enough for All poverty reduction strategy with funding from the Law Foundation of Ontario.

Financial Risk and Resilience of Low-income Canadians

This research explored the financial risks and risk management needs of people living in poverty or at the fringe of poverty, as well as indigenous peoples, recent immigrants, and seniors. Questions addressed by the research included:

  • What are the risks that people living in poverty are exposed to? (e.g. Death, sickness, disability, unemployment, fire, crime, natural damage, and other unplanned events that can threaten financial security). Are people living in poverty less resilient and/or more vulnerable to these risks? Why?

  • What are the unmet needs relative to planning for retirement, education, or other long term needs?

  • What are the main causes that limit the access of people living in poverty to access traditional financial products like insurance and investments?

This research was undertaken in 2019 to contribute to the development of appropriate products and services to meet these unmet needs. Sponsored by The Cooperators.

1000 Voices: Community Assessment and Sustainability Planning

In 2017-18, the Canadian Poverty Institute supported the ongoing development of the 1000 Voices initiative at the Genesis Centre in NE Calgary by

  • Conducting a Community Assessment using a Participatory Action Research approach that assessed the assets and issues of the North of McKnight area to inform the ongoing development of responsive programs and services.

  • Prepared a Sustainability Plan based on organizational analysis and the results of the Community Assessment to provide to ensure the organizational and financial viability of the initiative over the medium term.

A Multi-Dimensional Definition of Child Poverty

This research project is led by the Canadian Poverty Institute and addresses both the lack of a national definition of child poverty and the need for coordination in addressing child poverty in Calgary. The objectives of this project are to develop a multi-dimensional definition of child poverty in Calgary that accounts for factors such as material, economic, social / cultural, psychological, spiritual and moral needs and to assess the alignment between a multi-dimensional definition of child poverty and key social and economic policies and programs impacting children and families in Calgary.

Neighbourhood Change Research Partnership

Led by Dr. Ivan Townshend from the University of Lethbridge, this project examines the relationship between income inequality, average neighbourhood income and isolation / inclusion and participation in community-based organizations, and will begin to describe an ‘ecology of participation’ within Calgary communities.