PEI Poverty Reduction Action Plan Service Provider Survey

The Prince Edward Island government is working with community partners to develop a collaborative Poverty Reduction Action Plan, and we need to hear from service providers who work with and/or support people living in poverty.

Please share your thoughts and experiences as a service provider by filling out this survey by May 25, 2018. It should take around 5 minutes to complete, and your responses are confidential and anonymous. Personal information from this survey is collected under section 31(c) of Prince Edward Island’s Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act as it relates directly to, and is necessary for poverty research and policy development.

The information collected from this survey will help create a Poverty Reduction Action Plan for all Islanders.

For questions, please contact Mary Acorn with the Department of Family and Human Services at 902-368-6185 or povertyreduction@gov.pe.ca, or visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/poverty-reduction.

Please answer the following questions.

Question Title

* 1. What type of organization do you represent?

Government sector

Community group/NGO

Educational institute

Private business/sector

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. What populations do you serve/work with? (check all that apply)

Children/youth

Women

Men

Seniors

Families

Indigenous people

LGBTQ2 community

People with disabilities

People living in poverty

Single parents

People on social assistance

People dealing with homelessness

People with addiction issues

People with mental health issues

People looking for employment

People looking to further their education

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. What types of services/supports do you provide? (check all that apply)

Help with housing

Help accessing financial support

Education services

Employment services

Disability support services

Help with transportation

Life skills training

Therapy services

Childcare services

Youth programming

Family programming

Parenting programming

Cultural services

Mentorship opportunities

Advocacy

Health care services

Addiction services

Mental health services

Help navigating the system

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. To the best of your knowledge, in the last 3 years have you supported any clients who: (check all that apply)

Lived in housing that was crowded or needed major repairs

Could not pay essential bills like rent, electric bill, oil bill, etc.

Could not afford to heat their home

Got a roommate to help pay for housing costs

Moved in with family or friends because they could not afford suitable housing

Were homeless

Used a food bank

Used a soup kitchen

Went hungry because they could not afford to buy food

Could not afford healthy foods so bought unhealthy foods

Missed appointments or events because they did not have reliable transportation

Missed out on job opportunities or missed work because they did not have reliable transportation

Borrowed money from family or friends to make ends meet

Used credit to make ends meet - e.g. credit card, line of credit, etc.

Used a pawnshop or money lending service like Payday Loans to make ends meet

Could not afford prescribed medications

Had tooth pain or vision issues because they could not afford to go to a dentist or buy glasses

Had hearing issues because they could not afford hearing aids

Could not afford childcare

Could not afford social programs for their child(ren) like sports, dance, music lessons, etc.

Kept their child(ren) home from school because they did not have enough money for lunch or suitable clothes

Wanted to further their education but could not afford to

Had to quit school to get a job to help pay living expenses

Missed out on job opportunities because of their education level

Had to get a second or third job to make ends meet

Used social assistance

Went on Employment Insurance Benefits (EI)

Reached out to community organizations for support

Were involved in the criminal justice system

Were involved in an abusive or violent relationships

Were put on a waiting list for services - e.g. mental health counselling, housing, etc.

Question Title

* 5. To what level do you believe the following challenges make it hard for people to move out of poverty?

	A lot	Some	None	Unsure
Limited job opportunities	Limited job opportunities A lot	Limited job opportunities Some	Limited job opportunities None	Limited job opportunities Unsure
Wage rates	Wage rates A lot	Wage rates Some	Wage rates None	Wage rates Unsure
Irregular work hours or seasonal jobs	Irregular work hours or seasonal jobs A lot	Irregular work hours or seasonal jobs Some	Irregular work hours or seasonal jobs None	Irregular work hours or seasonal jobs Unsure
Low education levels	Low education levels A lot	Low education levels Some	Low education levels None	Low education levels Unsure
Limited employment skills	Limited employment skills A lot	Limited employment skills Some	Limited employment skills None	Limited employment skills Unsure
Not able to work due to illness or a disability	Not able to work due to illness or a disability A lot	Not able to work due to illness or a disability Some	Not able to work due to illness or a disability None	Not able to work due to illness or a disability Unsure
Employment insurance levels	Employment insurance levels A lot	Employment insurance levels Some	Employment insurance levels None	Employment insurance levels Unsure
Social assistance rates	Social assistance rates A lot	Social assistance rates Some	Social assistance rates None	Social assistance rates Unsure
Level of parental support for paid leave or daycare services	Level of parental support for paid leave or daycare services A lot	Level of parental support for paid leave or daycare services Some	Level of parental support for paid leave or daycare services None	Level of parental support for paid leave or daycare services Unsure
Pension rates for seniors	Pension rates for seniors A lot	Pension rates for seniors Some	Pension rates for seniors None	Pension rates for seniors Unsure
Pension rates for people with disabilities	Pension rates for people with disabilities A lot	Pension rates for people with disabilities Some	Pension rates for people with disabilities None	Pension rates for people with disabilities Unsure
Cost of health services and supports - e.g. prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental care, etc.	Cost of health services and supports - e.g. prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental care, etc. A lot	Cost of health services and supports - e.g. prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental care, etc. Some	Cost of health services and supports - e.g. prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental care, etc. None	Cost of health services and supports - e.g. prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental care, etc. Unsure
Cost and accessibility of transportation - e.g. cost of owning a car, availability of bus services, taxi costs, etc.	Cost and accessibility of transportation - e.g. cost of owning a car, availability of bus services, taxi costs, etc. A lot	Cost and accessibility of transportation - e.g. cost of owning a car, availability of bus services, taxi costs, etc. Some	Cost and accessibility of transportation - e.g. cost of owning a car, availability of bus services, taxi costs, etc. None	Cost and accessibility of transportation - e.g. cost of owning a car, availability of bus services, taxi costs, etc. Unsure
Housing costs	Housing costs A lot	Housing costs Some	Housing costs None	Housing costs Unsure
Food costs	Food costs A lot	Food costs Some	Food costs None	Food costs Unsure
Cost of continuing education - e.g. college, university, etc.	Cost of continuing education - e.g. college, university, etc. A lot	Cost of continuing education - e.g. college, university, etc. Some	Cost of continuing education - e.g. college, university, etc. None	Cost of continuing education - e.g. college, university, etc. Unsure
Benefit 'claw backs' and tax rates	Benefit 'claw backs' and tax rates A lot	Benefit 'claw backs' and tax rates Some	Benefit 'claw backs' and tax rates None	Benefit 'claw backs' and tax rates Unsure
Cost of essential bills - e.g. heat, electricity, etc.	Cost of essential bills - e.g. heat, electricity, etc. A lot	Cost of essential bills - e.g. heat, electricity, etc. Some	Cost of essential bills - e.g. heat, electricity, etc. None	Cost of essential bills - e.g. heat, electricity, etc. Unsure

Question Title

* 6. To what level do you believe poverty affects peoples' ability to:

	A lot	Some	None	Unsure
Have good physical health	Have good physical health A lot	Have good physical health Some	Have good physical health None	Have good physical health Unsure
Have good mental health	Have good mental health A lot	Have good mental health Some	Have good mental health None	Have good mental health Unsure
Have food security	Have food security A lot	Have food security Some	Have food security None	Have food security Unsure
Get further education	Get further education A lot	Get further education Some	Get further education None	Get further education Unsure
Fully take part in their community	Fully take part in their community A lot	Fully take part in their community Some	Fully take part in their community None	Fully take part in their community Unsure
Access health services and supports	Access health services and supports A lot	Access health services and supports Some	Access health services and supports None	Access health services and supports Unsure
Access safe and stable housing	Access safe and stable housing A lot	Access safe and stable housing Some	Access safe and stable housing None	Access safe and stable housing Unsure
Find meaningful employment	Find meaningful employment A lot	Find meaningful employment Some	Find meaningful employment None	Find meaningful employment Unsure
Access childcare services	Access childcare services A lot	Access childcare services Some	Access childcare services None	Access childcare services Unsure
Take part in social activities and events	Take part in social activities and events A lot	Take part in social activities and events Some	Take part in social activities and events None	Take part in social activities and events Unsure
Engage their child(ren) in social programs - e.g. sports, dance, music lessons, etc.	Engage their child(ren) in social programs - e.g. sports, dance, music lessons, etc. A lot	Engage their child(ren) in social programs - e.g. sports, dance, music lessons, etc. Some	Engage their child(ren) in social programs - e.g. sports, dance, music lessons, etc. None	Engage their child(ren) in social programs - e.g. sports, dance, music lessons, etc. Unsure
Feel safe and secure	Feel safe and secure A lot	Feel safe and secure Some	Feel safe and secure None	Feel safe and secure Unsure
Have an overall sense of dignity and self-worth	Have an overall sense of dignity and self-worth A lot	Have an overall sense of dignity and self-worth Some	Have an overall sense of dignity and self-worth None	Have an overall sense of dignity and self-worth Unsure

Question Title

* 7. As a service provider, to what extent are you:

	Very	Somewhat	Not at All
Aware of other government and community services available to support your clients	Aware of other government and community services available to support your clients Very	Aware of other government and community services available to support your clients Somewhat	Aware of other government and community services available to support your clients Not at All
Confident in navigating the system and linking clients to other services available	Confident in navigating the system and linking clients to other services available Very	Confident in navigating the system and linking clients to other services available Somewhat	Confident in navigating the system and linking clients to other services available Not at All

Question Title

* 8. Rank the top 3 areas you want to see addressed in the PEI Poverty Reduction Action Plan (with 1 being your top choice, 2 being your second choice and 3 being your third choice).

Housing

Education and early learning

Employment and wages

Inclusion

Health services

Food security

Social services and supports

Transportation

Childcare

Question Title

* 9. To what level do you believe the Poverty Reduction Action Plan should try to:

	A lot	Some	None	Unsure
Increase awareness of services and supports available to those in need	Increase awareness of services and supports available to those in need A lot	Increase awareness of services and supports available to those in need Some	Increase awareness of services and supports available to those in need None	Increase awareness of services and supports available to those in need Unsure
Improve coordination of services and supports so they are easier to access	Improve coordination of services and supports so they are easier to access A lot	Improve coordination of services and supports so they are easier to access Some	Improve coordination of services and supports so they are easier to access None	Improve coordination of services and supports so they are easier to access Unsure
Build on community strengths	Build on community strengths A lot	Build on community strengths Some	Build on community strengths None	Build on community strengths Unsure
Create more opportunities for everyone to feel valued and contribute to their community	Create more opportunities for everyone to feel valued and contribute to their community A lot	Create more opportunities for everyone to feel valued and contribute to their community Some	Create more opportunities for everyone to feel valued and contribute to their community None	Create more opportunities for everyone to feel valued and contribute to their community Unsure
Find better ways to work together for our individuals, families and communities	Find better ways to work together for our individuals, families and communities A lot	Find better ways to work together for our individuals, families and communities Some	Find better ways to work together for our individuals, families and communities None	Find better ways to work together for our individuals, families and communities Unsure

Question Title

* 1. What type of organization do you represent?

Question Title

* 2. What populations do you serve/work with? (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 3. What types of services/supports do you provide? (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 4. To the best of your knowledge, in the last 3 years have you supported any clients who: (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 5. To what level do you believe the following challenges make it hard for people to move out of poverty?

Question Title

* 6. To what level do you believe poverty affects peoples' ability to:

Question Title

* 7. As a service provider, to what extent are you:

Question Title

* 8. Rank the top 3 areas you want to see addressed in the PEI Poverty Reduction Action Plan (with 1 being your top choice, 2 being your second choice and 3 being your third choice).

Question Title

* 9. To what level do you believe the Poverty Reduction Action Plan should try to:

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* 10. Please share any other thoughts.