The goal at Vibrant Communities is to reduce the poverty rate in the city to the national average of 15 per cent by 2015.Dr. Regena Farnsworth, who chairs Vibrant Communities, tells CHSJ News alot of progress has been made since 2004 when the poverty rate was 28 per cent.
One disturbing trend is an increase in the teen pregnancy rate. In addition to that, more than 10 thousand Saint Johnners over the age of 25 have not completed high school. Existing programmes for housing are described as underfunded and oversubscribed with waiting lists.
According to a report prepared by Vibrant Communities, reducing poverty cannot be achieved without significant changes to current systems.
