About ELP News Releases Welfare Time Limits Long Haul/Flaw line Current Campaigns Resources for people in poverty in Greater Vancouver Factoids about Poverty Panhandling Rights Welfare Cuts and Violence Against Women Local Bylaws and Poverty Links Contact Us / Get Involved mental Patients Rights	About ELP... ELP was formed in 1985 out of the suffering of low-income British Columbians... Our Mission and Goals Why End Poverty? What ELP is Doing What ELP has Done Our Mission and Goals To educate and organize with low-income people; To educate on the root causes of poverty, on the need to end poverty and the need to create decent jobs; To encourage unity and joint campaigns between paid and unpaid working people To include low-income people from further marginalized communities including Aboriginal people, immigrants, refugees and people of colour. [top] Why End Poverty? ELP believes unemployment and poverty are not the fault of individual poor people. They are caused by government policies and legislation. For example, low minimum wages and welfare rates keep people living far below the lines of poverty.  [top] What ELP is Doing Our ongoing work includes public education and workshops, research and preparation of educational materials, media interviews, lobbying, referrals for advocacy, and supporting and encouraging people living in poverty. ELP produces a newspaper, "The Long Haul", and distributes to 6,000 people across BC. [top] What ELP has Done Developed, written and distributed resource materials: Poverty in BC - Curriculum for high schools The Poor Bashing Kit - To bring attention to the oppression of poor people The ELP Kit - On organizing for a better welfare system
	Organized and won a non-stigmatizing "Hot-Lunch Program" for 152 schools in low-income communities.
	Organized a successful campaign to stop the Socreds' 50$ cut to welfare payments for single parents.
	Organized a campaign and released a report called "The Waste of a Nation", stressing justice based on human rights rather than charity.
	Developed and facilitated a workshop on the corporate global economy and poverty.
	Organized and facilitated almost 20 Regional Organizer's Training Schools.

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