FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2025

One in Six Children in B.C. Living in Poverty as Deepening Inequality Hits Families

First Call’s 2025 BC Child Poverty Report Card highlights the growing depth of poverty, with lone-parent families and rural communities most affected.

Vancouver, B.C. – Today, First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society releases the 2025 BC Child Poverty Report Card, revealing that child poverty remains entrenched in the province, with over 149,000 children living in low-income households. While the overall child poverty rate in B.C. has stabilized at 16.7%—slightly lower than the national rate of 18.3%—the reality behind the numbers paints a stark picture of deepening hardship for families across the province.

“Child poverty is no longer just a statistic; it’s a daily reality for far too many children in B.C.,” said Adrienne Montani, Executive Director, First Call. “The depth of poverty is widening, and the most vulnerable families—lone-parent households, many families in rural communities, and Indigenous families—are falling further behind. This is not inevitable; with targeted government action, we can reverse these trends.”

“We’ve seen what works: well-designed supports can prevent families and children from falling deeper into poverty,” said Lorraine Copas, Executive Director of SPARC BC. “Expanding and strengthening these programs such that every child has a fair start in life and a future they deserve must remain a priority for all levels of government.”

Key findings from the 2025 Report Card include:

• Lone-parent families continue to face extreme risk – Children in lone-parent families have a poverty rate of 45.1%, nearly five times higher than children in couple families. More than half of all poor children in B.C. live in lone-parent households.
• Indigenous and racialized children disproportionately affected – On-reserve child poverty remains alarmingly high at 33%, and some racialized groups experience child poverty at rates far above the provincial average.
• Deep poverty is widespread – Many families live far below the poverty line. For a lone-parent family with two children, median after-tax income is $28,690—$17,109 below the poverty line—making even basic necessities unaffordable.
• Housing and food insecurity are escalating – 73% of low-income couple families and 72% of lone-parent families spend over 30% of their income on shelter. Food insecurity among children rose to 33% in 2023 (the last time these stats were gathered), leaving nearly 288,000 children unable to access adequate nutrition.
• Government transfers make a real difference—but gaps remain – In 2023, provincial and federal supports kept 98,120 children out of poverty in B.C., yet cuts to benefits, including the BC Family Benefit in 2025, risk undoing progress for low-income families.

The report also highlights the growing income inequality among families with children in B.C. The top 10% of families earn 23 times more than the bottom 10%, with lone-parent families facing the widest disparity: the top 10% earn 86 times the income of the poorest decile.

Impact on Children’s Lives:
Children growing up in deep poverty face heightened risks to health, nutrition, development, and educational outcomes. Lack of affordable child care, low wages, and rising living costs leave parents stretched thin, limiting time for children and undermining family well-being.

Call to Action:
First Call emphasizes that ending child poverty in B.C. is achievable with political will and evidence-based policies. Expanding affordable child care, increasing family benefits for lower-income families, ensuring living wages, and improving housing affordability, are critical to lifting children out of poverty. The report contains 20 recommendations for change.

About First Call
For 30 years, First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society, a province-wide non-profit organization, has been dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth through research, advocacy, and public education. First Call promotes policies that ensure children’s well-being, reduce poverty, and create equitable opportunities for all young people in B.C.

Access the complete 2025 BC Child Poverty Report here.

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To arrange an interview with Adrienne, please contact:
Judy Rudin
First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society
cell: 604-219-5168  email: judy@firstcallbc.org
www.firstcallbc.org