The Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA) will receive a $50,000 grant from the City of Red Deer to conduct a needs assessment that will contribute to the group’s poverty reduction strategy.

Council approved the grant Monday night, which will come from the city’s Housing Solutions Fund on a one-time basis.

Monica Morrison, who sits on CAPRA's strategy team, said their research will examine the root causes of poverty and possible solutions to it.

“Let’s get into the trench, let’s talk to the people that are living it. What is it that they need. What is it that brought them there. What is it that we can advocate for. What is it we can communicate to our organizations that deal with people that are living in poverty,” Morrison said.

While the advocacy group does not provide services, Morrison said their research will benefit those that do.

"We will be able to give that information to organizations that do programs. This is what we heard and what can you tweak so you can address what we heard," she said.

The funding request was approved unanimously by council. Coun. Ken Johnston said the city does not already have that in-depth information that CAPRA will be looking into.

The needs assessment would help guide the city on policy as well as provide data that could aid the municipality in its advocacy efforts with higher levels of government, he said.

A letter from CAPRA to the city states that according to the last federal census, about 10 per cent in Red Deer were living in low income in 2015; disproportionately affecting single parent families, recent immigrants, Aboriginals, people with low levels of education and people with disabilities.