The end of January marked the end of Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar’s welfare challenge, but the veteran MLA has no plans to say goodbye to poverty.

Brar’s challenge of living on $610 for the month came to an end Tuesday as members of Raise the Rates and the low-income community celebrated at Four Sisters Co-op in Downtown Eastside. But the end of the challenge is just the beginning.

Brar, who lost 25 pounds, listened to powerful stories of people who rely on welfare. He experienced running out of money, standing in food lines and taking transit. He hopes to take those stories to the legislature.

“I have many experiences and stories to share with my family and my community,” Brar said. “The first thing I want to do is work with my New Democrat caucus colleagues … to build a meaningful poverty-reduction plan,” Brar said.

“What I heard from the people — seniors, single mothers, those with disabilities, aboriginal groups — is always the problem of housing. Housing comes first.”

Brar also wants to provide support for children in poverty, like access to proper schooling and food.

He said better services are needed for those with disabilities and mental-health problems and said people need decent jobs to re-establish their lives.

During Brar’s time in the Downtown Eastside, he became accepted as a member of the community.

Brenn Kapitan, a mother with disabilities who is on welfare, presented Brar a painting. It was among the many gifts given by those in the community.

“It’s a present to show hope,” Kapitan said. “He is hope.”