Even calling it a research centre is probably too much. It is a centre, but it's small and has few resources.
Our main role--I say “our” role because I'm part of the centre's board of directors--is to advise government on indicators and to follow this advice with publications on indicators. So far, we've mainly studied what are the best indicators and produced recommendations along these lines. Most of it, therefore, is not so much research on policies but more trying to get the facts straight on what's happening. For instance, are we improving or are we facing more poverty? Are some groups within the population in more difficulty than others? What happens with inequality?
Aside from this research centre, a research program was put together by many ministries in the Quebec government, along with the Quebec fund for social research, to provide financial support for scholars or research groups in universities who work on poverty. These studies are going to come out, to be presented in the coming year or so. There will be a second round.