Building long-term, sustainable change
In a "city of neighbourhoods", we must continue to create conditions for every community to thrive
Most people know about United Way’s commitment to supporting a network of health and social service agencies across Toronto. But United Way is also working to create lasting changes by investing in strategic initiatives and building public understanding of systemic issues. A key focus of these efforts is United Way’s Neighbourhood Strategy—an initiative aimed at strengthening those inner-suburban neighbourhoods most in need of targeted support. This strategy is a response to growing trends of localized poverty and population growth in Toronto.
Resident engagement and mobilization are key elements of United Way’s Neighbourhood Strategy. Through Action for Neighbourhood Change, United Way is now at work in all 13 of Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods, engaging entire communities in building long-term, sustainable change.
Another priority of the Neighbourhood Strategy is to focus on creating infrastructure to better serve neighbourhoods where people struggle to get access to essential healthcare and community social services. The abrupt downturn in the global economy prompted calls from all quarters for economic stimulus policies, including infrastructure projects that will leave a lasting legacy in our communities. United Way is working with the provincial and federal governments to present specific "shovel ready" projects—Community Hubs in priority neighbourhoods—that can meet these stimulus objectives. In 2009, two hubs will open in Eglinton East-Kennedy Park and Weston-Mount Dennis. These projects are a perfect example of how to build better communities. By investing in access to better community services, we help create the conditions for neighbourhoods to thrive.
United Way has also been working in partnership with a variety of community organizations, and with all levels of government to support youth in neighbourhoods across our city. Our contribution to the Review of the Roots of Youth Violence, co-chaired by the Hon. Roy McMurtry and Dr. Alvin Curling, had a significant impact on the report’s final recommendations. United Way continues to advocate for better youth programs and services through Ontario Youth Matter—a coalition of youthserving organizations calling for a coordinated approach to helping young people build a better future in Ontario. This is one more step toward putting young people on the path to success, and it came about after much hard work, collaboration and concerted public advocacy. We laid the foundation for a coordinated youth strategy by producing two research reports titled Youth Policy: What Works and What Doesn’t? and Toronto’s Youth Serving System.
Getting at the root causes of systemic issues is an important part of our work. United Way is a member of the 25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction, the leading voice in the fight against poverty in Ontario. When the Government of Ontario announced its intention to develop a poverty reduction strategy in this year’s Throne Speech, it recognized United Way’s work on the issue.
These efforts are part of United Way’s broader public policy campaign to address issues around poverty and economic inequality. A place-based lens is a critical element in attacking poverty reduction. In late 2007, United Way called for better regulation of the payday lending industry, which research demonstrated had the potential to impact Toronto’s poorest neighbourhoods the most. Again, the government responded, introducing the Payday Loans Act in March 2008. Our submission to the committee reviewing the bill was supported by all political parties and cited in the House when the legislation was passed in June 2008. United Way also advised the government on another key economic issue—the growth of precarious employment. Our advice to the Minister of Labour was part of consultations that led to Bill 139, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Temporary Help Agencies), introduced in December 2008.
If 2009 looks anything like 2008 did, United Way’s work to meet urgent needs across our city will be more important than ever before. But we’ve also come so far in our efforts to strengthen neighbourhoods and revitalize communities—and we must continue investing in our Neighbourhood Strategy in order to bring lasting changes to those Toronto neighbourhoods that need it most.
Building long-term, sustainable change was a Feature Story in our quarterly newsletter, Community Matters: Winter 2009
