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Taking a human rights-based approach to housing in Toronto

Posted by Maytree on June 28, 2021

Poverty is what happens when people cannot access their human right to an adequate standard of living. They lack equitable access to housing, health care and pharmacare, education and training opportunities, or decent work. They experience food insecurity, poor sanitation and undrinkable water, or lack of income. Poverty is created by systems that affect people differently; as a result, Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, women, and people with disabilities, for example, experience poverty at disproportionately high rates.

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Breaking Down Silos in Rural Communities: Employing A Whole Systems Approach

Posted by Natasha Pei on June 23, 2021

Breaking down silos and employing a whole systems approach that puts a person’s wellbeing at the centre is a critical practice for rural communities seeking to end poverty. Working in silos ignores the complexity of people’s lives and beneficial community assets remain under-utilized. While working out-of-sync with one another, very few organizations are likely to see their clients sustainably achieve their goals.

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A Basic Income for Ending Poverty

Posted by Natasha Pei on May 19, 2021

Basic Income cash transfers are a well-evidenced high-impact strategy for widespread poverty reduction in Canada.

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Guelph-Wellington Built for Zero reduces chronic youth homelessness by 76%

Posted by Guelph-Wellington Built for Zero on May 19, 2021

This success story was featured at Cities Reducing Poverty’s 2021 National Gathering: The End of Poverty as part of the workshop Built for Zero: A Model for Ending Chronic Homelessness.

In 2018, after becoming a Built for Zero Canada community, Guelph-Wellington conducted their second Point in Time Count/Registry Week which identified 203 people, including 62 youth, that were experiencing chronic homelessness. Through this survey, the community learned that almost half of all respondents had experienced their first instance of homelessness as a youth.

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A Dignified Disability Supplement as a Pathway to Ending Poverty

Posted by Elle Richards on May 18, 2021

According to Statistics Canada, 6.2 million Canadians are estimated to be living with a disability. People with disabilities are likely to be living in poverty – this figure is as high as 30% - due to societal barriers including discrimination, access to education and employment, and protective social programs. Stats Canada reports a mere 40-59% in employment, depending on the severity of the disability, as compared with 80% of the rest of the population.

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London Becomes First City to End Functional Homelessness for Veterans

Posted by Elle Richards on May 11, 2021

London has made Canadian history in achieving functional zero veteran homelessness in 2021. This milestone means the city is well on its way to address the homelessness crisis as reported by the Canadian Alliance To End Homelessness (CAEH).

The secret to success? Relationship building, timely data, coordinating access, prioritizing a population group, and a shared goal. Crucial have been partnerships between the city, local agencies, and veterans’ organizations, and working through the city’s By-Name List so that no one is left behind. A targeted systems-focused strategy has enabled specific and appropriate housing and supports for veterans.

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