--- title: The Latest | Tom Cooper description: "For the past nine years, Tom Cooper has served as Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction. Through the Roundtable's work, Tom has engaged governments at all levels to invest in poverty reduction initiatives and worked to give people experiencing poverty a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. He's advocated for social assistance rates that reflect the real costs of living, fought to end to predatory lending in Ontario and helped co-found the Ontario Living Wage Network. Tom was involved in helping to establish Ontario's first basic income pilot: a critical research project testing whether providing a basic income could stabilize housing, improve health and enhance social inclusion opportunities for low-income residents." --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=fr-ca) # The Latest Contribute. We love to hear your thoughts, your musings and your latest work. Please share with us! [![Write a post](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/33819a55-1164-4664-8ab0-c9fe2f42d6f1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/33819a55-1164-4664-8ab0-c9fe2f42d6f1) #### Subscribe. Be in the know. Get the latest updates about community change and building vibrant communities. [Learn More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/subscribe?hsLang=fr-ca) × - [Climate Change & SDGs](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/climate-transitions?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Collective Impact](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/collective-impact?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Community Engagement](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-engagement?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Community Development](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-deepening-community?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Evaluation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/evaluation?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Innovation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-innovation?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Leadership](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/collaborative-leadership?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Poverty](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-reducing-poverty?hsLang=fr-ca) - [Youth](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/communities-building-youth-futures?hsLang=fr-ca) ## Tom Cooper ![Tom Cooper](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Tom%20Cooper.jpg) For the past nine years, Tom Cooper has served as Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction. Through the Roundtable's work, Tom has engaged governments at all levels to invest in poverty reduction initiatives and worked to give people experiencing poverty a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. He's advocated for social assistance rates that reflect the real costs of living, fought to end to predatory lending in Ontario and helped co-found the Ontario Living Wage Network. Tom was involved in helping to establish Ontario's first basic income pilot: a critical research project testing whether providing a basic income could stabilize housing, improve health and enhance social inclusion opportunities for low-income residents. ### Recent Posts [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=fr-ca) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=fr-ca) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest?hsLang=fr-ca) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=fr-ca) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=fr-ca) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=fr-ca) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. Get the latest updates, events and resources about community change. [Learn More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/subscribe?hsLang=fr-ca) Tamarack Institute © 2023