Call for Proposals for Local Poverty Reduction Fund Now Open

May 13, 2015

New Fund Supports Community-Driven Solutions to Tackling Poverty

Ontario is now inviting community, broader public sector and Aboriginal organizations to submit proposals for the Local Poverty Reduction Fund.

The fund, announced in April 2015, will provide $50 million over six years to support innovative and sustainable community-driven initiatives that measurably improve the lives of those most affected by poverty. Organizations can submit their detailed business cases for funding until June 10, 2015.

Ontario will use the evidence gathered from these programs and will work to apply best practices across the province and focus on funding programs that work, improve outcomes for Ontarians and that can expand over time.

Fighting poverty is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan.

Quick Facts

• The Local Poverty Reduction Fund will focus on innovative and sustainable local programs that encourage collaboration on solutions that target groups disproportionately affected by poverty including women, single parents, people with disabilities, youth, newcomers, visible minorities, seniors and Aboriginal Peoples.
• The fund will support projects that focus on local community partnerships and include a third-party evaluation.
• Organizations who are not able to apply for this year’s call for proposals can apply in 2016 or 2017.

Additional Resources

• Local Poverty Reduction Fund
• Local Poverty Reduction Fund video
• Realizing Our Potential: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy
• Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy 2014 Annual Report

Quotes

“Every day, communities across Ontario are making a difference on the ground for people living in poverty. With this fund we want to harness these innovative local approaches, build partnerships within communities and across the province and establish a new way of tackling poverty, one that’s rooted in evidence. We have an opportunity to harness the power of community and collaboration to drive the change needed to end poverty.”

Deb Matthews
Deputy Premier, President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy

Media Contacts

Samantha Grant
Minister’s Office
416-326-3839

Ann Doose
Communications Branch
416-326-8533

NT5