Ontario Helping People Break the Cycle of Poverty
Innovative Programs will Increase Food Security, Help People Find Jobs and End Homelessness
October 17, 2017 9:30 A.M.
Ontario is investing in 48 community projects across the province that are supporting new ways to help people break the cycle of poverty, increase food security, find good jobs and end homelessness.
Peter Milczyn, Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, was at Food4Kids Hamilton Halton Niagara in Hamilton today to highlight its Weekends Without Hunger program, which is receiving support from the province. The program helps single parent families and newcomers by delivering food directly to their homes on weekends, when school nutrition programs are not running. This is one of 14 programs that is receiving support to increase food security while creating more resilient livelihoods and increasing social inclusion.
In total, 48 innovative, community-led projects are being funded through Ontario’s Local Poverty Reduction Fund, which help groups disproportionately affected by poverty get into housing, develop skills and find employment. Those disproportionately affected by poverty include women, single parents, people with disabilities, youth, newcomers, visible minorities, seniors and Indigenous Peoples. Part of this funding supports data collection, which will help develop more effective poverty reduction programs across the province.
Fighting poverty is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy, and help people in their everyday lives.
Quick Facts
- Food4Kids Hamilton Halton Niagara is receiving more than $250,000 for this program.
- Ontario is investing over $16 million to 48 projects in communities across Ontario, including over $6 million to 20 employment and income security projects, more than $5 million to 14 projects from Indigenous-led organizations, $3 million to 12 projects that are homelessness-related, and more than $4.5 million to 14 projects that are related to food security.
- These projects focus on local community partnerships and include a third-party evaluation component, which is important because better data will help communities develop better solutions to increasing food security, reducing child poverty and homelessness, and helping people find jobs and earn a stable income.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“Ontario is investing in programs that will measurably improve the lives of those most affected by poverty. The Fund helps tap into innovative local, community-driven approaches that can inform future policy, lead to more strategic investments, and result in better outcomes for people in poverty. This year, we are investing in projects that will increase food security across the province as part of a food security strategy that will lay the foundation for people to live healthy and active lives.”
Peter Milczyn
Minister of Housing, Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Media Contacts
Myriam Denis
Minister’s Office
[email protected],
416-585-6333
Kristen Tedesco
Communications Branch
[email protected]
416-325-5178
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