Ontario to Support At-risk Youth, Single Mothers and Those in Need of Community Legal Services in Hamilton

Local Poverty Reduction Fund Supports Community-Driven Poverty Solutions

October 2, 2015

Ontario is supporting three programs and services to help individuals and families facing poverty in Hamilton.

Through the Local Poverty Reduction Fund, Ontario will provide up to:

$572,900 over three years to City of Hamilton Learning Annex to connect at-risk youth to education and employment services beyond traditional college courses and student support.
$89,000 over a year and a half to the McMaster Family Practice to test an electronic tool that helps physicians identify what legal supports their patients may require, so they can be matched with community legal services.
$94,800 over two years to the Mission Services of Hamilton for a new program to identify the housing needs of single mothers and provide tailored support.

With Ontario’s support, these organizations will either pilot new programs and measure their success or evaluate the impact of existing programs on the people who need them most.

Evidence gathered from these projects and others will be used to support poverty reduction programs across the province that have been proven to work 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

Ontario’s Local Poverty Reduction Fund is a $50-million, six-year initiative that supports community-driven projects which measurably improve the lives of those disproportionately affected by poverty, including: women, single parents, people with disabilities, youth, newcomers, visible minorities, seniors and Aboriginal peoples.
Organizations have two more opportunities to apply for funding in 2016 and 2017.

Additional Resources

“With this fund, we are establishing a new way of tackling poverty, one that’s rooted in evidence. I’m thrilled to see that these local community organizations are helping us build the body of evidence we need to make sure we are investing in what works and what makes people’s lives better.”

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

“There are so many wonderful organizations in Hamilton that are on the forefront of efforts to prevent and transition people out of poverty. I’m pleased the Local Poverty Reduction Fund is recognizing the work of these organizations and that these resources will be used to support innovative local solutions and help community organizations demonstrate their progress, evaluate their programs and build a collective body of evidence of poverty reduction initiatives that work.”

Ted McMeekin
MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale

Media Contacts
Leslie O’Leary
Minister’s Office
416-327-0345

Al Cairns
Communications Branch
416-327-2805

NT4