Community Data Watch is a monthly social research brief on issues, trends, and emerging data for Halton. Series begins in 2023.

The report highlights growing socio-economic disparities in Ottawa, especially in housing, income, food security, and healthcare, disproportionately affecting racialized and low-income communities. Despite high living standards for some, systemic barriers and underfunded services are widening inequality. Community-led initiatives show promise, but structural change and sustained investment are urgently needed for long-term wellbeing.

The City of Toronto has a plan to open twenty new purpose-built shelters by 2033. This is great news, and will go a long way to solving the crisis of homelessness in our city! We know that the only solution to homelessness is housing. Shelters provide a vital step in people’s journey towards permanent, safe, secure, and affordable housing. Shelter residents can get on lists for housing, apply for rent benefits, and receive vital healthcare and social supports. Shelters, which can be built relatively quickly and efficiently with the option of later being turned into permanent housing, can also provide interim safety as we otherwise work to increase the supply of secure, affordable housing. However, not everyone is happy about the presence of homelessness or shelters in their neighbourhoods. Many people feel very real fear and anxiety at the prospect of shelters in their communities. These feelings are often rooted in misinformation, and it’s therefore important that we engage directly with these community members in combatting the stigma around homelessness. The fear and anxiety that many people feel can manifest in different ways, and can make it very hard to talk about the need for safe shelter and affordable housing. That’s why we’ve created this messaging guide to help organizations and individuals to develop strong, positive messaging when engaging and organizing with communities, groups, and individuals on homelessness and shelters. This guide can be applied to help you to develop presentations, workshops, media, social media, and stakeholder communications. It can also be used one-on-one, and in developing internal communications to combat misconceptions around homelessness among staff and volunteers. It also provides some first steps for organizing your own local group in support of shelter.

Website for the Tenant Association of Cornwall & Area, a volunteer-led advocacy group committed to sustainable housing for renters. The Tenant Association was formed as a response to the SPNO Many Faces of Urban and Rural Displacement Project. Mission: Empower renters and strengthen our community through tenant support, development, and advocacy. Vision: Access for all to safe, sustainable homes that reflect our community’s true housing values. Values: Positive intentions, honest engagements, fair outcomes. Many resources linked to website.

Website for the CHAMPS Network which will maintain a consistent and effective response to emergency food needs in Belleville and stand as a united front to advocate for more effective solutions to food insecurity. The Belleville Charitable Meal Providers Network is a group of agencies that either coordinate community food programs or support those programs, and who meet regularly to share information and coordinate efforts when appropriate. The Network envisions a strongly supported Belleville community that is food secure.

This report has three sections. Section 1 examines the barriers and opportunities for employment experienced by young people in Ottawa. It explores the trajectories in the labour force status of youth aged 15 to 24 over time and portrays a comprehensive picture of youth from various backgrounds to compare the challenges they face. The report builds on previous research conducted by the Youth Leadership for Change, an initiative of SPCO. Section 2 presents the Evaluation the Youth Employment and Economic Development Program, a pilot initiative managed by SPCO. The Youth Employment Program explores innovative ways for youth to gain the valuable expertise they need to overcome obstacles to employment and be successful in today’s workforce. Section 3 describes the results of the Youth Mental Health Survey conducted in 2022 by the SPCO and the Active Newcomer Youth Ottawa (ANYO).

This report provides information about the 1,345 individuals experiencing homelessness in Durham Region during the 2024 Point-in-Time (PiT) Count. This is a 134 per cent increase as compared to October 2021. 15 per cent of respondents reported past experience in the foster care system underlining the need for improved support systems for youth transitioning from care. A notable proportion of individuals facing homelessness were newcomers to Canada, with 14 per cent identifying as refugees or asylum claimants, emphasizing the need for housing solutions that are inclusive of newcomers and precarious status residents. The data highlights urgent needs across Durham Region for expanded shelter capacity, affordable housing initiatives, and comprehensive health and support services tailored to vulnerable groups.

Thunder Bay’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Annual Report for 2023-2024 highlights the progress and challenges we continue to face in addressing poverty within our community.

The goal of this research was to use a community-engaged approach to learn how Civic Hub and partner groups had fared over the COVID-19 pandemic and to make concrete suggestions for the future development of the Hub. Taking space to reflect on the research process and findings helps embed reflexivity in the process, considering the relationship of the research to our own perspectives, biases and positionality, a key tenant of community engaged research. Reflecting on the research also shares information that might be useful to others undertaking similar research.