Recent Social Action

Our Member Advocacy Committee (MAC) recently conducted a survey about the proposed Ontario Government changes to ODSP. Reaching out to 86 people on social assistance, The survey found that respondents worry that people denied disability will “fall through the cracks” and “cost the system more” due to using more costly emergency services such as police, ambulance, hospitals, shelters and prisons. Many people feared that the changes would lead to more depression and suicides, and an increase in crime.

You can read the survey here.

You can also read a story in the Toronto Star about the survey. 

Newcomers have presented deputations to City Council on housing needs and how to reduce poverty. A Youth Arcade participant made a successful deputation asking that the City's Community Service Partnership grant be increased. Seniors have written to their MP asking for money to fund community needs. Members of our Corner Drop-In have written letters to the Ontario Government stating why they need the Special Diet Allowance and started petitions to help save the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit and housing shelters. LINC students wrote the Ontario Government about the need for new affordable housing. Participants and staff presented deputations to the Toronto Budget Committee. 

We organized a youth employment forum, bringing together youth, employers, and community allies to discuss the issues and develop a strategy. Stemming from that strategy, we researched the causes of youth unemployment. You can read more about our efforts here.

Here's a short video that encourages some of the city's most vulnerable people to vote.

Some of these include Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, Toronto Drop-in Network and the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction.