Ontario Helping People Break the Cycle of Poverty

Ministry of Community and Social Services

Innovative Programs will Increase Food Security, Help People Find Jobs and End Homelessness

Hamilton, ON – Oct 17, 2017

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.