NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL COUNCIL
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York Regional Council received an update on activity of the 2018 Community Investment Fund and investments in community and social programs in York Region helped more than 78,000 residents with low to moderate income to enjoy a better quality of life.
The Region allocated $5.5 million in support of 49 projects in 2018. The projects provided direct services to residents, and supported organizational development and skill building activities for community agencies.
“York Regional Council is committed to creating diverse, innovative and resilient communities,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “The Community Investment Fund plays an important role in improving the lives of those with low and moderate income and those facing multiple barriers, including newcomers, refugees, youth and seniors.”
Allocations through the Community Investment Fund had a vital impact on York Region residents in 2018:
- Approximately 46,000 breakfasts and snacks were distributed to York Region students through the Food for Learning program
- More than 700 individuals experiencing homelessness found shelter at Inn from the Cold and Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold during the winter months
- Over 4,000 residents received support to help with transportation needs through the Transit Ticket Program, which provides approximately $100,000 to non-profit community agencies to help buy transit fares for client use
- Four community agencies received more than $100,000 to support capacity building activities that help to strengthen their performance and impact
“Investing in our communities directly strengthens our human services and supports the changing needs of our growing and diversifying population,” said City of Vaughan Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, Chair of Community and Health Services. “We look forward to working with local agencies and organizations to continue to address and support human services gaps in the Region.”
York Regional Council established the Community Investment Fund in 2002 to support agencies in nine local cities and towns to deliver programs and services to address community needs and service gaps.
Activities funded must achieve at least one of the following four community results:
- Social inclusion: Residents living with low and moderate income are connected and able to engage in their communities
- Community health: Residents living with low and moderate income are healthier and are able to make healthy choices
- Economic independence: Residents living with low and moderate income have and keep jobs matching their skills and have financial stability
- Housing stability: Residents living with low and moderate income can live in affordable, adequate and suitable housing
The call for proposals for community health projects for 2020 to 2022 closed on May 8.
Funding allocations will be made in the fall. More information about the Community Investment Fund is available at york.ca/communityinvestment The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 52,000 businesses with over 636,600 employees.
More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices.
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