United Way’s Anchor and Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy grants represent a $2 million investment in Peel Region
February 25, 2020 – United Way is aligning its community investment strategy – the largest investment after government – across Peel, Toronto and York to engage local communities in local solutions to fight poverty.
Two grant streams launching in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon will strengthen communities in a part of the GTA where poverty is deepening, and community supports are working harder than ever to keep up with growing need. United Way’s Anchor and Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy grants represent a
$2 million investment aimed at tackling the growing issue of poverty in Peel Region. Eight agencies across Peel Region have been selected to become Anchor agencies, joining United Way’s network of local agencies that go beyond service delivery and work closely with United Way to address systemic solutions to poverty. These eight Peel Anchor agencies will receive enhanced general operating support over the next three years to help them do what they do best: give people opportunities to thrive. The eight multiservice agencies in Peel selected for Anchor grants are:
- Caledon Community Services
- Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre
- Family Services of Peel
- Indus Community Services
- Malton Neighbourhood Services
- Our Place Peel
- Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services
- Punjabi Community Health Services
United Way is also expanding its Building Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy to Peel Region, with three new initiatives to help residents create the change they want to see in Malton, Cooksville, and Brampton. These two-year, place-based grants will work to support neighbourhoods from falling behind. The funded initiatives are:
- Cooksville Community Development Initiative – Indus Community Services will focus on a highly diverse area where new transit infrastructure will spur growth and development in the area. The project will develop a local network to build a social infrastructure strategy that will help shape the area’s future.
- NUCLEUS Project – Malton Neighbourhood Serviceswill support the Malton Community-Building Project, a local network that will focus on education, training and capacity-building opportunities to improve neighbourhood safety.
- Healthy Neighbourhoods –The Journey Neighbourhood Centre will build a network of organizations and residents in Ardglen and Orenda to develop leadership capacity and relationships and build a network of community volunteers.
These two grant streams bolster United Way’s community program funding across Peel Region. Since 2019, United Way Greater Toronto has launched additional new funding streams in Peel Region: expanding Career Navigator™, our youth employment program to the region, and launching the Community Food System Grants in Mississauga.
This is about fighting local poverty across the GTA. Research and real-world examples show that the most effective way to fight local poverty is a strong, coordinated network of agencies working together. United Way agencies are often the first doors that people knock on when they are looking for their first job, a new job, or a better job. They ensure that someone experiencing homelessness finds emergency shelter, a nutritious meal, and a warm coat. Strengthening the sector in Peel Region is essential to strengthening the GTA. Investing upfront by helping people in their communities delivers long-term impact and makes the GTA truly great, for everyone.
Daniele Zanotti, President & CEO, United Way Greater Toronto
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