Expanding Community Space Grants are just one of the ways our Community Real Estate (CRE) Initiative is getting to work in neighbourhoods across our region. These grants provide support to community agencies to help jump start new builds, retrofit or renovate community spaces to better meet the needs of the people and neighbourhoods they serve.
Meet the first 13 community agencies to receive Expanding Community Space Grants as part of our 10-year, $23 million grant commitment.
Parkdale Community Foodbank / Toronto
Renovations and equipment upgrades to the Parkdale Food Hub will improve community accessibility, food storage and prep while creating a dignified space for clients, staff and volunteers.
The 519 / Toronto
A redesign of the Centre’s space will optimize and support distinct uses, enabling the Centre to better serve an expanding population. This includes creating welcoming shared spaces, while carving out flexible program space that can also accommodate one-on-one support and case management for individuals in crisis.
Somali Communities Foundation / Toronto
This brand-new facility for a community that has been without a place to call home for far too long will offer a wide array of programming including recreational services, cultural and heritage programs, and social services to support all members from children to seniors through various life milestones and challenges.
CHATS – Community and Home Assistance to Seniors / Vaughan
Renovation of a local historic building to create Vaughan’s first not-for-profit respite centre, in partnership with Universal Care, will provide much-needed 24/7 short-term care in a homelike environment for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Family Services York Region / Sutton West
Expanding the existing space and creating a community kitchen at their Georgina facility, FSYT will increase their capacity to serve families. This includes a new partnership with the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, who will be delivering child welfare and mental health services at the site.
Inn from the Cold / Newmarket
A new build project is set to quadruple space for Inn from the Cold clients, purpose built for those experiencing chronic homelessness. The United Way grant will help bring this project home, outfitting the space with comfortable furniture, audiovisual equipment and kitchen fixtures to truly make it a home.
Toronto People with AIDS Foundation / Toronto
This retrofit of an existing hub will be a boon to local diverse grassroots organizations. Creating 10 new affordable office and programming spaces and a shared environment for connection, support and collaboration, it will increase organizational capacity and support 1,500 individuals annually.
Warden Woods Community Centre / Scarborough
With neighbourhood development, the organization is looking to replace their southwest Scarborough building with a state-of-the art accessible community centre and integrated affordable housing. Funding will kickstart the process with expertise on development, partnerships, fundraising, Indigenous community benefit and more.
Indus Community Services / Brampton
This mixed-use housing project with 75+ affordable units geared to seniors and 6,000 sq. ft. of community space will support social services for seniors and families in the Pleasantview community. Funding will go towards pre-development and design costs, as well as furniture for the community space.
Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre Toronto / Toronto
The Queen St. W. redevelopment project will add 70 supportive housing units, earmarked for people experiencing mental health issues and at risk of homelessness, and double current service space. United Way’s support will enable the creation of a mental health community hub.
Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services / Mississauga
All children need space to play, and this unique project will upgrade outdoor space so that refugee children and their families temporarily housed at the reception centre have the opportunity to enjoy an enclosed playground, basketball court and multisport field.
Community Living Toronto / Scarborough
This redevelopment in collaboration with Tridel will create thousands of mixed income rentals, including affordable units and 20,000 sq. ft. of community space. Community Living Toronto will provide housing, support and respite services to adults with disabilities. United Way is proud to fund pre-development costs including design, stakeholder engagement and permitting.
StepStones for Youth/ Toronto
This project will support redevelopment of a new site into supportive housing for young people transitioning out of foster and group home care. United Way’s funding will go towards housing, as well as the creation of youth designed spaces including a commercial kitchen and rooftop green space.