Social Planning Toronto

Hard Hit documents the impact of the recession on Ontario’s nonprofit community service sector, lays out the implications for Ontarians, and suggests a path forward to strengthen the capacity of the sector to meet the challenges ahead. During April and May of 2009, the Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) conducted a survey with 413 community service agencies from across Ontario. This survey was conducted as the first in a series in order to track the changing impact of the recession on Ontario’s nonprofit community service sector. The questionnaire focused on changes in service demands and funding situations, and the strategies that agencies are adopting to cope with emerging conditions.

Continue Reading

Hard Hit: The Impact of the Economic Downturn on Nonprofit Community Social Services in Ontario, a new research report from the Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO), documents the one-two punch affecting Ontario’s nonprofit community services – an increasing demand for services and lost revenue from funding cuts driven by the economic downturn.

Continue Reading

Download the full submission in PDF format or Microsoft Word Doc format.
Executive Summary
Jobs are disappearing; homelessness is on the rise; families are faltering and falling into poverty; children are being robbed of their opportunity succeed – Canadians need support to cope with these uncertain times. While we recognize that money is scarce in this recession, [...]

Continue Reading

Toronto’s Social Landscape is a new resource for organizations and community groups that use demographic and socio-economic data in their work – to assist in program planning, needs assessments, funding submissions, advocacy initiatives, public policy development and research projects. This report draws on 10 years of Census data, and additional data sources, to paint a picture of Toronto’s population and the major trends impacting its residents and institutions. Part 1 focuses on the data including 10-year trends and more detailed statistics from the most recent Census. Comparative data for the city of Toronto, Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Ontario are provided. Part 2 provides a discussion of some of the major trends in Toronto. In the appendix, readers are provided with additional income and poverty data, as well as, links to additional data sources for Toronto.

Continue Reading

A cool and drizzly evening didn’t stop Scarborough residents from coming out on mass to take part in an affordable housing forum at 4205 Lawrence Avenue East, a Toronto Community Housing residence, on June 17. The forum brought together a diverse group of residents from across Scarborough to talk about affordable housing issues in their community, in preparation for the provincial government’s community consultation that will take place on July 21 in Scarborough. About 80 participants took part in the forum organized by Social Planning Toronto, East Scarborough Storefront, West Hill Community Services, Residents Rising, Action for Neighbourhood Change Kingston-Galloway, Scarborough Housing Help Centre, the Wellesley Institute and Scarborough Anti-Poverty Coalition.

Continue Reading

The Ontario government is inviting residents, housing partners and other stakeholders to take part in the development of its long-term affordable housing strategy for Ontario. The strategy will be the first of its kind in Ontario and offers an important opportunity to create a bold new plan to ensure stable and affordable housing for all Ontarians. Social Planning Toronto, as part of the Housing Network of Ontario, encourages community organizations and individuals to get involved and make sure the voices of those most impacted by the lack of affordable housing in Ontario are heard.

Continue Reading