Last week, the City of Toronto voted to adopt the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy.  This is both a landmark and a halfway point for us.  It’s a landmark because it’s the culmination of many months of work by City staff and members of the Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee.  This committee is made up of community members who work in the social justice sector, as well as those with lived experience of poverty.  TWCA is also a member of the committee.

The strategy is also a halfway point because now the hard work begins.  The City must implement its commitments, and work towards an ongoing comprehensive strategy for alleviating poverty in Toronto.

The Interim Strategy sets out a vision, 3 overarching objectives, 6 issue areas, 24 recommendations and 74 action items.  The City has affirmed a commitment to:

-Address immediate needs: ensure that essential services are effective, well funded, coordinated, and meet the needs of those living in poverty

-Create pathways to prosperity: improve the quality of jobs in the city, attract investments to low income areas, and ensure that City programs and services are integrated, client-centered, and focused on early intervention

-Drive Systemic Change: create a more accountable and participatory government, where reducing poverty and inequality is an integral part of day-to-day business.

City staff will work to finalize the Strategy over the summer and early Fall.  In particular, we must now do the work of figuring out how to implement these actions!