Social Planning Toronto drafted a joint letter calling on the Mayor and City Council to immediately invest in urgent community services in the 2023 City Budget. We reached out to community-based organizations and workers to sign on to the letter, as individuals and as organizations. On February 15th the signed letter was emailed to Council members and presented at the Have a Heart City Budget Rally outside of Toronto City Hall.
Mayor John Tory and City Councillors,
We, 53 organizations and 324 workers, working across multiple sectors and neighbourhoods in Toronto, urge you to listen to the tens of thousands of Toronto residents, doctors, community groups, and advocates who are calling for a better city for all and a better budget that will get us there.
So many people are feeling a sense of desperation as they try to live out their lives in this city with dignity. So many have urged you to address the multiple and urgent crises facing us — homelessness, unaffordable housing, food insecurity and poverty, violence in all its forms, opioid poisoning, and a climate emergency. And so many have pleaded with you to prioritize those most impacted by the pandemic and inequitable systems, whose lives are at risk right now. Torontonians are feeling like you are not listening.
What we see is a budget that prioritizes policing and security over the services, supports and good jobs that we know increase community safety, health, and wellbeing. It’s not too late to make better choices to build the city we desperately need.
Many of our community partners have been ringing the alarm bells on this year’s budget. We join them in their calls for increased funding for supports for unhoused individuals; the creation of new affordable housing; renter protections; expansion of community crisis response pilot projects; increased funding for and access to public transit (including a stop to TTC cuts).
As community-based organizations, advocates, and workers, we also call on you to support funding for urgent community needs in this year’s budget:
- Increase investments in urgently needed community services.
- Take immediate action to prevent homeless deaths and invest in measures to reduce homelessness
- Take critical action to prevent and address poverty, inequality, and systemic injustice
1. Increase investments in urgently needed community services
Frontline agencies delivering community services, including those supported by the Community Partnership Investment Program (CPIP), are the City’s best resource for providing local solutions to critical challenges — increasing safety and well-being, preventing violence, keeping people housed, addressing poverty, increasing social cohesion, and enabling access to critical services and vaccines throughout the pandemic. CPIP funding supports organizations to deliver services that connect communities and make our neighbourhoods safer and more livable by supporting newcomers, youth, seniors, families, low-income individuals, racialized communities, and underhoused residents. In a time of crisis, we need to boost the resources of local community agencies, and the supports they provide, not diminish them.
The budget freeze for nonprofits is especially detrimental to a sector that has stepped up in the pandemic, but is dealing with increased service demands while also struggling with staff burnout, inflationary costs, and funding envelopes that aren’t enough to pay living wages to many of its workers.
We call for:
- An inflationary increase of 6.6% for all community agencies that receive funding from the City of Toronto, including through CPIP, Toronto Arts Council, Shelter Support and Housing Administration, and others;
- An overall increase to CPIP funding to address the chronic underfunding of community services and expand support for Indigenous-led and Black-mandated organizations and resident leadership initiatives;
- An increase in funding for community groups focused on violence prevention and alternative, community-based solutions to address violence, including expanding the community crisis response pilots; and
- An increase in funding for harm reduction programs, including support for the outreach overdose team and mobile supervised consumption service.
2. Take immediate action to prevent homeless deaths and invest in measures to reduce homelessness
Hundreds of residents and organizations from across sectors including community organizations, faith leaders and health care professionals, are deeply concerned about the failure of this budget to respond to our most immediate and urgent crisis — the homelessness crisis. Our shelter system is over capacity and shelter workers must turn people away every night in the winter, while homeless deaths continue to increase at an alarming rate. This past week, Toronto City Council voted against opening warming centres 24/7 that would allow unhoused people a safe, warm place to stay through the winter, despite the Ontario Human Rights Commission reminding the City of this basic responsibility.
We must take significant steps to prevent further homelessness, protect renters, increase grants and RGI subsidies for low-income residents, and build upon initiatives that can rapidly create new affordable housing options.
We call for:
- 24/7 indoor warming locations open until April 2023, including warming centres provided by the City of Toronto and by community organizations and faith-based groups, that would provide low-barrier, walk-in access to people in need of a safe place to spend the night;
- Increased funding for Toronto’s 50+ drop-in centres — operated by community organizations that are the backbone of the homelessness support and service sector;
- Protections for renters and prevention of homelessness by significantly increasing funds for the successful Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC) and Rent Bank grants to adequately match the level of need in communities (in 2023, EPIC will only help 1,200 households and the Rent Bank will only help 2,400); and
- Increased Rent-Geared-to-Income subsidies to make a significant reduction to the more-than 81,000 households that are on the social housing waiting list, with an average wait time from 8 to 15 years. The draft budget proposes less than a 1% increase to its RGI subsidy program over the 2022 target.
3. Take critical action to prevent and address poverty, inequality, and systemic injustice
Every level of government has a role to play in reducing poverty and addressing inequality and injustice. Toronto City Council took a significant step forward in 2016 when it approved the poverty reduction strategy. We have also seen other important equity strategies and priorities brought forward such as the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Strategy (CABR), Newcomer Strategy, Youth Equity Strategy, and this year we expect to see the City’s first Gender Equity Strategy. These strategies all require resources to ensure successful outcomes.
Last year, the City introduced its first Reconciliation Action Plan. This is an important step on the path to reconciliation, but without funding and appropriate staffing, Toronto will fall behind on its commitments.
We call for:
- Increased investments in the Poverty Reduction Strategy, including fully funding and implementing the Fair Pass program;
- Full funding and implementation of critical equity strategies, including CABR, newcomer, youth, seniors and other equity initiatives;
- Increased resources for the Gender Equity Office to finalize the City’s first Gender Equity Strategy and implementation plan; and
- Full funding and appropriate staffing to fully implement the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
We know that the City of Toronto is limited in its financial resources, and so we are pleased to see that there is an openness to create a sustainable long-term financial plan that will increase the options for revenue generation. While we await staff reports and consider the longer-term options, we urge you to maximize existing revenue tools in the short-term, including an increase to the Municipal Land Transfer Tax rates for luxury homes and increasing the Vacant Homes Tax to 5% as the City of Vancouver has done.
Finally, we echo our calls from 2022 for a more transparent and democratic budget process. This year’s budget process involved the shortest timelines we have seen in recent years, making it challenging for the public to provide informed input for the City Council’s budget decisions. Given what is at stake, it is crucial for residents to meaningfully engage in the budget process.
We call for the Mayor and City Council to:
- Determine budget needs before setting the tax-supported budget;
- Align budget documents with plans, strategies, and commitments for transparency;
- Implement a renewed and improved equity-responsive budgeting process, strengthen the inclusion of community voices to inform equity analyses and budget decisions, and apply a strong intersectional gender equity approach;
- Meaningfully assess the impacts of budget decisions on Indigenous communities and groups across all divisions; and
- Allow residents and communities to shape the budget from the planning stage to the final vote at Council, including those most impacted by inequitable systems and policies and those that work with them.
We can do better. We all need and deserve better. Lives are at stake. We are counting on you. Please listen to communities and make better choices that will work for all of us.
Signed,
Organizations:
- Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
- Agincourt Community Services Association
- Assaulted Women's Helpline
- Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services
- BGC East Scarborough (formally: Boys & Girls Club of East Scarborough)
- Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre
- Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
- Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
- Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter
- College-Montrose Children's Place
- Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
- Daily Bread Food Bank
- Davenport Perth Neighbourhood & Community Health Centre
- Dispossessed Disabled Artists Demanding Housing
- Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women
- Engaged Communities
- Etobicoke Services for Seniors
- Family Service Toronto
- Findhelp | 211 Central
- Fontbonne Ministries
- For Youth Initiative
- Good Jobs For All Coalition
- Homeless Connect Toronto
- Homes First Society
- Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre
- John Howard Society of Toronto
- LAMP Community Health Centre
- Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
- North Etobicoke Resident Council (NERC)
- North York Harvest Food Bank
- North York Women's Centre
- Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC)
- Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre
- Plasticfree Toronto
- Progress Toronto
- Ralph Thornton Community Centre
- Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities
- Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services
- Social Planning Toronto
- South Asian Women's Rights Organization
- St. Felix Centre
- Strides Toronto
- Sunshine Centres for Seniors
- TNG Community Services
- Toronto & York Region Labour Council
- Toronto Community Benefits Network
- Toronto Drop in Network
- Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
- TTCriders
- Unison Health and Community Services
- Volunteer Toronto
- West Neighbourhood House
- YouthLink
Workers:
- Abbey Rokeby
- Adassa Boswell
- Adrian Cocking
- Afroza Begum
- Agnes Thomas
- Alanna Fletcher
- Alex Edwards
- Alexander Chan
- Alexandra Gratton
- Alfred Lam
- Ali Powell
- Aliesha Ermineskin
- Alison Coke
- Allen Braude
- Allison Thompson
- Amanda Joseph
- Amanda Vandewall
- Amy Hall
- Amy Hogan
- Ana Rugamas
- Anantpreet Kaur
- Andalib Haque
- Andrea Murray Rae
- Andrea Lawrence
- Andriana Bidiak
- Angela Robertson
- Antonia Sappong
- Araya Nahoor
- Ashley Comeau
- Astrid Van Wieren
- Audrey Shulman
- Azalea Atienza
- Becky Sappong
- Beth Wilson
- Beverly Wilkins
- Bionca Hubbard
- Brian Harris
- Brian Pearce
- Brianna R.
- Bronwyn Clement
- Caityn MacInnis
- Calyssa Burke
- (Rev.) Dr. Cameron Watts
- Cara Eaton
- Carianne Hathaway
- Carla Uruena
- Carlee Giffen, RN
- Caro Avery
- Carol Lee
- Casey Ready
- Cate Ahrens
- Catherine Morningstar
- Catherine Soumela Scordos
- Charissa Whittingham
- Charlotte Healey
- Chavez McDonald
- Chennell Frederick
- Chiara Padovani
- Chris Brillinger
- Christine Etherington
- Ciara Quigley
- Claude Wittmann
- Claudia Barrios
- Corina John
- Craig Campbell
- Cutty Duncan
- Cynthia Schihl
- D Hansen
- Dae Conrod
- Dafna SR
- Daniel Williston
- Daniella Robinson
- Darlene Hebert
- Daunette Bailey
- Dave Comeau
- David Meyers
- Deborah Dafoe
- Deborah Stockwell
- Diane Dyson
- Eduardo Diconca
- Ejikeme Ehirim
- Elaine Levesque
- Elaine Takata
- Elayna Paddock Thiessen
- Eleisha Morgan
- Elizabeth Godlewski
- Elizabeth Hill
- Elizabeth Woodard
- Elyse Wilson
- Emma Rhodes
- Ena Kenny
- Erin Brands-Saliba
- Ester Dahunan
- F. Cook
- Fabian Di Martino
- Freida Gladue
- Gabrielle Langlois
- Gail Kaufman
- Gavin Bowerman
- Genevieve Acuna
- GianPaolo Lattanzio
- Gowri Murugiah
- Gowtham Natrajan Alagar
- Grace Lowes
- Hailee M.
- Hailey Francis
- Hannah Levitt
- Harry Carter
- Heather Corbin
- Henah Yoo
- Huong Pham
- Ilyanova Castaneda Sahagun
- Inthuja Paranirupasingam
- Iris Fabbro
- Isaac Thornley
- Isha Green
- Israt Ahmed
- Jacqueline Janas
- Jacquie Buncel
- Jade Medwedyk
- James Wallace
- Jamie Toguri
- Janelle Hanna
- Janet M. McCrimmon
- Jasmin Dooh
- Jasmine Li
- Jasmine Thibault
- Jeanie Argiropoulos
- Jeffrey Schiffer
- Jennie Town
- Jennifer Bocchinfuso
- Jennifer Chung Lim
- Jennifer Moxon
- Jennifer Presutti
- Jessica Watters
- Jessica Zimmer
- Jessie Tang
- Jin Huh
- Joanna Glowacka
- Jocelyn Helland
- John Campey
- John Diaz
- John Dunnett
- Jonella Evangelista
- Joselen Liguori
- Joseph Schuchert
- Joseph Vaz
- Joyce MacDonald
- Judith Rebecca Mintz
- Julia McLellan
- Julie Liu
- Kai Wong
- Kanaka Kulendran
- Kat McCubbing
- Karen White
- Kate Atkinson
- Kate Chung
- Kate Phillips
- Kate Welsh
- Katelynn Ferron
- Katharine Constable
- Kathryn Gardner
- Kathryn Humphrey
- Katie Robinson
- Katre Chung
- Katrina Guevara
- Kayla Chutter
- Kayley Bomben
- Kazimierz Kwiecien
- Keddone Dias
- Kelsey Hamara
- Kelsey Mcmullen
- Keneisha Stone
- Kevin Thomson
- Kevin Wong
- Kira Côté
- Kirti Jamwal
- Kosal Ky
- Kristine Macabare
- Krystal Lee Reil
- Kumsa Baker
- L. Tin
- Lana Rozitis
- Laura Bennett
- Laura Warren
- Leah Penttila
- Lee Soda
- Lesli Schneider
- Leya Choudhury
- Linda Curley
- Linda Lee
- Linda Troian
- Linda Novick
- Lindsay Seifried
- Lin-Lin Chou
- Lisa Dixon
- Lisa DuVal
- Lo Fine
- Logan McPhee
- Lois Powers
- Lorena Jonard-Snyder
- Lori Kufner
- Lori Tenebaum
- Mabinti Marie Dennis
- Maeve Freeman-McIntyre
- Maira Botelho Perotto
- Manuela Correa Escobar 4
- Margot Dawson
- Marianne Kozinets
- Marjorie Navas
- Marvin Clarke
- Mary Forbes
- Maryam Sabah Aziz
- MaryAnne Boyle
- Matthew G. Brown
- Matthew Paul
- Maureen Fair
- Maureen Gans
- Mauriene Tolentino
- Melanie Kruger
- Melissa Sheppard
- Melissa Wong
- Melody Li
- Michael Esposti
- Michal Hay
- Michelle Dagnino
- Michelle Joseph
- Michelle Sappong
- Michelle Stevens
- Milena Pizzi
- Miranda Saroli
- Monica Diaz
- Morgan Roy
- Mulugeta Abai
- Myroslava Lutsenko
- Nahid Ismail
- Nancy Halifax
- Natalia Semeekina
- Natallia Bekish
- Nazma Akter Khanam
- Nevetha Ganeshamoorthy
- Nicolette Felix
- Oeishi Faruquzzaman
- Olivia Sonnenberg
- Omar Khan
- Paige F.
- Pallavi Suresan
- Pamela Tabobondung-Washington
- Patricia Mueller
- Patrick Wong
- Paul Clifford
- Qazi Shafayetul Islam
- Rachel Kennedy
- Racquel Saunders
- Rahul Balasundaram
- Randi Ann Doll
- Randy Budd
- Rebecca Hall
- Rebecca Leenhouts
- Rebecca Wood
- Rejwan Karim
- Richard Fullerton
- Rob Howarth
- Rosary Spence
- Rose Bright
- Rosemary Powell
- Rozina Bhuiyan
- Ruka Watanabe
- Ryan Frias
- S.Gopikrishna
- Sabine Saroyan
- Safia Abbadi
- Samah Nimir
- Samantha Fawns-Thistle
- Samya Hasan
- Sara Rocha
- Sara Wilson
- Sarah Di Stefano
- Sarah Hea
- Sarah James
- Sarah Munro
- Scott Leone
- Serena Nudel
- Shaneeza Nazseer Ally
- Shannon Wooller
- Sharmishta Anand
- Sharon Kelly
- Sharon Zeiler
- Sheila Masters
- Shelagh Pizey-Allen
- Sherrie Casey
- Sherry Clemens
- Simran Kaur
- Siobhan Mccarthy
- Skarlet Martinez
- Sofia Francisco
- Sofiya Chorniy
- Sree D. Nallamothu
- Sudip Minhas
- Sultana Jahangir
- Sunder Singh
- Susan Bender
- Susan McMurray
- Susy Glass
- Suzan Tahair
- Tanya Rintoul
- Teiya Kasahara
- Terry Ellis
- Thandy Younge
- Tim Trant
- Tricia Williams
- Trisha Rolfe
- Troy Budhu
- Tysa Harris
- Utcha Sawyers
- Valerie Kerr
- Vanessa Sears
- Veronika Bencze
- Victor Willis
- Victoria Barkley
- Victoria Dixon
- Wesley Fung
- Winsome McLaughlin
- Zoe Collins