Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Advocacy, Food Security Action Group, Income Security, Income Security Action Group, Poverty Task Force

Written Submission to the Federal 2026 Pre-Budget Consultation

Between 2021 and 2023, 18.3% of households in Grey Bruce experienced food insecurity, an increase from 17.5% in 2020. At the same time, the cost of groceries has become unaffordable for many families. In 2024, a family of four required approximately $1,250 per month for groceries alone.

These are not just statistics —they show a crisis in our communities rooted in poverty, policy, and systemic inequality. Food insecurity is not a matter of charity. It is a matter of justice.

The Poverty Task Force’s recent Written Submission to the Federal 2026 Pre-Budget Consultation urges the Government of Canada to take immediate action in its 2026 Budget to address rising poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, and economic inequality in rural communities. Across Grey and Bruce Counties, local organizations are facing unprecedented demand for emergency food programs, housing supports, and financial assistance while families struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Rural communities are increasingly being asked to compensate for gaps in public policy through charitable food programs and emergency supports. While these programs are vital, they cannot replace strong income security systems, affordable housing, accessible childcare, and equitable social supports.

Food insecurity, homelessness, and poverty are not caused by individual failure. They are the result of inadequate incomes, unaffordable housing, low wages, and insufficient public investment in social infrastructure. Budget 2026 presents an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen Canada’s social safety net and ensure that all Canadians can meet their basic needs with dignity.

A Call to Action

Food insecurity, homelessness, and poverty are not caused by individual failure. They are the result of inadequate incomes, unaffordable housing, low wages, and insufficient public investment in social infrastructure. Budget 2026 presents an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen Canada’s social safety net and ensure that all Canadians can meet their basic needs with dignity.

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force recommends the following federal priorities:

  • Improve transportation and employment opportunities for youth.
  • Reduce household food insecurity through stronger income supports and investments in equitable food systems.
  • Strengthen the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
  • Increase the Canada Disability Benefit to end disability poverty.
  • Simplify and expand eligibility for disability-related federal benefits.
  • Invest in affordable childcare and the early learning workforce.
  • Expand affordable and supportive housing in rural communities.
Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

United Ways of Ontario Call for the Province to repeal Schedule 12, Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025

Ontario is at a critical point. Housing need is rising, homelessness is growing, federal investment is starting to move but new home construction is slowing in Ontario. The Province’s goal to create conditions for faster homebuilding, through predictable approvals and transit-oriented projects makes sense but decisions made now will set the course for years.

The legislative changes to the Residential Tenancies Act in Schedule 12 of Bill 60, move policy in the wrong direction and will serve to escalate the homelessness crisis across Ontario. They weaken security of tenure, speed eviction and narrow review windows. This is not a solution for people who are precariously housed and will level even greater pressure on municipalities and community agencies struggling to address need.

The focus should be on keeping people housed while new supply comes online. That means maintaining reasonable grace periods for arrears, ensuring tenants can raise legitimate health and safety concerns without undue barriers, preserving fair compensation and clear standards in no-fault evictions with consequences for bad-faith cases and keeping review and appeal timelines workable so disputes are resolved on their merits. These measures protect due process, prevent avoidable evictions, and steady the system as we build.

We join colleagues from across the community services sector in calling on the Province to repeal Schedule 12 of Bill 60 and commit to meaningful consultation with tenants, sector partners and municipalities on proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and provincial housing policies that impact tenants.

United Ways across Ontario partner with regional and municipal governments and are ready to work with the Province to keep people housed while Ontario builds the homes our communities need.

Please find a link to the statement on the UWGT website:  https://www.unitedwaygt.org/public-policy/united-ways-of-ontario-call-for-the-province-to-repeal-schedule-12-bill-60-the-fighting-delays-building-faster-act-2025/

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Joint Ontario United Ways Submission to the Build Canada Homes Design

Meeting Canada’s affordable housing goals is not the private market’s mandate — nor has it ever been. 

That’s why Ontario United Ways have come together with a joint submission to the Build Canada Homes Design.

A healthy housing system provides access to affordable housing options that meet people’s needs at different stages of life. Yet, rising costs and the declining availability of housing stock and housing choices, coupled with stagnating incomes, have left too many people without safe, stable, accessible and affordable homes. High rates of core housing need are not being met with relief. Instead, deeply affordable and supportive housing options are shrinking, driving up waitlists, pushing more people into homelessness, contributing to socio-economic challenges and heightening inequalities.

A critical pitfall of our current housing system is the lack of sustained focus and investment in stimulating the community housing sector in favour of encouraging a private market-dominated landscape. Approximately 95% of Canada’s housing stock is privately owned. At only 3.5%, the proportion of community housing falls far behind that of our OECD peers. While community housing providers have successfully brought projects to completion despite being constrained by insufficient and inconsistent funding, they have not yet been able to bring the full force of their expertise to bear or operate at the scale possible — and needed.

A fundamental shift in how housing is planned, funded and delivered is required — and, if done correctly, Build Canada Homes could be the catalyst we need in realizing the full potential of Canada’s community housing sector across the country.

Read the full Ontario United Ways Submission to the Build Canada Homes Design.

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

New Report Calls for Bold Action to Solve Ontario’s Housing Crisis

The United Way of Bruce Grey and Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force adds their support to the United Way Greater Toronto and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, which released a costed, delivery-ready plan to address affordable housing needs.

Ontario, Canada – Aug 13, 2025 — Ontario’s housing crisis is at a breaking point, but a new report, Built for Good: Delivering the Housing Ontario Needs, shows there is a clear, achievable path forward — if all levels of government, the non-profit sector, and private partners act now.

Developed by United Way Greater Toronto and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, with support from SHS, the report outlines an ambitious 10-year plan to ensure everyone in Ontario has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

The need is urgent across the province:

  • Over 805,000 deeply affordable housing units are required for low-income households by 2035, including 93,000 supportive housing units and 55,000 units for Indigenous households.
  • An additional 145,000 moderately affordable units are needed for moderate-income households.
  • 225,000 existing affordable homes must be acquired, repaired, and maintained to prevent further loss.

The plan is practical and cost-effective. It calls for:

  • $16.7 billion in investment by 2027.
  • $62.6 billion by 2030, combining upfront capital and ongoing subsidies.
  • Clear leadership, government coordination, and predictable funding to empower non-profit and co-op housing providers.

Why it matters:

The report stresses that housing is a public good and a shared responsibility. Without action, the crisis will worsen, costing billions in emergency shelters, healthcare, and lost productivity. By contrast, proactive investment will improve health, education, and economic outcomes for hundreds of thousands of Ontarians.

“The solutions are here, the expertise is here, and the time for action is now,” said Heather MacDonald, President & CEO of United Way Greater Toronto. “By scaling up non-profit and co-op housing, we can deliver lasting affordability and stability for generations.”

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Tim Ross, CEO of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (Ontario Region). “With bold leadership and targeted investment, we can build the housing Ontario actually needs.”

The full Built for Good report is available here.

Local Data

In 2024, Bruce County reported spending $1.5 million on homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Housing-and-Homelessness-Plan-Progress-Report-2024-V4.pdf

In 2024, 2,272 households applying for community housing in Grey County were looking for deep affordable housing https://www.bgdisc.ca/post/grey-county-community-services-monthly-data-information-report

Locally over 3,000 households have applications into either Bruce and/or Grey County for deeply affordable community housing.

Applicants to the United Way Bruce Grey’s Utility Assistance Program have an average income of $22,500 demonstrating that households need deeply affordable housing due to low income.

“In 2024, homelessness affected 375 individuals in Grey County and 109 households in Bruce County, with a significant proportion experiencing chronic homelessness. Among them are children, youth, Indigenous community members, and seniors — a stark reminder that homelessness impacts people of all ages and backgrounds across our region.”

– Jill Umbach, Coordinator, Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force

“We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results. In Bruce Grey, as across Ontario, the housing crisis is deepening despite decades of effort. This is the moment to change course — to invest in bold, proven solutions like non-profit and co-operative housing that deliver long-term affordability. If we continue with business as usual, we will continue to fail the people who need us most.”
— Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director, United Way of Bruce Grey

For more information, or to set up an interview with:

UWBG Executive Director, Francesca Dobbyn, call (519) 376-1560 or email execdir@unitedwaybg.com

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force, Jill Umbach, call (519) 377-9406 or email povertytaskforce@unitedwaybg.com