Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Poverty Task Force Community Update #214

Dear Colleagues, 

We recognize the ongoing impact of the almost 200 wildfires in Northern Ontario right now. Thirteen communities have had to evacuate their homes, with First Nations being disproportionately being affected.  Attached are mental health resources compiled by Women’s College Hospital Indigenous Health. 

Across Canada, the impacts of climate change are becoming more visible. Beyond floods, wildfires, and rising temperatures, many people are carrying fear, grief, exhaustion, and a deep sense of uncertainty about the future. These emotional realities are becoming more common, but they are still rarely named or addressed in formal climate action spaces.

  • In Bow Valley, Alberta, the Active Hope: Navigating Climate Grief & Anxietyworkshops offered a different way forward. Led by the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, with support from the Tamarack Institute, this initiative created welcoming and culturally grounded spaces where people could come together to talk honestly about how climate change feels and what it means for their lives, their communities, and the places they love and call home. 
  • In Grey Bruce, we are feeling the impact of the wildfires on our air quality. Our current work at RentSafe Owen Sound in partnership with RentSafe Ontario explores the feasibility of improving climate resilience in low-income rental housing. Our discussions focus on the impacts of extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding, mould, and other climate-related challenges, as well as opportunities to strengthen existing policies, programs, and partnerships. 

NEW REPORTS

  • The Vital Signs 2026 was released on June 17thVital Signs 2026 – Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force as well as the Vial Signs Data Document bgdisc.ca/post/vital-signs-2026
  • CFOS Open Line: Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force joined Stuart Reid, Executive Director, Community Foundation GB and Vital Signs Chair Alanna Leffley on CFOS Open Line to discuss the newly released Vital Signs Report. Together, they explored the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping our communities. The conversation highlights important topics like housing affordability, community well-being, environmental sustainability, and the strength of local partnerships. Listen now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox2OR7UVk8U

HOUSING

  • City of Owen Sound Agenda: the minutes of the City of Owen Sound Corporate Services Committee from July 9th are on the Agenda for approval of Vital Services By-Law and updates to mould by-laws within Property Standards By-Law on July 27th. These were recommendations put forth by RentSafe Owen Sound to the City in 2024. eSCRIBE MinutesVideo of discussion on Vital Services By-Law and strengthening mould by-laws can be found here.  
  • RentSafe Owen Sound Climate Resiliency Roundtable: will be held on Tuesday, September 29th, 12noon to 4:30pm (includes lunch), Community Impact Lab, Sydenham Campus, Owen Sound. This collaborative session will be led by Jessica Flynn, Community Impact Lab and Geri Blinick, RentSafe Ontario/Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE).
    • Public health professionals, environmental experts, rental housing providers, legal advocates, county planners, landlords, tenants, and community service organizations have been invited to explore the feasibility of improving climate resilience in low-income rental housing in the City of Owen Sound.
    • For more information, please review our backgrounder and learn more about RentSafe’s Collaborating for Climate Resilience project. Register here.
  • Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST): has been awareded funding to extend the work of Bruce County Outreach. They will deliver wraparound support to individuals experiencing substance use challenges and overdose risk. COAST will use real-time data to guide targeted outreach in high-need areas, alongside scheduled community engagement. A mobile medical van will be introduced in the future; however in the interim, the team will operate from a decommissioned and rebranded ambulance. Funding is confirmed through March 31, 2027. Bruce County launches COAST | Bruce County

HEALTH EQUITY 

INCOME SECURITY 

FOOD SECURITY 

  • Grey Bruce Food Share Expansion: 40 people from 23 partner organizations involved with the Grey Bruce Food Share/Food Rescue and the Food Security Action Group met on June 26th at the new OSHaRE Food Depot (767 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound).
    • Partners learned about the expansion of the food rescue program. There is a new online ordering system which requires new registration, ordering, and reporting.
    • All organizations accessing the program must register with Second Harvest’s Food Rescue and register with OSHaRE’s online ordering portal.
    • Contact Colleen Seaman Trask, info@oshare.ca, to receive access to the ordering portal. 
    • Orders online will be reserved for registered organizations, but there will also be a grab-and-go section and sharing boxes at the Food Depot.
    • Orders will be made on Mondays, the depot closed on Tuesdays to fill orders and Wednesday to Saturday am for organizations to pick-up. Any food not picked up by the next Monday will be returned to the inventory.  OSHaRE will also announce Depot Days for clearing out excess food; no ordering required. Organization ID cards will be issued to allow shopping/pickup. It is mandatory to weigh and record all food.   
  • Food Insecurity in Southwestern Ontario: Public health units across the region are concerned about the growing number of households struggling to afford basic needs, including food. In 2024, 1 in 4 households in the Southwestern Ontario region experienced household food insecurity, meaning they did not have reliable access to enough food due to financial challenges (Public Health Ontario, 2025). Rising housing and living costs are forcing many individuals and families to make difficult choices between paying rent and buying groceries. News Releases

ALL CANDIDATES EDUCATION SESSION

  • The Next Poverty Task Force Meeting will be on Friday, September 18th, 2026, 10am-11:30am and it will be a Poverty 101 Panel presentation/discussion with All Municipal Candidates.  A poster and details for the event will be sent out to all candidates.  Poverty Task Force Partners are invited to contact Jill Umbach, povertytaskforce@unitedwaybg.com, if they are interested in joining our panel of presenters.  

Cheers, Jill 

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Income Security, Media, Poverty Task Force

Don’t Miss Out: Filing Your Taxes Could Unlock the Financial Support You Need

July 22, 2026 – Bruce Grey, Ontario – For many Canadians, tax season is viewed as something to simply check off the list each year. But for individuals and families living on a low income, filing an income tax return can be one of the most important financial decisions they make.

United Way of Bruce Grey is encouraging all eligible residents to file their income taxes, even if they earned little or no income. Filing a tax return is the key to unlocking valuable government benefits (Many available in the month of July) and credits that can help cover the cost of everyday essentials such as food, housing, transportation, and raising a family.

Many federal and provincial benefit programs require an up-to-date tax return to determine eligibility. Without filing, people may miss out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars in financial support each year.

Benefits that may be available to eligible individuals and families include:
• Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST Credit) – July 3 and October 5
• Canada Workers Benefit – July 10
• Ontario Trillium Benefit – July 10
• Canada Child Benefit – July 20

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) also notes that filing on time helps ensure benefit payments continue without interruption. While late filers can still receive eligible payments after their return is assessed, those payments may be delayed. People who have not filed for previous years may also qualify for retroactive benefit payments once outstanding returns have been submitted and processed.

“Many people assume there’s no reason to file if they didn’t earn enough income to owe taxes,” said Garit Reid, Fundraising Lead at United Way of Bruce Grey. “In reality, filing a tax return can open the door to financial supports that make a meaningful difference for individuals and families who are already stretching every dollar.”

According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), filing taxes is about much more than reporting income. It is how the government determines eligibility for many benefit and credit programs that help Canadians manage rising living costs. Beginning each July, benefit amounts are recalculated based on the previous year’s tax return.

United Way of Bruce Grey recognizes that filing taxes can feel overwhelming, particularly for seniors, newcomers, individuals experiencing financial hardship, or those who have never filed before. Fortunately, free tax clinics are available in many communities through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), helping eligible individuals complete their returns at no cost.

“No one should miss out on benefits simply because they didn’t know they had to file,” Reid added. “A tax return is more than paperwork. It can be the first step toward greater financial stability.”

  • To learn more about available benefits, visit Canada.ca/taxes
  • Call 211 to find the nearest free tax clinic.
  • Click here to see the Grey Bruce 211 free tax clinics list.
  • To get a complete list of each benefits payment date on Service Canada, click here.
  • Prosper Canada also has a Benefits Wayfinder that can help guide you to government benefits you may be eligible for.
Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario – Report Launch and Community Discussion

The Income Security Advocacy Centre released a new policy report In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario. Read the full report here.

Join us on Thursday June 25, from 10:30 to 12 pm, for the launch of the Income Security Advocacy Centre’s new report, In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario, including a community discussion about the findings AND how to turn this data into action!

The event will be hosted and moderated by ISAC’s Community Organizer, Claudia Calabro.

If you haven’t had a chance to read the report but are curious about the findings, or, you want to hear about how we can use the info in the report to push forward advocacy on social assistance and workers’ rights issues, this is the event for you.

Note: This event will likely not be recorded, so please register: http://bit.ly/3Sm0X9D

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

United Way of Bruce Grey and Community Partners Launch Financial Literacy Workshops to Support Seniors Living on Low Income

The United Way of Bruce Grey/Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and community partners are expanding their commitment to senior well-being with a series of webinars designed to help older adults better understand and navigate retirement income.

Retiring on a Low Income for Seniors in Grey Bruce Webinarswill deliver a series of accessible webinars for seniors living with low-income and the professionals who support them in community hubs in Grey and Bruce Counties.

  • Friday, May 8th, 2026 10:30am-12:30pm: What Seniors Get (Government Incomes)
  • Friday, May 22nd, 2026 1030am-12:30pm: Income Tax Systems
  • Friday, June 5th, 2026 10:30am-12:30pm: Parallel Universe (the financial reality for low-income seniors, when conventional financial wisdom does not apply) 

These free webinars are designed for individuals aged 45 to 65, particularly those with low or moderate incomes, as well as those navigating programs such as Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program.

Registration is requested to ensure space and availability at each location.

Expert-Led by Leading Policy Specialist

With thanks to funding from the Community Foundation Grey Bruce, we are pleased to bring John Stapleton, founder of Open Policy Ontario, a leading expert in income security and social policy to our screens.

John Stapleton brings 28 years of experience with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and has held key advisory roles on national poverty reduction strategies, income security and social assistance policy reform. He is currently a Policy Fellow at the National Institute on Ageing and has published extensively on financial security issues affecting seniors and low-income populations.

“John’s expertise ensures participants receive clear, practical guidance grounded in real-world policy and experience,” said Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of United Way of Bruce Grey.

Addressing a Growing Need

With more than one-quarter (26.2%) of the local population aged 65 and older and many households earning below $72,500 annually, financial insecurity remains a significant concern in Grey and Bruce Counties.

Many seniors with low-income rely on programs such as Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), yet barriers such as program complexity can prevent them from accessing available government supports.

“These webinars are about helping seniors understand financial strategies for retiring better when faced with no other option but to retire low-income,” said Jill Umbach, Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force. “Join us to learn more, ask questions and access supports.” 

Community-Based and Accessible

Webinars will be hosted in-personat 11 community hubs:

  • South East Grey Community Health Centre (Dundalk and Markdale)
  • Beaver Valley Outreach (Thornbury)
  • Meaford Public Library (Meaford)
  • YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce (Owen Sound)
  • M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre (Owen Sound)
  • Ontario Disability Support Program/Ontario Works (Owen Sound)
  • The Salvation Army (Wiarton)
  • Bruce County Public Library (Kincardine and Port Elgin)
  • Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce (Hanover)

To find the details for each location and registration go to: Government Incomes for Seniors – United Way of Bruce Grey

About Open Policy Ontario

Open Policy Ontario is a social policy consultancy led by John Stapleton that focuses on research, analysis, and practical solutions to address poverty and income insecurity. The organization works to help governments, community agencies, and advocates better understand complex policy issues, particularly those related to social assistance, retirement income, and benefits systems. Open Policy Ontario