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

jillumbach General Information, Partner Activities

Working Bridges: an employer collaborative

Working Bridges is an employer collaborative dedicated to improving workplace productivity, retention, advancement and financial stability for employees

Employers know the success of their businesses and economic health of our community depends on employee retention and enhanced productivity. Through Working Bridges, they also recognize a steady job is the most reliable ticket out of poverty for individuals.

Working Bridges is convened and managed by the United Way of Chittenden County (Vermont) and aligns with the Income priorities of its community impact agenda.  Currently, almost 50 employers participate in Working Bridges.

How We Work

We are a collaborative of employers working to design and test innovative workplace practices that:
  • Help workers from all economic classes minimize work disruptions and improve financial stability;
  • Build business’ retention and advancement.

Working Bridges enables you to develop and test new employee benefits and management practices both within your own organizations and on a shared basis.  Working Bridges includes:

  • An employer workgroup that
develops new approaches to assist employees succeed in the workplace.
  • Bridges out of Poverty, an introductory education session to create understanding about economic class and its implications at work.
  • An employee loan/savings program that addresses a gap in existing employee benefits programs and helps employees build credit and long-term financial stability.
  • A shared “resource coordinator” to help employees and supervisors connect with community resources and resolve work barriers and disruptions.

What’s the impact?

  • Employers see improvements in employment trends–75% of core participants report improvement in employee retention, attendance or overall productivity.
  • Employers attribute some of the success to Working Bridges, although recognize many factors are at work.
  • 100% of core participants report Working Bridges is helping them achieve their original goals:
    • Hiring, retaining, and advancing lower income workers
    • Maximizing workforce effectiveness
    • Helping workers achieve financial stability
jillumbach Partner Activities

Ontario Trillium Foundation supports Poverty Task Force

The CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation has high praise for the commitment of staff and volunteers of the Bruce Grey United Way.

Andrea Cohen was guest speaker at the United Way’s annual general meeting. She administers an annual budget of $120 million of provincial government grant money.

Cohen says the Trillium Foundation and the United Way have much in common in working to make better communities.

During her visit to Bruce Grey, Cohen presented a grant of $60,000 for a collaborative project between the United Way and the Bruce Grey Children’s Alliance.

http://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/2013/03/28/praise-for-bruce-grey-united-way/

jillumbach Research

It’s More Than Poverty Report – February 2013

Read+the+full+report+-+It’s+more+than+poverty

Latest United Way Toronto report voices the concern that employment pracarity – employment that does not offer security or benefits – is affecting household stability. The report shows that employment insecurity has an independent effect on household well-being and community connections, regardless of income. These precarious employment relationships are being the “new normal” in our workforce.