A Network of Local Programs Creates an Ecosystem of Support and Hope

As our communities continue to recover and rebuild, there is great uncertainty ahead. Cost-of-living increases are making it harder for more and more people to meet their basic needs, such food, shelter and personal hygiene. Demand for mental health supports, particularly among children and youth, continues to climb. Social service agencies are often pushed beyond capacity and, in many cases, the people working on the frontlines to support those in need are also struggling themselves.

It’s become increasingly common that people seeking help are coming forward with more acute and complex needs. In some cases, because clients present with higher levels of distress initially, it means that even when programs are remarkably successful, people are being discharged with significantly higher needs than their peers of years past. Countless programs continue to have lengthy waitlists, adding another layer of complexity for individuals and families in crisis.?

Understanding the intersectionality of wicked problems—such as poverty, homelessness and food insecurity—with worse outcomes related to physical and mental wellbeing, educational and employment success, and community inclusion, solidifies the notion that communities need a strong network of social service programs in order to thrive.?

The child who needs counselling support to recover from abuse, also benefits from after-school homework help and a universally accessible school nutrition program. A young woman struggling with addictions needs access to food, personal hygiene items and a safe place to call home. Lonely seniors need hot meals delivered to their doors, as well as opportunities to get out and feel a sense of belonging in their communities.?

United Way is the nucleus of a local network of supports that includes 58 interconnected agencies and 106 programs and services. Last year, this network supported more than 205,000 people across Halton and Hamilton who reached out for help. By investing in the programs that deliver the greatest impact, United Way helps to build capacity in the social sector, fostering a strong, vibrant and equitable community for all.

“We’re currently going through quite a complex time across our community. We are dealing with the aftermath of a global health pandemic, that includes an economic crisis impacting everyone; especially the most vulnerable people and families,” states Brent McKnight , UWHH Operational Performance Board Committee volunteer. “The work UWHH does directly affects those who need the most help. By maintaining a strong pulse on our local community’s most pressing issues, the UWHH is able to prioritize investments in those critical programs that deliver the most impact. By continuing to understand and prioritize this vital network of social supports, we can work towards a community that is equitable for everyone.”

These program supports vary across multiple areas that affect the lives of underserved, marginalized and vulnerable people in our community, tackling issues like poverty, social isolation, domestic violence, food insecurity and mental health. United Way investments move people from poverty to possibility, help kids be all that they can be, and support healthy people and strong communities.

?More than 40 per cent of United Way-supported agencies saw increased demand in the past year, and nearly 50 per cent have wait lists. As demand for services increases and sector capacity continues to be stretched, it’s inevitable that more and more people will find themselves in crisis.

?“People don’t realize just how important the United Way is, or how many services they support. And many people don’t realize that they are only one step away from having to use some of these services themselves,” says Kenny, who accessed United Way-supported programs years ago, when life took a sudden downward turn.

?“I was married, I had two children, I had good job and was slowly working up the ladder. After I lost my job, my wife left me with our three-month-old baby and two-and-a-half-year-old toddler,” Kenny says. He found himself struggling to feed his family, and found help through a United Way-supported food security program. Kenny continues sharing his story with community years later, along with the message of how imperative it is to stand together and maintain a strong network of support for everyone in need.

?We’ve launched this season of Community Corner on Cable 14, YourTV, and UWHH YouTube!

On this 7-episode show, we’ll discuss how community works together to foster the vital network of supports that supports more than 200,000 people.