2017 Niagara Prosperity Initiatives
2017 Projects
| Regional |
|---|
Mental Health & Addictions Coach Project Full-time Mental Health & Addiction Coaches will be hired to support the YWCA Niagara Region shelters. They will be working with individuals who are experiencing mental health and addiction issues to help them find and maintain housing and employment and develop connections in their community. |
Niagara Region ID Clinic The ID clinics will be available throughout the Niagara Region. This project will facilitate the acquisition of ID and make referrals to shelters, food resources, health care, legal services, case management & crisis support. A secure safe is available for people needing a secure place to store their ID. |
Work Experience Program for Adults with Disabilities This project is a structured and goal-oriented work experience program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This initiative will remove barriers and increase equitable access to participation in community life & workplace opportunities through the development of knowledge and skills. |
| Fort Erie |
|---|
Gateway of Niagara Outreach Worker A Street Outreach Worker will be hired to provide mobile services and supports to people at urgent risk of becoming homeless and those who are chronically or persistently homeless. The needs of the individuals will be assessed and they will be assisted in acquiring housing and/or in addressing secondary concerns. |
Strengthening Families for the Future This is a family-focused program for the prevention of multiple developmental problems including mental health issues and early age substance misuse among high-risk children of all ages. |
| Grimsby / Lincoln / West Lincoln |
|---|
Moving on Up Funding is to purchase a wheelchair mobility van to get developmentally disabled people to their job programs and support services. |
Niagara West Hire Attire The Hire Attire program provides gently-used appropriate work clothing and accessories to individuals identified as possessing an income level which falls at or below the Low Income Cut-Off. |
Rental Assistance Service The Rental Assistance Service provides eligible, low-income households with assistance to help with their monthly rent payments in the private market. |
| Port Colborne |
|---|
Life Skills & Housing Coach This initiative will provide intensive case management services to newly housed participants in order to increase housing stability and prevent eviction. A Life Skills & Housing Coach will help clients access support programs such as employment services / addition services, mental health services etc. |
Gateway of Niagara Outreach Worker A Street Outreach Worker will be hired to provide mobile services and supports to people at urgent risk of becoming homeless and those who are chronically or persistently homeless. The needs of the individuals will be assessed and they will be assisted in acquiring housing and/or in addressing secondary concerns. |
| Niagara Falls |
|---|
Gateway of Niagara Outreach Worker A Street Outreach Worker will be hired to provide mobile services and supports to people at urgent risk of becoming homeless and those who are chronically or persistently homeless. The needs of the individuals will be assessed and they will be assisted in acquiring housing and/or in addressing secondary concerns. |
HomeMade HomeMade is a 21 week life skills program facilitated by Hannah House staff and collaborative community agencies twice a year and taught to ten young, pregnant and parenting women under the age of 24 experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. |
Inclusive Adventure Camps - Summer, Winter Break & March Break 100 children living in poverty with identified disabilities will participate in a free week of summer, winter or March Break camp. The camp experience will expand the campers' social views, enhance skills both physical and learning, increase self-esteem and provide hope. |
Strengthening Families for the Future This is a family-focused program for the prevention of multiple developmental problems including mental health issues and early age substance misuse among high-risk children of all ages. |
Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound (UIHB) This program is an integrated, innovative wrap-around model of support to help inadequately housed or homeless Indigenous mother-led families earn college diplomas, start careers and achieve economic self-sufficiency. |
Essential Support Services This program will provide essential support services to keep low income families in Niagara Falls housed and improve their health. |
Water - a Basic Need Housing prevention workers will provide financial assistance for individuals living in poverty with late and unpaid water bills which has resulted in disconnection of service. To ensure bills continue to be paid a negotiation process will occur, empowering people to pay a portion of the outstanding bill with budgeting and financial literacy support provided. |
| Pelham |
|---|
Strengthening Families for the Future This is a family-focused program for the prevention of multiple developmental problems including mental health issues and early age substance misuse among high-risk children of all ages. |
| St. Catharines |
|---|
A Clean Start "Laundry Program" Individuals will be able to access vouchers from the Housing Help Centre to use at a partnering Laundromat to do laundry. Community Care will also provide a bus ticket and laundry soap if required. |
Strengthening Families for the Future This is a family-focused program for the prevention of multiple developmental problems including mental health issues and early age substance misuse among high-risk children of all ages. |
Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound (UIHB) This program is an integrated, innovative wrap-around model of support to help inadequately housed or homeless Indigenous mother-led families earn college diplomas, start careers and achieve economic self-sufficiency. |
SMUN - Manufacturing Supply Chain Services Training Program SMUN is partnering with WP Warehousing on this project is to provide clients with a variety of training options in the Manufacturing Supply Chain Sector. This includes logistics, warehousing, inventory control, shipping, exporting, building / truck maintenance, bottle washing and involvement in Circular Economy projects. |
Home at Last, Home to Stay This project will provide support and outreach to newly-housed or precariously housed individuals by assisting them in retaining housing and maintaining a home. A coach will work on issues that negatively affect their ability to remain housed. The work includes in-home supports, basic necessities, coaching, individual counseling and life skills training. |
Art Me Up Art Me Up provides opportunities to marginalized people in visual arts, drama, poetry, music, film production and storytelling. Led by an artist-facilitator, Art Me Up participants will be provided an outlet to use creativity to tell stories about their lived reality. |
Westview Centre4Women This project will provide to women living in poverty workshops and supplies to create a life of more quality. Access to meals, pantry services, daycare, literacy, transportation, education, employment and housing assistance will be made available through this funding. |
Laundry services Women in our community need help with laundry cost. This program will provide laundering classes, transportation, and child care. Laundry facilities will have an industrial Thermal Disinfection System which guarantees to kill bedbugs and lice which is not offered in regular laundry mats. |
| Welland |
|---|
Gateway of Niagara Outreach Worker A Street Outreach Worker will be hired to provide mobile services and supports to people at urgent risk of becoming homeless and those who are chronically or persistently homeless. The needs of the individuals will be assessed and they will be assisted in acquiring housing and/or in addressing secondary concerns. |
Strengthening Families for the Future This is a family-focused program for the prevention of multiple developmental problems including mental health issues and early age substance misuse among high-risk children of all ages. |
Summer Family Literacy Program We are offering a research based summer family literacy program for families in low income households for children identified as at risk for developing foundational literacy skills. |
| Wainfleet |
|---|
Life Skills & Housing Coach This initiative will provide intensive case management services to newly housed participants in order to increase housing stability and prevent eviction. A Life Skills & Housing Coach will help clients access support programs such as employment services / addition services, mental health services etc. |
2016 Projects
| Fort Erie |
|---|
Mobile Kids Zone - Community Cruiser This project will increase the access to physical activity in priority neighborhoods by supplying staff to engage children and youth in play, sports and activities. |
Housing Coach This project is prevention based via a one-on-one dedicated Housing Coach for adults and families in Fort Erie who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless. The Housing Coach will provide front-line help with housing crisis situations and mitigating common barriers to persons living in poverty, such as lack of phone and transportation. In addition, the Housing Coach will play a role in developing direct service guidelines to enhance direct service and inter-agency collaboration in the context of housing. |
Garden-Fresh Food Every Time (Summer and Winter) Participants will learn to grow vegetables adapted to the conditions in the region, and learn cooking and preserving skills. |
Summer Family Literacy Program A summer family literacy program for children identified as at risk in key foundational skills in emergent literacy. This program will facilitate their success moving forward into grade one. A unique union of direct intervention with children by trained professionals while simultaneously coaching parents on how to facilitate the early literacy skills in their child. |
Rent Bank The Rent Bank will expand homelessness prevention in Fort Erie to aid low income households by assisting with rent arrears and rent deposits as a 0 per cent, no penalty loan. |
| Grimsby / Lincoln / West Lincoln |
|---|
Niagara West Community Garden Collective Continue to grow the three established community gardens in response to gardener requests. The program will incorporate more cooking and preservation classes / workshops, and will pilot a new Children in the Garden program. We will also investigate the addition of other existing gardens to the Collective. In addition, the Niagara West Community Garden Collective will establish a volunteer program to assist with garden operation and community outreach. |
The FORT Empowering Youth The FORT will continue its mission of youth empowerment by expanding our teen programs while sourcing support and creating new partnerships in the communities we now serve. |
Financial Literacy Workshops Using the Prosper Canada Financial Literacy curriculum, the Niagara West Adult Learning Centre will offer Financial Literacy Workshops for the residents of Niagara West. |
Skills to Work Provide training for individuals to gain in demand skills and successfully connect to the workforce. The training will be unique, be provided locally and be free of charge to participants. |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake |
|---|
Mobile Kids Zone - Community Cruiser This project will increase access to physical activity in priority neighborhoods by supplying staff to engage children and youth in play, sports and activities. |
| Niagara Falls |
|---|
Rock Solid A 40 week life skills program taught to young, pregnant and parenting women under the age of 21 experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. This program addresses the skills necessary to reduce risks associated with homelessness and associated levels of poverty, such as education, employability, income, shelter and the health of the women and their babies. |
Inclusive Summer Adventure Camp and Winter Break Camp We will provide 90 children from families living in poverty with a week of summer camp and 10 children with a week of winter camp. The camp experience will expand the campers' social views, enhance skills both physical and learning, increase self-esteem and provide hope. |
Work Experience Program for Adults with Disabilities This pilot project is a one-year structured and goal-oriented work experience program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This initiative will remove barriers and increase equitable access to participation in community life and workplace opportunities through the development of knowledge and skills. |
Housing and Homelessness Case Facilitation An intensive case manager specializing in mental health and addictions help people find and retain their housing. |
RAFT Niagara Regional Housing Summer Camp Daily Summer camp program that offers sports / active games, arts, crafts, educational activities, field trips, special events and cultural learning opportunities. Camp includes healthy breakfast and snacks. No cost for participation. The program will expand the existing summer programming offered through our After School Matters program. The camp will reduce isolation, provide constructive activities, and child minding support to for working parents. |
| Port Colborne |
|---|
Young Fun A no cost after school / early evening program for children and youth aged 4 - 21 years of age. Free parenting classes once per month. We will also have a child and youth worker on hand for those requiring support. |
Food Central Learning Garden This project will be growing organic produce in a 5,000 square foot garden. Garden volunteers will be trained in all aspects of gardening (planning, planting, weeding, harvesting, marketing and care of the different produce) with ongoing support. Any abundance of food will be sold at the market stand. Volunteers will get a percentage of sales and a percentage will go to supporting project costs. |
Community Garden This initiative will involve expansion of the current community gardens in the 3 Bridges Community to include safe food handling, meal preparation, cooking and canning produce grown in the garden. The facilitator will introduce participants to basic gardening skills, do food demonstrations at the food bank and provide workshops in nutrition. |
| Thorold |
|---|
Work Experience Program for Adults with Disabilities This pilot project is a one-year structured and goal-oriented work experience program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This initiative will remove barriers and increase equitable access to participation in community life and workplace opportunities through the development of knowledge and skills. |
| St. Catharines |
|---|
AOA (Autism Ontario Adult) Summer Day Camp AOA Summer Day Camp for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who have high support needs offers a supported program in a vacation-like setting to combat isolation and allow campers choice in activities of interest to adults that encourage social interactions and build skills. |
"A Clean Start" Laundry Program Individuals will be able to access vouchers from the Housing Help Centre to use at a partnering laundromat to do laundry. Community Care will also provide a bus ticket, if required and laundry soap. |
Niagara's Food Forest Niagara's Food Forest will reduce poverty in St. Catharines' Queenston St neighbourhood by expanding Niagara's most productive community garden. A Living Wall will be constructed adjacent to the garden and more fruit trees will be planted. Access to locally grown food for area residents will improve. This initiative also includes a series of workshops designed to teach residents how to grow food in limited spaces such as balconies. |
Garden-Fresh Food Every Time (Summer and Winter) Participants will learn to grow vegetables adapted to the conditions in the region, and learn cooking and preserving skills. One new garden will be created for 20 newcomer and low income families living in Merritton. |
Links for Greener School Yards This project will address food security, nutrition education, and civic engagement for students, their families, and neighbours within the communities around Lincoln Centennial School, St. Christopher School, and a future partner school in 2017. |
Health Attack - After School Program An after school program for children age 6-12 with a healthy living focus each week in two different locations as well as PD Day and March Break camps throughout the school year. The weekly program will allow the participants a chance to access and learn about healthy foods while also participating in weekly activities. |
Summer ESL for Adults and Children Half day summer ESL classes (mornings) for newcomers to Canada coordinated with a summer program for newcomer children age 6-12 that enables the clients to continue to learn English over the summer months while their children are in programming. |
Expressions Finding, sharing voice using a variety of art forms and presentation methods to encourage participation, sharing of interests and talents. Creates new voice and spaces in community for those who are excluded. |
Income Matters Provide free income tax filing and apply for all tax related credits for people living in poverty. Assist in securing bank accounts and development of basic financial literacy. |
RAFT Niagara Regional Housing Summer Camp Daily summer camp program that offers sports / active games, arts, crafts, educational activities, field trips, special events and cultural learning opportunities. Camp includes healthy breakfast and snacks. No cost for participation. Program will expand the existing summer programming offered through our After School Matters program. The camp will reduce isolation, provide constructive activities, and child minding support to for working parents. |
WC4W Production Drama performance to help women express how they feel about their personal situation. This project will help in combating social inclusion, will give a voice to the voiceless and be a source of empowerment. Will be utilized as an educational tool for our ladies as well as the community by attending the performance. |
Westview Centre4Women Providing a springboard from "meeting basic needs" to "moving people out of poverty". This project will help women navigate through the barriers step by step and provide opportunities for employment. Women of all colour, sexual orientation, religion or economic status need a place to call their own. This project will offer "no agenda" services to assist in the war against poverty and meet the needs of our community. |
| Welland |
|---|
AOA (Autism Ontario Adult) Summer Day Camp AOA Summer Day Camp for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who have high support needs offers a supported program in a vacation-like setting to combat isolation and allow campers choice in activities of interest to adults that encourage social interactions and build skills. |
Deinistoun Outreach Staffing Programming includes cooking, sewing, arts, crafts, woodworking, girl-boy talk, after school homework help, summer program, reading, and community gardens. Successfully implementing the outreach to this new neighbourhood (Denistoun) requires dedicated staffing for the initial phase of service provision. |
Work Experience Program for Adults with Disabilities This pilot project is a one-year structured and goal-oriented work experience program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This initiative will remove barriers and increase equitable access to participation in community life and workplace opportunities through the development of knowledge and skills. |
Garden-Fresh Food Every Time (Summer and Winter) Participants will learn to grow vegetables adapted to the conditions in the Region, and learn cooking and preserving skills. |
Engaging People with Serious Mental Illness Towards Employability The project involves engaging people with serious mental illness in the planning, execution, presentation, participation and evaluation in a clubhouse conference. This offers an opportunity for Oak Centre's members to gain work and practical experience in order to increase their employability skills. |
Food Central Learning Garden This project will be growing organic produce in a 5,000 square foot garden. Garden volunteers will be trained in all aspects of gardening (planning, planting, weeding, harvesting, marketing, and care of the different produce) with ongoing support. Any abundance of food will be sold at the market stand. Volunteers will get a percentage of sales and a percentage will go to supporting the project costs. |
| Wainfleet |
|---|
Young Fun A no cost after school / early evening program for children and youth aged 4 - 21 years of age. Free parenting classes once per month. We will also have a child and youth worker on hand for those requiring support. |
Food Central Learning Garden This project will be growing organic produce in a 5,000 square foot garden. Garden volunteers will be trained in all aspects of gardening (planning, planting, weeding, harvesting, marketing, and care of the different produce) with ongoing support. Any abundance of food will be sold at the market stand. Volunteers will get a percentage of sales and a percentage will go to supporting the project costs. |
| Regional |
|---|
Niagara Poverty Reduction Network Speakers Bureau Coordination Positive Living Niagara will offer coordination support to the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network's Speakers Bureau. It will recruit and train speakers for the Bureau. This project will also assist in refreshing presentation materials and promotional materials the Bureau. |
Brushed Aside: Dental Care Access This project will allow the Brushed Aside Dental Care Access program to continue to provide access to dental care for adults in need of treatment through existing agency relationships. |
2015 Projects
| Fort Erie |
|---|
Self-employment Program This 12 month program will assist clients with developing and implementing a business plan. One-on-one mentoring will be provided along with regular seminars that are all business relevant. We will provide bookkeeping services along with access to the resource centre with access to a computer, office space and some clerical services. All is provided at no cost to the individual. |
Crystal Beach Local Food Project
We will work with the Crystal Ridge Community Church, Sexsmith Farm, Bridges and For the Least of Them to enhance their existing service offerings. The goal is to better engage low income residents in learning new ways to stretch limited budgets and improve health through a weekly farm to table program. This incorporates a community garden, local market, and training in food preparation and processing to teach new skills and help shift residents out of poverty. |
| Grimsby / Lincoln / West Lincoln |
|---|
Dress for Success Niagara West Job seekers can have the best resume and interview skills but without a good quality interview outfit, they often lack the confidence that they need to present themselves well to employers. Dress for Success Niagara West will partner with local thrift stores to create a voucher system that will enable job seekers to select a free interview outfit and/or a free outfit for their first day of work. In addition, potential clothing donors will be found and Dress for Success workshops will be created. |
| Port Colborne |
|---|
Art Therapy Children in the lowest income families are more likely to exhibit high levels of emotional anxiety as well as aggression. Poverty also impacts children’s mental health. These families will be offered art therapy for their children. |
| St. Catharines |
|---|
In Support of Local - St Catharines Providing support and expansion for community gardens in Queenston, St Catharines. With community volunteers, Greening Niagara will rebuild the Centennial garden and as a result feed 52 families and organizations, provide a new garden build with 12 plots and strengthen community support for all three locations. The program also provides a community training program and food bank donations. |
Reading Rocks Junior This is a literacy intervention program for children four to six years old who are at-risk for reading difficulties. The program will provide support to children during this crucial time period to prevent more challenging reading difficulties later on. Project expansion includes two caregiver workshops on early literacy and effective use of technology in learning as well as exploring children's learning engagement. |
Bridge to Employment
The objective of this project is to provide food handling and processing skills training for Start Me Up Niagara clients in a commercial setting. We are partnering with two businesses in Niagara to accomplish this goal - Wrap It Up Raw (woman-owned small business that produces raw and vegan foods) and WP Warehousing (agri-food logistics, packaging and shipping company). This will allow our gardens to convert produce into a variety of processed products for year-round sale and use. |
Grantham Teen Active Living This program will provide youth from the Old Pine Trail subsidized housing complex and the surrounding Grantham neighbourhood the opportunity to participate in field trips promoting active living such as beach volleyball, snowshoeing, and high ropes. Such excursions are often unattainable to low-income families due to cost and transportation. Field trips will be planned, implemented and evaluated by neighbourhood youth. Participants will gain the common experience of their more affluent peers. |
| Welland |
|---|
McLaughlin Community House & Denistoun Outreach
Programming includes cooking, sewing, arts, crafts, woodworking, girl-boy talk, afterschool homework help, summer program, reading, and community gardens at McLaughlin Community House. In 2016, it is planned to commence programming for low income youth in the Densitoun residential development by transporting these youth to service locations at McLaughlin Community House or Faith Welland Outreach. |
| Regional |
|---|
Get There with Ride Share
For many residents transportation is an access barrier, particularly for people living in poverty. A web-based ride share service addresses this need by facilitating connections among people who may be going to the same place. It applies to work, school as well as social and recreational outings. Beyond its environmental benefits, ride share fills a need for transportation that cannot be logistically or reasonably accommodated by existing conventional and inter-municipal transit services. |
2014 Projects
| Fort Erie |
|---|
After-school
Drop-in
Homework
Help Program
In cooperation with local schools and volunteers provided by our local high school and service groups, the library will provide an after-school drop-in homework help program for Kindergarten to grade 8 students. The program will run from September to June. |
| Niagara Falls |
|---|
Volunteering is
KEY!
This project will create and enhance meaningful volunteer opportunities for newcomer clients while also providing information and training to community agencies on cultural sensitivity. |
| Port Colborne |
|---|
Growing Us
Further With great success in the Three Bridges Neighbourhood project, the current program will be grown into the Stonebridge and Sugarloaf Neighbourhoods and provide cooking classes, gardening workshops and the establishment of various gardens. |
Fun in the Sun
Playground
Program A free playground program will be located at the East Village Playground 5 days per week during the summer months in partnership with the Port Cares Reach Out Centre. |
| St. Catharines |
|---|
Homework Club This project will provide free homework opportunities to various schools located in high risk neighbourhoods. Volunteers mentor and assist children that are in grades 3-8, for one hour, once per week at the child's school. |
Good Food Box
Subsidy Increase the use of the Good Food Box by offering a 3 month subsidy to entice people to try this program & continue after the subsidy. Increased health benefits due to increased access to fresh produce. |
Agri-Food
Leadership This project will create five new employment opportunities within the growing AgriFood sector. Leaders from the Resourcing Food Plus project will support this new initiative. New training components will be implemented and an off-site food processing space will be created. |
Westview
Centre
4Women This project will provide a "drop in" for women living in poverty. Diversified seminars will be offered concurrently 3 days/week. |
Grantham Neighbourhood Family Centre A rotational hub model offering clinics and learning sessions (e.g. car seat clinic, healthy eating, newcomer services, parenting programming etc.) in three schools to better engage all families in need and reduce the perceived barrier of accessing services in a school other than their own. |
MCAP -
Merritton
Children's
Afterschool
Program This project will offer children ages 8-12 years the opportunity to participate in an after-school program which aims to provide safe and fun recreational, educational and leisure opportunities for low-income parents of the Merritton community. |
Brushed Aside:
Dental Care
Access Pilot
Project
A pilot project to provide access to dental care for adults in need of treatment through existing agency relationships. The project will provide loans for dental treatment, with repayment plans tailored to ability to pay. |
Ramp It Up Training offered to Peer Advocacy Members to support persons with disabilities to self-advocate for disability rights including income, housing stability, and to run peer support groups that increase community engagement, volunteering and employment. |
Transcending
Poverty in the
LGBTQ
Community of
Niagara Region This project offers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ) individuals the opportunity to develop advocacy and employability skills. Via a peer led model, local leaders will effect change towards a more inclusive community service sector. |
| Thorold |
|---|
Homework
Club This project will provide free homework opportunities to various schools located in high risk neighbourhoods. Volunteers mentor and assist children that are in grades 3-8, for one hour, once per week at the child's school. |
Good Food Box
Subsidy
Increase the use of the Good Food Box by offering a 3 month subsidy to entice people to try this program & continue after the subsidy. Increased health benefits due to increased access to fresh produce. |
| Welland |
|---|
Volunteering is
KEY! This project will create and enhance meaningful volunteer opportunities for newcomer clients while also providing information and training to community agencies on cultural sensitivity. |
Food Service
Training
Program Provide a culinary training program to individuals in our community. Partnering with many local agencies, we are providing "stations" where individuals will gain further skills such as safe food handling, WHMIS, Smart Serve, job readiness, customer service, and career planning. |
| West Lincoln |
|---|
Capacity
Building - West
Lincoln
Programs After school youth services drop-in will be offered in Smithville 3 plus days a week. Services include recreational programming, healthy snacks, homework help, mentorship, life-skills workshops, and community social service referrals. |
| Regional |
|---|
Niagara Region
Identification
Clinic This project will assist people in replacing and obtaining ID required to access: income supports, register for school, employment, health care, agency programs, housing etc. Other agencies across the region will be offered training on how to set up ID clinics from the lessons learned in the St. Catharines project. |
Be A Voice The Be A Voice program is a contest to challenge youth (14 to 18 years of age) in Niagara to use their creativity to give a voice to the issues of affordable housing and homelessness in Niagara. |
Environmental
Scan of
Connectivity
Mapping Measure and analyze the connections of groups working to eradicate poverty in Niagara. Niagara Connects will be working with the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network to strengthen existing relationships and target key groups that need to be engaged. This will help reduce duplication of work and strengthen the efforts being done in poverty reduction. |