UNITED WAY GIVES $300,000 FOR MUSKOKA CIRCLES POVERTY PROJECTS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
HUNTSVILLE — A poverty mentoring program has secured major funding to connect those in need with those who can help.
Six community partners, led by the YWCA, have received a three-year commitment from United Way Simcoe Muskoka to “provide a sustainable and transformative approach to poverty reduction that ensures everyone has enough reasons, resources and relationships in their lives to thrive.”
A release today says the project will provide annual Bridges out of Poverty trainings for community members and service providers in Muskoka; extend the Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World program to a fourth community in Muskoka; and strengthen the regional delivery of Circles.
They hope to host a Circles Canada conference in the next few years.
YWCA Muskoka is the lead agency. Other partners are YMCA Employment Services and The Hub Huntsville (New Vision Unlimited). They are joined by two Huntsville churches, Muskoka Community Church and Faith Baptist Church, which also operates CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Reduction the sixth project partner.
“Circles is a community-based initiative that creates intentional friendships across economic boundaries to reduce poverty,” said Liz Angell, YWCA Circles coordinator.
“It matches low-income families (Circle Leaders) and individuals with community volunteers (Circle Allies) to form relationships across income groups and build a support system to help individuals and families move forward out of poverty.”
Graduates from the Getting Ahead 15-week programs become Leaders, so named because they are at the “centre of their story” in Circles.
Those who have completed Bridges training are eligible to volunteer and are encouraged to become Allies.
The average Circles individual or family participates over a period of 18 months. Volunteers are asked to make a similar commitment.
During COVID Circles groups have been holding weekly zooms and connecting individually virtually and via phone.
“My Circles Allies support me through my goals. They helped me get started on working on my financial plans to become free of debt. They have been a greatly appreciated support system that I have never had before,” says a current Circle Leader participant.
Circles first launched in Huntsville in 2015.
A second Circles site in South Muskoka was added in 2018 with the generous funding of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Getting Ahead programs have run with annual District of Muskoka funding since 2014.
The United Way Simcoe Muskoka funding will enable the partnering organizations to provide these services to Muskoka communities until 2023.
YWCA Muskoka champions positive change for women and girls through education, leadership and advocacy. We envision a future in which all women and girls are thriving. For more information about YWCA Muskoka and Circles® Muskoka please visit the website at www.ywcamuskoka.com
REALITIES OF POVERTY IN MUSKOKA:
Statistics are from Muskoka Community Foundation’s Vital Signs 2018 and Statistics Canada
- The current wait-time for a one-bedroom social housing unit in Muskoka is approximately 8 years.
- 13% of Muskoka residents are living in poverty, and the median employment income is 21% lower than the rest of Ontario. ($26, 918 vs. $33,946)
- Muskoka has over 2000 single parent families; 1645 of those (75 per cent) are headed by women and many survive on an income significantly lower than the poverty line.
- In Muskoka, 49.1% of women aged 65+ living alone live in poverty.
LIVING IN POVERTY MEANS LESS OF EVERYTHING:
- Surviving is a full-time job when you live in poverty. Meeting basic needs for yourself and children (food, shelter, clothing) takes a great deal of energy and time. It’s hard to imagine a different reality when you’re hungry or scared.
- Muskoka is losing its workforce, young adults and families are relocating due to lack of affordable housing and full-time work.
- 43% of all jobs are in tourism, construction, service, and arts/entertainment and half of the jobs are part-time and seasonal.
- Women often stay in abusive relationships because they cannot afford to leave a violent situation.
- 3-5 children in every Canadian classroom witness violence in their homes.
- The cycle of poverty is very difficult to break. The impacts of the trauma of poverty and isolation begin in childhood and last a lifetime.
Email mark@muskokatoday.com or news@muskokatoday.com
Celebrating 26 YEARS of ‘Local Online Journalism’
Follow us at Twitter @muskokatoday & on Facebook at mclairmont1
Leave your comments at end of story. Or write a letter to the Editor at news@muskokatoday.com
And subscribe for $25 by e-transferring to news@muskokatoday.com
Or online at https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions
