Community Development Halton Blog

Better language, and a more human approach; change in the form of dignity by Marco   Right now, the most important thing in my life is being able to provide for my family. I have a young toddler, and finances are not always the easiest thing to manage. So anything I can do to support my partner and my daughter feels huge. That is honestly why I agreed to do this research. The gift card definitely mattered, but also because I have had a lot of experience in Halton, both access

Staying connected and not doing it alone by M.K.B. I had to move away from Halton because my family moved, but all of my support systems were still there. I did not want to let myself get isolated in a new town, so having access to virtual services has been incredibly important to me. I have been able to join Support House groups for mental health and substance use concerns, attend creative writing groups through the Writers Collective of Canada, and meet with my therapist vi

Halton Region has one of the highest rental markets in Ontario [1] . But what is often overlooked is how different the market treats new renters compared with long-term renters. A new study form Statistics Canada confirms a pattern seen across the country: “Renters who recently moved into their unit face significantly higher shelter costs than renters who have lived in their homes for many years” [2] . This pattern holds even after adjusting for housing type, building age, in

Choosing a Road Forward By Ashley I did not spend much time on the street. I couch surfed with friends for a bit and then ended up in the shelter. Back in 2019, it was coed, half female and half male. It was not a good time. The staff were tough and always seemed to be looking for a reason to kick you out. One time, I was sitting on the couch, and someone asked me to pass a bottle of vitamin C, and they tried to kick me out for that. Not long after that, COVID came. I actuall

Meeting community needs in uncertain times. Nonprofit organizations are the backbone of Halton Region’s social and economic well-being, delivering essential services and fostering community connections. But how is the sector faring in 2025? Community Development Halton (CDH) analyzed a Halton subset of data, from the Ontario Nonprofit Network’s (ONN) 2025 State of Ontario's Nonprofit the Sector Survey, to uncover trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping Halton’s nonprofi

For those that care about housing equity, 2025 has been a year that’s impossible to ignore Many wonder about the roots of the housing crisis. This past year, several pieces of Ontario legislation have been introduced, and often passed, with lightning speed. Bills 5, 6, 10, 17, and now 60 each have their own red flags. Together, they paint a picture of a provincial direction that leans heavily toward criminalization, deregulation, and top-down authority. Below is a breakdown

What is a Living Wage, Who is most impacted and What difference can a Living Wage make? Living Wage Rate for Halton for 2025 Shelter costs, which include rent, utilities, and insurance—are once again driving the annual increase to the living wage across the GTA. These costs account for 47% of the current living wage calculation. Food costs, transportation, and child care are the next highest factors in the calculation. There is still no place in Ontario where you can work ful

Volunteers at a food bank In March 2025, Canada’s food bank system recorded nearly 2.17 million visits, the greatest monthly visits recorded. It represents a 5.2% increase over 2024, and nearly100% increase since 2019 [1] . In Ontario, a total of 646 organizations contributed data to the survey, including 452 food banks, 82 meal programs, and 112 organizations providing both services. Together, these groups supported 575 community agencies and programs, representing 1,221 ser

Child sitting on a hockey net By Ricahrd Lau The latest Statistics Canada’s T1 Family File (T1FF) data reveals a troubling rise in child poverty across Halton Region. Between 2018 and 2023, both the number and proportion of children (under 17 years of age) living in poverty increased in every municipality. In 2023, over 13,800 children lived in poverty, or over 1 in 8 children. Halton’s child poverty of 13.5% surpassed the overall regional poverty rate of 13.1%. This widening

Picture of row houses By Richard Lau The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) [1] , [2] calculates the rental wage - the hourly wage a full-time worker (working 40 hours per week, 52 weeks a year) needs to afford the average 2-bedroom apartment [3] while spending less than 30% of before tax income on housing. Put simply, the rental wage is the wage people need to earn to pay their rent without sacrificing other basic needs. To benchmark housing affordability, rent

Currented by Gala Vukmanovic Why Nonprofits in Halton Matter Community nonprofit organizations provide essential community and social...

By Richard Lau Poverty is often hidden in communities like Halton, which are known for prosperity and rapid growth. Yet, new data from...

As we face uncertain times and roller coaster news cycles on tariffs, have you ever wondered how many local jobs depend on trade with the...

New StatsCan data reveals declining trends in Volunteering and Charitable Giving This chart titled, "Total number of formal volunteering...

Income Supports, like the Canada Disability Benefit, Help Tackle this Crisis A 3.8% rise in poverty levels reported since 2020. Source:...

Recent report by Future of Good shows that a third of workers are thriving while a third are struggling This graph was pulled from the...

Person making a donation of food. A new report from Statistics Canada ( Source ) reveals that food insecurity has reached alarming levels...

Halton 2024 Population by Census Tract Halton Region has seen growth in recent years, from a total population of 613,398 in 2020 to an...

By Ruby Atesoglu A circle of people sharing stories, with a microphone available to speak into. “Indeed sometimes the process of creating...

The Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) has released the 2024 Living Wage for Halton Region, calculated at $26.00 per hour. This new...