“Fearing eviction, walking to save a token, always choosing the cheapest and [therefore] least nutritious food, telling government agencies the same information over and over again, and worrying that the opportunities enjoyed by other children will be denied to yours. That’s what life is like for too many Torontonians.” – City of Toronto.
A recent report by Social Planning Toronto finds that child poverty exists in every ward of Toronto, even among the most affluent. The report, entitled “2018 Toronto Child & Family Poverty Report: Municipal Election Edition,” is the first to use census tract data to show hidden poverty within the city’s wards. This data shows that 10 wards in the city have a child poverty rate between 33% and 47%, but even wards with relatively low rates include areas where child poverty is pervasive, at double or triple the ward average. The report shows that inequities within our city are deep, disproportionately affecting Indigenous, racialized, and newcomer communities.
In light of the Thanksgiving season, Yorktown Family Services is thankful for the support from our funders that enables us to provide programs and services to the communities we serve. The west-end Toronto area serviced by Yorktown is one of the poorest and traditionally under-served communities in the province. There are very high levels of immigration to the area – 68% of our clients come from countries other than Canada and 62% speak a language other than English in their homes. Yorktown supports and equips women, children, youth and families to create positive change in their lives
Mental Health & Poverty
According to Daniele Zanotti, President and CEO of our partner organization, United Way Greater Toronto, states “Behind the recent increase in youth violence is rising poverty and inequality, decades in the making, cementing and connecting itself in GTA neighbourhoods. And it requires decades of sustained investments and community collaboration to correct. Both immediate action AND long-term solutions are required. It is prevention AND policy. It requires residents and agencies; faith and business; police and government. And it requires continuous and strategic acts of intervention and care.”
There is a very complex relationship between poverty and mental illness – people with mental illness often live in chronic poverty; conversely, poverty can be a significant risk factor for poor physical and mental health. At Yorktown Family Services, we strive to support and empower individuals and families to enjoy a full and healthy life by offering barrier-free access to quality programs, services and resources. Please click below to learn more about a few of the key programs and services we offer:
- An array of Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Services – counselling services, early years programs, school-based programs, among others.
- Violence Against Women Services – including shelter, transitional housing services and support, a child witness program, and a variety of other programs and services
- Mental health walk-in clinics – “what’s up” walk-in – free walk-in mental health counselling – no appointment, no fee, no health card
- West Toronto Youth Hub – a place for youth engagement, including a mental health walk-in dedicated to youth, a Youth Mentorship program and other youth-focused programs
- Youth Outreach Worker Program – Youth Outreach Workers (YOWs) engage youth in the community aged 12-24 to connect them with needed services, activities, etc.
- Mindful Fathering Program – a program for fathers who have exposed their children to intimate partner violence and are looking to reduce harm, improve mental health, and make positive changes in their lives and their relationships with children and women.
- Urban Tele Mental Health Services – providing rapid access to psychiatric consultation and assessment via video conferencing, in partnership with The Hospital for Sick Children.