In April 2014, Toronto City Council requested City staff to develop a City of Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy.  Since then, TWCA has been working with the City to include the voices of women living in poverty in the strategy.  We have been doing this in 2 ways: first, as a member of the City’s Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee.

The second is through hosting consultations for women living in poverty.  TWCA has partnered with Scadding Court Community Centre and Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke to host events at which women can express their opinions about the effects of poverty on their lives and effective ways of addressing it.  We continue to take this information back to the City of Toronto.

On Monday, the Community Development and Recreation Committee heard updates about the strategy.  As part of the process, women from the shelter system gave deputations on the effects of poverty on their lives.  TWCA also gave a deputation on women and poverty.  We salute these women for their bravery and commitment, and hope to continue to influence the process!