Advocacy in Action
Addressing complex social challenges requires complex strategies. Public policy work, including advocacy and government relations, is part of what United Way does every day. As a strong, non-partisan advocate, United Way works to keep important poverty and equity related issues front-and-centre with leaders at all three levels of government.
Oct 15, 2025
Financial stress leaving people vulnerable beyond their wallets: United Way calls for stronger community supports
Rising financial stress is leaving people across Canada vulnerable far beyond their wallets. New data from United Way Centraide Canada and Léger reveals growing anxiety, deepening poverty risks, and an urgent need for stronger community supports.
Aug 13, 2025
Built for Good: United Ways launch housing report
Every day, we see the devastating effects of the housing crisis in our communities and we are excited to share a new housing report that highlights tangible steps to address it.
With the support of United Ways across Ontario, United Way Greater Toronto has joined with the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and SHS Consulting to launch the Built for Good: Delivering the Housing Ontario Needs report. This report provides data-driven insights on the current state of housing in Ontario and shares actionable policy recommendations to help ensure more Ontarians have a safe, stable place to call home.
Mar 13, 2025
Rising to the Challenge: Building a Resilient Economy and Strong Communities
Over the last weeks, United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) has been actively monitoring developments and talking with other sector leaders to better understand and assess the implications of Tariffs and the resulting economic uncertainty.
As Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments prepare responses to support businesses and workers to cope with the impact of tariffs and to diversify our economy, we recommend that they must also invest in essential community services. We also urge governments to fund income security and labour adjustment programs, 211 capacity and community infrastructure.
Feb 26, 2025
Ontario United Ways: How Ontario’s political parties must deal with homelessness
Ahead of the 2025 provincial election, United Ways across Ontario are calling on the next provincial government to take meaningful actions to both prevent homelessness and improve the lives of those experiencing it in our communities.
Oct 24, 2024
Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic
Ontario United Ways’ Open Letter Call on Government of Ontario to Declare Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic
Nov 15, 2023
Bringing affordable housing home
Action plan for housing stability in Ontario outlines achievable ways to solve housing crisis.
May 18, 2023
Advocates seek housing safeguards for ‘renovicted’ tenants
A coalition of Ontario affordable-housing advocates calls for provincial legislation mandating rental-replacement bylaws.
Feb 7, 2023
United Way Elgin Middlesex calls for equitable Ontario budget
Statement signed by 23 United Way member agencies calls on provincial government to invest in community services, housing.
Dec 14, 2022
Retain, expand affordable housing options, United Ways advocate
United Ways across Ontario are cautioning the provincial government that that the More Homes Built Faster Act 2022 could unintentionally magnify housing shortages and unaffordability…
July 6, 2022
Ontario United Ways call for action on tough issues
United Way leaders from across Ontario have come together to propose 21 recommendations to the provincial government to address the unignorable hurdles to a strong and vibrant Ontario, especially in the current crisis of affordability…
February 25, 2022
United Way urges support for Our London Family Act
At United Way Elgin Middlesex, we condemn racism and Islamophobia as it is unjust and wrong. As community builders, we work alongside partners, including government, to ensure that Elgin Middlesex becomes a truly equitable, safe and inclusive place…
February 2, 2022
Prioritizing poverty reduction in the 2022 Provincial budget
United Way, alongside other local funding organizations, has sent a budget submission letter addressed to the Ontario Minister of Finance emphasizing the need to prioritize pressing issues like housing affordability, inadequate social assistance rates and implementing the Our London Family Act in the 2022 Provincial Budget…
January 14, 2022
Open Letter in advance of the provincial-municipal housing summit on January 19, 2022
Dear Premier Ford, Mayors and Regional Chairs,
As organizations working closely with people experiencing poverty, housing precarity and homelessness, we would like to express our appreciation and support for efforts to strengthen intergovernmental collaboration to address housing affordability in Ontario, including through the provincial-municipal housing summit…