United Way Elgin Middlesex partners with local, front-line agencies to deliver vital programs and services that help improve lives, break down barriers, and create opportunities for our most vulnerable people. These include 24/7 crisis lines, mental health and addiction supports, and community-building initiatives. As part of our commitment to measuring our impact, we track and report how these investments make a difference.

36% of our investments support our ongoing commitment to individual and family counselling, supports for individuals and families experiencing intimate partner violence including programs specifically for women, children, and men.

Mental health challenges intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to drive demand for timely programs and services. United Way Elgin Middlesex subsidizes counselling, internship training, and support and social connection for individuals, family members and caregivers.

Increased funding for Indigenous-lead programs accounted for 11% of our granting dollars. This investment is important as our organization begins more intentional work on reconciliation. These programs support Indigenous families involved in the child protection system and provide basic needs and emergency food supplies and other food-based programs to families and individuals in our region.

2023/2024 Outcomes in Brief:

• 1,278 clients received support through programs offered at Indigenous serving agencies.
• 2,695 clients received support through programs primarily serving newcomers.
• 135 clients received support through programs primarily serving people with disabilities.
• 3,985 clients received mental health and addictions counselling supports.
• A variety of 126 mobility or assistive decides were distributed to adults and seniors with a permanent disability.
• 3,983 people increased their ability to cope and increase their sense of well-being.

Detailed Outcomes

For a community to be great, it must be great for everyone.

We work with local agency partners, multiple levels of government, people with lived experience, and thousands of donors to change lives across our region. Through research, consultation and analysis, we identify where our communities need help the most and where our investments will show the greatest results.

United Way is uniquely positioned to deliver on these 10 outcomes:

• More residents have timely access to appropriate community mental health supports and services
• More residents have positive mental well being
• More residents experience early identification of mental health challenges and avoid escalation of crisis
• More residents are included, engaged and respected in their community
• More residents experience a sense of belonging and inclusion in our community
• More residents have access to culturally safe programs and services
• More residents have supports to access mainstream programs and services
• More residents for whom English is their second language have access to interpretation
• More residents who have experienced gender-based violence have timely access to appropriate supports and services
• More residents who have experienced gender-based violence experience early identification of challenges and avoid escalation of crisis

A strong community with resilient and healthy people

Total # of individuals who received support for their personal well-being

• 15,092 in 2023
• 11,651 in 2022
• 15,255 in 2021

Community mental health supports & services

Long term outcome: Individuals and families have positive mental health and are better able to handle life’s challenges

Promote mental health and well-being, reduce stigma, and provide community-based mental health programs in a timely manner to individuals and their family members and caregivers. Includes but is not limited to subsidized counselling, internship training, peer support, supports for family members and caregivers and social connection opportunities.

Outcomes:

• 3,985 individuals received mental health and addictions counselling supports
• 3,983 individuals increased their ability to cope and increase their sense of well-being

Wellbeing and resilience for all

Long term outcome: Ensure everyone can access programs and services, has the opportunity to actively participate in their community, and can reach their full potential despite the ongoing legacy of deeply embedded social and structural inequities and discrimination. Including, but is not limited to, culturally competent programs and services for Indigenous people, supports for adults and children with disabilities, healthy and active living programs for seniors, programs that reduce social isolation and loneliness for residents of rural communities and integration programs and services for newcomers.

Outcomes:

• 1,278 individuals received support through programs offered at Indigenous serving agencies
• 2,695 individuals received support through programs primarily serving newcomers
• 135 individuals received support through programs primarily serving people with disabilities
• 126 mobility or assistive devices were distributed to adults and seniors with a permanent disability

Addressing gender-based violence

Long term outcome: Assist individuals who have experienced sexual violence and/or abuse, as well as those who have experience physical, and/or emotional abuse in domestic relationships. Including, but not limited to, counselling and transitional services, parenting supports, violence prevention programs, support for child and youth witnesses and counselling and support for men.

Outcomes:

• 615 individuals indicated increased coping skills
• 227 children and youth were impacted by intervention
• 628 individuals accessed gender-based violence support