The 3 most critical needs that UWEM is focusing on this year are:

1. Reducing and preventing poverty

Poverty rates here are second-highest among urban areas in Ontario, and consistently higher than the Canadian average. 1 in 4 kids in our community lives in poverty, and poverty disproportionately affects the very young, the elderly, newcomers and Indigenous peoples.

2. Basic needs are increasingly out of reach for many in our community. One in seven local households don't have enough income to maintain a diet that is nutritious, adequate and culturally acceptable. Just two of the many ripple effects: kids with empty bellies have a tougher time learning in school. And adults in food-insecure households struggle more with their mental health.

3. Affordable housing and a safe place to call home is getting more difficult to find. Almost 6,000 households are currently on the waitlist for affordable housing in our region. Without a stable home, it's hard to keep a job or go to school, deal with mental health issues and addictions, raise a family or feel like you belong anywhere.