Why Are We Underfunded? A Closer Look at Peel’s Social Services Posted: October 29, 2024 Provincial Politics Blog Metamorphosis Network leadership team members Gurpreet Malhotra (left) and Sharon Mayne joined Bluebrint ADE Principle Associate Thomas McManus (right) for a news conference in Brampton on Thursday (May 23) to present the findings of a study showing massi Share this post: Log in or Register to post comments The Anti-Black Racism and Systemic Discrimination (ABR-SD) Collective of Peel is dedicated to fostering dialogue and advocating for meaningful change to dismantle systemic discrimination. In this spirit, we highlight a recent study commissioned by the Metamorphosis Network, which represents over 100 nonprofit organizations in our region. This study investigates the underfunding of social services in Peel Region by the Province of Ontario, offering a comprehensive examination of funding disparities compared to other municipalities.The findings reveal a concerning trend: residents of Peel receive, on average, $578 less annually for municipal and social services than their counterparts in other Ontario municipalities. This cumulative funding gap exceeds $868 million per year, impacting core municipal services, nonprofit community support, and public health initiatives. For example, in the area of nonprofit services alone, the annual per capita gap amounts to $258, translating to a staggering $390 million deficit.When we compare Peel to other large municipalities in Ontario, such as Toronto and Ottawa, it becomes evident that Peel consistently ranks at the bottom for funding across various channels. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, it also fell below average for school board funding, further compounding the challenges faced by our community.The implications of this funding gap are significant. Municipal contributions to social services have risen, with residents now shouldering a greater burden through increased property taxes and user fees. From 2015 to 2022, these contributions jumped from $605 to $743 per capita, indicating a growing reliance on local taxpayers to fill the void left by provincial funding. Additionally, nonprofit organizations are becoming increasingly financially unsustainable, as fewer can rely on provincial support as their primary funding source.To get a deeper dive into the findings, please take a look at the full report. Join the Conversation!We encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. How do you see this funding disparity impacting your community? What changes do you believe are necessary to ensure all residents of Peel receive the support they need? Your voice matters in this critical discussion, and together, we can work toward a more equitable future for everyone in our region. Log in or Register to post comments Loading... John Doe J Joined: Bio: Bio: J J joveller - 1 week ago This was such an insightful… This was such an insightful blog post that truly captures the harmful effects of the increasing funding gap for non-profits in Peel and the clients which they serve. As a service provider in the Halton Region, we are facing a similar setback where due to the lack of consistent and sufficient funding, we have had to scale back on programming and some vital services that we provide, directly affecting our clients in need of supports. I feel that an increase in the availability of community grants and accessibility to these grants for various non-profits is essential in addressing this issue in Peel along with demanding government leaders to re-evaluate funding in the social services sector, as highlighted in this post. Log in or Register to post comments Tue, 10/29/2024 - 17:36 Permalink F F faithlyn.agyemang - 1 week ago This was a truly thoughtful… This was a truly thoughtful blog as it outlines some of the disparities such as funding that directly affects our community. As someone who lives in the Peel region, it is awaking to see how our region receives less funding. I think this is important as it not only affects our generation now but will greatly impact the generations to come. As we start to build families and have children, we essentially would be widening these inequalities. This would truly exacerbate social inequalities and leave marginalized communities even more underserved. As the gap continues to widen, the services that affect our future children will be profound for example larger class sizes will impact their educational outcomes and success. Overall, I can see the need to advocate for reevaluation of provincial funding to truly combat growing regions like Peel. Log in or Register to post comments Thu, 10/31/2024 - 14:35 Permalink PCHS4u - 16 hours ago Celebrating the Achievements of the ABR&SD Collective We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the ABR&SD Collective on their remarkable achievements! This dedicated group has shown tremendous resilience, passion, and commitment to advancing the well-being and development of our community, and we couldn’t be prouder of their work. A big thank you to everyone who played a role in this journey—your collective effort has created a ripple effect of positive change and shown the true power of working together toward a common goal. Congratulations, ABR&SD Collective! Log in or Register to post comments Fri, 11/08/2024 - 12:15 Permalink D D divineasemota125 - 5 hours ago Necessary but tough conversation Underfunding in Peel Region severely limits access to essential services, with residents receiving significantly less per capita than other Ontario communities. This shortfall forces residents to cover gaps through higher property taxes and user fees, placing an unfair burden on lower-income households and marginalized communities. Nonprofits are also struggling to sustain vital programs, reducing community support and weakening the local safety net. To foster a fair and inclusive community, it’s essential for the Province to address these funding disparities and align Peel’s support with that of other large municipalities. Log in or Register to post comments Fri, 11/08/2024 - 23:11 Permalink Most Commented & Latest Explore More Explore our forum and dive deeper into topics and discussions that can inspire change in our community. 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J J joveller - 1 week ago This was such an insightful… This was such an insightful blog post that truly captures the harmful effects of the increasing funding gap for non-profits in Peel and the clients which they serve. As a service provider in the Halton Region, we are facing a similar setback where due to the lack of consistent and sufficient funding, we have had to scale back on programming and some vital services that we provide, directly affecting our clients in need of supports. I feel that an increase in the availability of community grants and accessibility to these grants for various non-profits is essential in addressing this issue in Peel along with demanding government leaders to re-evaluate funding in the social services sector, as highlighted in this post. Log in or Register to post comments Tue, 10/29/2024 - 17:36 Permalink
F F faithlyn.agyemang - 1 week ago This was a truly thoughtful… This was a truly thoughtful blog as it outlines some of the disparities such as funding that directly affects our community. As someone who lives in the Peel region, it is awaking to see how our region receives less funding. I think this is important as it not only affects our generation now but will greatly impact the generations to come. As we start to build families and have children, we essentially would be widening these inequalities. This would truly exacerbate social inequalities and leave marginalized communities even more underserved. As the gap continues to widen, the services that affect our future children will be profound for example larger class sizes will impact their educational outcomes and success. Overall, I can see the need to advocate for reevaluation of provincial funding to truly combat growing regions like Peel. Log in or Register to post comments Thu, 10/31/2024 - 14:35 Permalink
PCHS4u - 16 hours ago Celebrating the Achievements of the ABR&SD Collective We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the ABR&SD Collective on their remarkable achievements! This dedicated group has shown tremendous resilience, passion, and commitment to advancing the well-being and development of our community, and we couldn’t be prouder of their work. A big thank you to everyone who played a role in this journey—your collective effort has created a ripple effect of positive change and shown the true power of working together toward a common goal. Congratulations, ABR&SD Collective! Log in or Register to post comments Fri, 11/08/2024 - 12:15 Permalink
D D divineasemota125 - 5 hours ago Necessary but tough conversation Underfunding in Peel Region severely limits access to essential services, with residents receiving significantly less per capita than other Ontario communities. This shortfall forces residents to cover gaps through higher property taxes and user fees, placing an unfair burden on lower-income households and marginalized communities. Nonprofits are also struggling to sustain vital programs, reducing community support and weakening the local safety net. To foster a fair and inclusive community, it’s essential for the Province to address these funding disparities and align Peel’s support with that of other large municipalities. Log in or Register to post comments Fri, 11/08/2024 - 23:11 Permalink