IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING SENIORS, IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, TO CONTRIBUTE FULLY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Making sure that people can become or remain connected to community makes good sense. It helps people lead richer lives and reduces the costs of social supports.
To strengthen connections to community, we are focusing our efforts in four areas:
- Connecting people with disabilities who want to work with meaningful employment opportunities;
- Ensuring that more seniors have the supports they need to age in their own homes;
- Decreasing the unemployment and underemployment of immigrants and new Canadians, and
- Increasing the number of people working together to improve their own neighbourhoods.
Meaningful employment for people with disabilities
Why are we focusing here?
In Ottawa only 43% of people with disabilities participate in the labour market - that's 17% lower than the national average. 1 in 6 people with disabilties in Ottawa live below the poverty line and rely more heavily on social programs.
By providing people with disabilities who want to work with employment opportunities we're also giving them a pathway out of poverty.
Our Community Goal
- Help create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Measuring Success
- By 2015 increase labour market participation rate for people with disabilities to 51%.
Together, we are…
Working with 28 stakeholders signed on to the Employment Accessibility Resource Network (EARN) Ottawa Initiative - bridging the gap between employers and service providers - creating more job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Helping seniors remain independent
Why are we focusing here?
100,800 seniors live in Ottawa - 1 in 4 of them need in-home supports to maintain their independence. Over the next 20 years Ottawa’s senior population in Ottawa will more than double - so will the number who are seeking help.
When you give seniors the support they need to remain in their own homes you keep them out long-term care facilities (which costs significantly more) and help keep them connected to their community.
Our Community Goal
- Help seniors maintain their independence and stay active in the community
Measuring Success
- By 2015, 93% of people over the age of 65 will be able to remain living in their own homes
Together, we are…
Investing in programs like PQCH's Healthy Aging for Multicultural Seniors. This program is designed to help seniors who are living in isolation due to language, adaptation and transportation barriers. It offers a drop in centre, translation and transportation support, information sessions to help them live better and special outings.
Employment opportunities for new Canadians
Why are we focusing here?
The Canadian workforce is shrinking, to stay competitive we need a skilled labour force. Immigrants will help fill this gap, but currently 58% do not find employment in the field that they are trained in - and nearly 40% live in low income situations.
Providing skilled immigrants with access to jobs that match their skills helps them and their families live a better life and contribute more fully to our community.
Our Community Goal
- Help bring immigrants and new Canadians together with employers to find jobs that match their skills.
Measuring Success
- Increase the number of employers engaged in creating inclusive workplaces by hiring immigrants.
Together, we are…
Managing Hire Immigrants Ottawa, a community-based initiative that brings together employers, immigrant agencies and stakeholders to help employers access the talents of skilled immigrants in Ottawa. So far, more than 200 employers have taken part, which resulted in more than 1000 job opportunities for new immigrants since 2007.
Building strong neighbourhoods
Why are we focusing here?
Not all Ottawa neighbourhoods are the same, some have lower average incomes and graduation rates and higher unemployment. This creates a cycle of poverty for people, children, families living in these neighbourhoods.
By helping people in vulnerable neighbourhoods create positive change from within you're helping them find a way out of poverty while building a stronger, healthier neighbourhood.
Our Community Goal
- Help people living in vulnerable neighbourhoods create positive change for themselves, their families and community
Measuring Success
- By 2016, 20% increase in physical and social assets in priority neighbourhoods against the baseline in 2011.
Together, we are…
Investing in programs like the Community Research Collaborative, working with partners like the City of Ottawa to help provide the research and analysis needed to respond to the most urgent social needs in priority neighbourhoods. It brings people and organizations together to create stronger communities and a stronger city.
For more information download our
Focus Area One-Pager
