IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE, INCLUDING SENIORS, IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, TO CONTRIBUTE FULLY TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
| PRIORITY GOAL | Increase opportunities for meaningful employment for people with disabilities |
TARGET ISSUE | 150,000 people in Ottawa live with disabilities. One in six lives in poverty. Only 43% of people with disabilities participate in the workforce. Many feel isolated. The recent Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act has mandated employers and others to better-equip themselves to serve the needs of people with disabilities. |
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES |
Having access to employment opportunities is a vital building-block for full participation in society. A majority of employers feel unequipped to meet the needs of employees with disabilities. Most report limited knowledge of best practices in recruitment, placement and retention. |
COMMUNITY INDICATOR |
By 2015, increase the labour market participation for people with disabilities to 51% |
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES |
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| PRIORITY GOAL | Decrease the unemployment and underemployment rates for immigrants and new Canadians |
TARGET ISSUE | 83 % of immigrants arriving in our community have a post-secondary degree or certificate. Immigration is the most significant source of population growth for our community, accounting for 78 per cent of population growth between 2001 and 2006. By 2011, immigration will provide 100% of workforce growth in Ottawa. 58 % of immigrants and new Canadians are under-employed, and 40 % live in low-income situations. |
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES |
Having access to employment opportunities is a vital building-block for full participation in society. New immigrants often require new social competencies to better integrate into the Canadian workforce. Employers need access to best practices to enable adaptation of their workplace to enable recruitment, placement and retention of immigrants in their workplaces. |
COMMUNITY INDICATOR |
Increase employers participating in workforce inclusion initiatives that integrate immigrants and New Canadians into the workforce (target in development with Internationally Trained Workers Partnership) |
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES |
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| PRIORITY GOAL | Enable vulnerable seniors to remain living in their own homes and engaged in their community |
TARGET ISSUE | Seniors today make up 12 per cent of the population, and this number will grow to 28 per cent by 2031. While most are living fulfilled lives, close to 30 per cent are living in low income situations, and do not have the support they need to remain in their own homes – disconnecting them from their communities, and putting them at risk of institutionalization in hospitals or long-term care facilities. Up to 33% of those on long-term care wait lists could remain in their own homes with proper supports and affordable housing. |
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES |
Many seniors require simple supports such as transportation, light housekeeping and basic personal care assistance to enable them to stay in their own homes. |
COMMUNITY INDICATOR |
By 2015, 93% of people over the age of 65 will be able to live in their own homes |
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES |
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| PRIORITY GOAL | Increase the number of residents in priority neighbourhoods leading their own community development initiatives |
TARGET ISSUE | There is great diversity in Ottawa’s neighbourhoods. Average incomes vary between $17,304 and $34,869. High-school completion rates range from 68% to 93%, and unemployment rates range from 2% to 11% in some neighbourhoods. 78 % of the city’s low-income population is concentrated in marginalized neighbourhoods, where the average income is less than half of the city’s average. |
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES |
Neighbourhoods are the foundation of community development, and engagement of residents is critical to sustained improvement. They have tremendous resident capacity to reduce socio-economic challenges through civic engagement. |
COMMUNITY INDICATOR |
By 2015, there will be an increase of 20% from the 2010 baseline of physical and social assets in priority neighbourhoods |
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES |
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