We believe in a poverty-free Ontario is the declaration of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction.

What is the 25 in 5 Network?

25-in-5: Network for Poverty Reduction has organized around the call for a Poverty Reduction Plan with a goal to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years and 50% in 10 years.

Why 25 in 5?

We know that reducing poverty by 25% in five years is both necessary and achievable.

Report after report has documented that, despite our record levels of economic growth, poverty has persisted at the same high rates for an entire generation.

Among aboriginal populations, racialized communities, newcomers, single mothers and people with disabilities the situation is even more dire, with adult and child poverty rates that can be many times the Ontario average.

A 25 in 5 plan would lift more than 400,000 Ontarians out of poverty in just five years.

Can we afford to do this?

We can’t afford NOT to do it – the costs of poverty are too high.

Just as it is much more costly to treat a disease than prevent one, it costs more to provide emergency hostels than affordable housing. Homelessness, just one facet of poverty, costs Canada at least $4.5 billion every year in emergency services, medical treatment and more.

Reducing poverty is smart for economies, as is maintaining a strong social safety net to prevent poverty. Denmark, Sweden and Finland are three of the five most economically competitive nations in the world. They have the lowest child poverty rates and strong social safety nets.

Events

The 25 in 5 will be holding its Toronto Network general Assembly on Tuesday October 27, 2008 in MacDonald Block at 900 Bay Street at Wellesley.

Comments

2009-04-29 15:06:12   25-in-5 poverty reduction just became became Law in Ontario: http://25in5.ca/real-gains-made-as-poverty-reduction-becomes-law/ —HimySyed