The Guelph Community Foundation put a spotlight on the area’s pressing issues and announced grants to help alleviate hardships.
It was the second year the foundation did a Vital Signs report. It compiles research for 11 issues that are graded through a community survey. This year, 400 people in Guelph and Wellington County did the on-line survey.
One issue in this year’s report is the gap between rich and poor indicator, which is seen to be growing.
The report stated, “In 2006, the average (pre-tax) income of the richest 10% of census families living in the Guelph area was $161,000, while the average income for the poorest 10% was $26,100. This means that the richest 10% earned 6.2 times the income of the poorest 10%. Since 2001, the difference between the richest and poorest incomes has grown by 3.1%. The weekly cost of a food basket to feed a family of four in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph health region is $167.02.
Ontario Works provides financial and employment assistance to people who are in temporary financial need. The amount of money people receive depends on their family size, income, assets and housing costs. As of April, there are 1,687 Ontario Works cases in Guelph and Wellington. Between April 2008 and April 2009, the caseload increased 12.8% in Ontario. In comparison, it increased 34.1% in Guelph and Wellington.
Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary financial help to unemployed Canadians while they look for work or upgrade their skills. It is also available for individuals while they are sick, pregnant or caring for a newborn or adopted child, or caring for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death. The basic benefit is presently 55% of averaged insured earnings, up to a maximum of $42,300 per year ($447 per week). EI is a taxable income, meaning federal and provincial taxes are deducted. Regular EI benefits last up to 45 weeks.
As of April 2009, 8,719 people in Guelph and Wellington were receiving regular EI benefits (3,250 in the Guelph area).
Between April 2008 and April 2009, the number of EI beneficiaries increased 78.6% in Ontario. In comparison, it increased 236.5% in Guelph and Wellington (160.0% in the Guelph area).
Bringing such issues to public awareness is is the point of the survey according to Hugh Guthrie, chairman of foundation’s board of directors.
“The entire Vital Signs® process – from the survey itself, to the reader-friendly data, to the discussion after the release – is all meant to raise awareness in our community about some of the key statistics in areas like work, safety, gap between rich and poor, housing, etc., and to generate discussion and focus around solutions for areas where the need is most pressing,” he said.
“With respect to the employment statistics, we hope the community, employers and all levels of government use Vital Signs® as a springboard for discussion and informed action.”
The foundation itself turned to that report when it invited grant applications focused on poverty alleviation under the banner Building Vital Communities.
Those grant announcements, totalling $50,000, are to be directed to seven programs. Programs receiving funding included The Food Project, an initiative of Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County.
It was among the many applications that addressed the issue of food security.
“There are children in our community who go hungry every day,” said Daniel Moore, Executive Director of Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County. “The Food Project allows us to work with neighbourhood groups to increase the opportunities for families to access food cupboards, community kitchens, garden fresh boxes, and community gardens.”
A full list of grants is available at www.guelphcf.ca.
Guelph Community Foundation Executive Director, Andrea Olson said, “The Vital Signs data show this has been an extremely difficult year financially for our community … Yet, I am continually inspired by the generosity and philanthropic vision of our donors and the creativity and energy of our community agencies and leaders. ”
The foundation pools charitable gifts into permanent, income-earning endowments. The income supports a wide range of charitable programs and activities. The foundation currently has $6.4-million in assets and since its inception nine years ago has disbursed close to $1.5-million in grants to community organizations.
Canada’s has 165 community foundations and 16 of them launched their Vital Signs reports on Oct. 6.
The indicators addressed in the local report card include:
– gap between rich and poor;
– safety;
– health & Wellness;
– learning;
– housing;
– getting started in the community;
– arts and culture;
– environment;
– work;
– getting around; and
– belonging and leadership;
Some of the highlights of those issues included a report on violent crime In 2008, that rate in Guelph was 607 occurrences per 100,000 people. The rate for Wellington was 373 per 100,000 people. In comparison, the provincial average was 732. Since 2007, violent crime offences have increased 3.2% in Guelph and 9.7% in Wellington.
In 2008, the crime severity index for the Guelph area was 57.7. In comparison, it was 70.6 for Ontario. Since 2007, the severity rate has dropped 2.5% in Guelph.
With charity, area residents are above average.
The employment rate refers to the percentage of working age people (age 15 or over) who have jobs (full-time or part-time). In June, the employment rate in the Guelph and Wellington’s economic region was 64.2%. In comparison, it was 61.4% in Ontario. Since June 2008, the employment rate has gone down 3.6% in Guelph and Wellington.
In June 2009, the unemployment rate in the Guelph area was 8.5%. In comparison, the provincial rate was 9.4%. Since June 2008, the unemployment rate has increased 84.8% in Guelph.
Guelph and Wellington has a high concentration of workers in the manufacturing sector, according to the report. It is second only to Waterloo Region in all of Canada.
