Toronto's Vital Signs® Issue Area
Gap Between Rich & Poor

Why it matters “The socio-economic health of Toronto requires a vital investment in economic development and poverty reduction. We need to consider the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable Torontonians, on a foundational level, in order to assist to close the gap between the rich and poor.” - Barb Gosse, Director, Saving and Asset-Building Initiative Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI)

• Toronto is becoming a divided city where 1 million people in a city of 2.7 million are living in low and very low income neighbourhoods.
• In one year, poverty in Toronto rose 22% and the rate of child poverty was up by more than 43%.
• The average cost of nutritious food for a family of four in Toronto rose to $715/month in 2010. On social assistance, that family would need to spend 37% of its income on food and 69% on rent, leaving minus $133 per month for all other basic needs.

Featured solutions from our Community Knowledge Centre
Our Community Knowledge Centre features solutions to the issues identified in Toronto's Vital Signs. Organizations who have received a grant from our Vital Toronto Fund are identified.

		Social Enterprise and Development Innovations (SEDI) Social and Enterprise Development Innovations - SEDI's mission is to reduce poverty by expanding social and economic opportunity for low-income Canadians. SEDI works to combat poverty currently focuses on the areas of financial literacy, saving and asset building, and entrepreneurship. Vital Toronto Fund award recipient 2011 Learn more about SEDI »
		Social Planning Toronto Social Planning Toronto is committed to independent social planning at the local and city-wide levels in order to improve the quality of life for all people in Toronto. It is committed to diversity, social and economic justice, and active citizen participation in all aspects of community life. Vital Toronto Fund award recipient 2011 Learn more about Social Planning Toronto »
		The Stop Community Food Centre The Stop Community Food Centre strives to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality. Their multifaceted, multi-layered approach to food and hunger is breaking new ground, demonstrating the potential of a new type of grassroots institution to promote individual and community health and contribute to building a just and sustainable food system. Vital Toronto Fund award recipient 2010 Learn more about The Stop Community Food Centre »