Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.
Wellesley Institute provided advice to all parties throughout the course of the recent provincial election, making recommendations on ensuring everyone in Ontario can thrive, improving health system equity and delivering affordable, healthy, adequate housing for all. Below, we assess the proposed 2025 Ontario Budget, announced this month. On thriving Everyone in Ontario needs to have […]
Wellesley Institute’s 2025 Federal Election series laid out our recommendations for what federal parties can do to advance health equity in three key areas: thriving – policies that will help ensure everyone has what they need to live a healthy life, live in healthy housing and afford healthy food. We have already examined where parties stand on […]
Continue Reading2025 Federal Election series: Analysis of party platforms on housing
Ontario faces three crises in housing – attainability, affordability and homelessness. We cannot solve these crises without supportive housing. Supportive housing combines housing assistance and wrap-around support services to serve diverse client populations. It’s critical to meet the needs of those at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, […]
Continue ReadingPolicy brief: Bold action on supportive housing Download PublicationBold action on supportive housing
The number of people living in encampments across the province has been growing in recent years. At least 1,400 encampments were reported across Ontario in 2023. The growth demonstrates how current social and economic policy is failing more and more people. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario’s Big City mayors and numerous councillors have […]
Continue ReadingHomelessness is a policy failure, not a crime
Evidence shows 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Canada experience higher rates of homelessness. They face unique barriers to housing, and there are major gaps in the ability of housing and service providers to offer the supports they need. In an effort to help cities address the issue, Wellesley Institute reviewed 27 current and forthcoming municipal-led or supported […]
Continue ReadingJurisdictional scan: Strategies to support homeless 2SLGBTQ+ communities Download PublicationStrategies to Support Homeless 2SLGBTQ+ Communities – A jurisdictional scan
Wellesley Institute submitted the following recommendations last week for Federal Budget 2025. Recommendation 1: Expand on previous funding targeting homelessness and provide a clear vision and public targets to end chronic homelessness within 10 years. Recommendation 2: Expand and reform existing income security programs, including Employment Insurance, Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. […]
Continue ReadingFederal Pre-Budget 2025 Submission: Time for vision and leadership on health equity
Pride Month is not only a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ communities, but a call for more equitable policies across all sectors, from health to housing. Access to safe, stable and affordable housing is critical for good health. Recent government action on housing has largely focused on increasing housing affordability, while little is being done to […]
Continue ReadingPride Month highlights need to address 2SLGBTQ+ homelessness
This year’s proposed federal budget takes some important steps forward on issues that are crucial to population health and health equity. In particular, we acknowledge that the government proposes to increase its investments in affordable housing and ending homelessness and is introducing funding for the Canada Disability Benefit, which will provide assistance to low-income persons […]
Continue ReadingFederal Budget 2024: Positive steps, but still no targets
In our recommendations to the province on the 2024 Ontario Budget, Wellesley Institute called for a focus on homelessness. We urged the province to: put in place a plan to end homelessness in 10 years, make sure their general housing targets will lead to affordability and to lifting Ontarians out of homelessness, invest in enough […]
Although the City of Toronto 2024 budget takes bold steps toward supporting residents and advancing equity in key areas, there is much more work that needs to be done to build a city that is resilient, mentally healthy and equitable for all.
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.