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egreltahly. poverty has a fulure in York Region. social service professionals and academics predict. With the number of homeless people more than doubling since 2001 and 13 per cent of York's popu~ laflon living below the poverty line. H's doubtful the historic prevalence of an atnsk demographic will be eradicated by 2051,. York Region social planning council co-chajrperson Pat Tavlor said. Emu in the best of economic times. we have people who are trapped at the bottom. former Alliance To End Homelessness public education or» ordinator lane chlock No matter how well Communities am doing, there are always people who are wanting {2nd in Seneca College social service worker program research coordinator David Semick It’s unlikely poverty will be con quered unless something substantial happens at the federal and provincial levels. sald‘Mstlockwholefi the alliance earliet this year. It's not only about the economy. she believes. ‘ Despite a gmundswell of anti-pov- erty activity. public attention. policy focus and an ama)gam of Organiza- u‘ons addneSSing economic Vulner- abflity. those on the frondines sham a PWPMW Whediér 0} not poverty will take diflexem fomxs isn‘t something Ms 'Ihylor can envision. “That said. my concern is that some conditions that cause people to become impoverished will not rate a high enough priority on the public policy agenda." she said Ms Taylor said allocating adequate funding to treatment of. and research into. mental illness. as well as public education campaigns to reduce the stigma attached (shaving mental ill- rmfi. is not seen as “sexy” when comâ€" pared to other such an: bean disease and some forms of cancer. "Therefore. lexped mental illness will, continue lobe underfunded and a major problem and a major muse of people living in poverty.” Trends indicate increased ~num~ bers of people living on low income and in vulnerable populations. The labowmarket isalreadyseeingahol- lowingoutofgmdiobsandadeyee of polarization between those at the top and those at the bottom. Education key to wagingwar onpoverty BY CHRIS TMBER ctrabcrfiyrmg. com “If we continue to distinguish between who we think are deserving and undeserving. tet'ms that are not spoken. but are implicit in policies. wewillnotliveuptoouxcollective responsibility for the heahh and wel- fare of the population,” she 7 Mt. Semick foresees the fumte strata marbled with destitu- tion. but is confident it (an m'mmed fmm current level It'll take robust economic growth and enmlened. creative social services addressing finerâ€"generational poveny. he said. ‘ “Education is a Worm! inocula- u‘onagalnstpoveny Wh."hesaid. “Education isthekeyto unlock many doors Wemust have pathways to post-secondary training and bridg- ing programs for at-risk and chal~ lengcd youth. That will give kids a better chance. “Wehavetou'eatpm'enyasa temporary state and look for ways to pmvide people with the tools to look after mm. The focus must be on education. mnbility and food Ms Taylor thinks the lack of c0~ ordination regionwide of nun'profit and governmcmal agencies pmvid- ing social and human services needs to be addtcssed. A lack of teamwork leads to pro- Small social service agencies, such Inn From the Cold": community meal program, am: struggling with incncas- ing demand. says anti-homelessness advocate lane Wedlock. . By 2051.016": will be momsenior citizens in York Region. Perhaps with the aging population and vulnerabilo M of people who have insufficient funds for their mimmmt. we will hear new voices. Ms Wedlock said. liferation of some services and lack of needed capacity fer other services and no clear inventory of what is amiable. she said. Mchdlock agreed. “Theaiticalmingformcisthe absence of social at the local level.” she said. Small social service agencies are struggling to adjust to the current population levels and increasing demzmds and then: is a very frag. mtcdapproach. MsWedlock "there is a significant need for a place- hand response. with policy and program support and adequate funding for collaborative initiativa; that have a prevention focus at the municipal level? she said.“'l1u's Bacon: element 0‘ infrmtructure that is missing.” “What happens in Markham is different than what happens in Vaughan '0! Georgina. or any of the other municipalities. even if there arecommon thxeads.‘ Since 1971, than has been sig- nificant poverty reduction among To stem povénfs tide now and in the future. we need national housing and poverty elimination strategia and a commitment to the social detenninams of health at all levels of govemmen-t. Ms Wedlod: More funding and less reu- ance on volunteers is need- ed for social services. Ms Tavior added. » ‘ due largely to old age secu- rity, guaranteed income supple- ments and government transfers to the elderly. Mr. Semick said. For that trend to continue, need to sustain those supports. he (jetting qualified newcomers into their chosen career. affordâ€" able housing and 1111pr men- tal health an: pillars supporting the future. Ms "Mylar said in 2051. Yon: Region will cele- bmtcns 80m anniversary. Our mela- tive youth as a, vegan could be forâ€" tuitous. the expats said. ' “There's great opportunity m m ank Raglan," Mr. Semick Said. “It's ~ n m m um- of the newest regions. it's gmw- M m M 1 mg and underscrviced. You have u. h a m H the opportunity to enhénce existing m m axial services and ("mate new and I“ h M Mr inmwative pmgramx” m E” D. STAFF PHOTOSTEV! SOMEWILLE MEthedponny PART .3 Leisure opponumues abo PM" 3: ELonunw of the bum: PART 2: H" ‘: Poltcmg I 8 malhon pewte- FUTURE SHAPING OUR A sixâ€"pan senes on York Reyon‘s msmn for 2051 Lemme opponunmcs aboun York's mfrastmuure yuwmg u; WANT MORE?