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Advocacy for Food Security & Homelessness

ADVOCACY

Advocating for People In Need

Learn more about how The Compass Food Bank engages in addressing systemic issues that lead to food insecurity and homelessness.

OUR VOICE
CORE ISSUES
OUR ACTIONS
YOU CAN HELP
LEARN MORE

An Example of Advocacy: Letter to the Editor of the Toronto Star by Board Member Margaret Ramsay

Letter to the Editor Toronto Star by Margaret Ramsay December 5 2024 advocating for combatting the rise in food bank usage
WHAT IS ADVOCACY

To advocate is to publicly support or recommend a particular cause.

OUR VOICE

Our Combined Voices Can Have a Greater Impact When Spoken Together

As a community we can use our voice and vote to support those in need in south Mississauga and beyond.

At The Compass we seek to advocate for long-term structural solutions and systemic change to reduce poverty. We believe that everyone deserves the secure foundation of a permanent home and everyone deserves to feed themselves and their family with dignity. Our reputation and community connections position The Compass to advocate for short and long term change for our clients.

The Compass is combining their voice with Food Banks Mississauga as we align with the core issues identified in their “The Face of Hunger in Mississauga Annual Report 2023”.  This report outlines the top issues facing people with food insecurity and provides a common platform for our advocacy initiatives.

CORE ISSUES

What We Advocate For

At The Compass, we believe in advocating for our community members’ essential needs and rights. We focus on addressing critical issues such as limited social assistance programs, lack of affordable housing, and the necessity of a strong and supportive workforce.

We aim to raise awareness and drive policy changes that ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to live with dignity and security.

Please explore our core issues and how you can get involved here.

Limited Ontario Social Assistance Programs

  • 30% of food bank users in Mississauga rely on social assistance as their main source of income.
  • A single person receives a maximum of $733 through Ontario Works.
  • A single person receives a maximum of $1,308 through the Ontario Disability Support Program per month. These do not cover the costs of food, clothing, rent and other basic needs. Rates have also not kept up with rising inflation.
WE ADVOCATE FOR
  • Increased Social Assistance rates that are tied to inflation

Lack of Affordable Housing

  • 3 out of 4 food bank users say that affordable housing would most significantly change their quality of life.
  • The Affordable housing waitlist in Peel has nearly doubled in the last two years to 28,227 people.
WE ADVOCATE FOR
  • The reduction of homelessness
  • The creation and repair of social and supportive housing units
  • Expansion of protections for low-income renters
  • Alternative options for low-income housing

Lack of Strong Workforce

  • Workers need employment that provides a living wage
  • Workplaces and local businesses should be encouraged to become certified Living Wage Employers and go beyond minimum wage
WE ADVOCATE FOR
  • Our communities, local government and businesses to do more to support workers

Mental Health & Addiction

  • According to the Region of Peel’s 2021 Community Report,34% of respondents claim that mental health and substance use issues contributed to their loss of housing.
  • Only 1 in 3 Peel Region residents will receive the treatment that they need.
WE ADVOCATE FOR
  • The expansion of mental health and addiction services in Mississauga to address the growing needs and challenges experienced by people in Mississauga. Increased funding to improve access to mental health and addiction services.
OUR ACTIONS

Here's How We Advocate For People Experiencing Homelessness and Poverty

  • Continue to be an active member of The Mississauga Food Bank Agency Network; the Peel Hunger Relief Network and the Community Food Centres Canada.
  • Provide Client Support Services through community partnerships including access to public health nursing and internet and telephone access through 211.
  • Maintain advisory roles on subcommittees reviewing low income housing alternatives in Peel and Mississauga.
  • Actively communicate with Federal, Provincial and Municipal government representatives.
  • Develop resources to support volunteers and clients to advocate for themselves and current issues.
  • Foster greater network support with community-based agencies such as The Region of Peel Housing Support, S.H.I.P, PAARC, the Bloom Clinic, and the ID Clinic.
  • Participate in local events to raise awareness for food insecurity and homelessness.
  • Organize the Walk for The Compass fundraising and awareness event.
  • Contribute to local publications such as Hard Times for client advocacy
  • Amplify advocacy as an integral part of the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan for The Compass.

Our combined voices can have a greater impact when spoken together.

YOU CAN HELP

How Can You Help Make a Difference?

Join The Compass Advocacy Team made up of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.

Contact us at advocacy@thecompass.ca with your name, contact information, and why you want to join the team!

Your Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Government Representatives

Federal Government Representatives

The Compass MP:

Charles Sousa at charles.sousa@parl.gc.ca

Your Local MP:

Find your MP

Other MPs:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau)
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development – The Honourable Jenna Sudds at edsc.min.feds-fcsd.min.esdc@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Provincial Government Representatives

The Compass MPP:

Rudy Cuzzeto at rudy.cuzzetto@pc.ola.org

Your Local MPP:

Find your MPP

Other MPPs:

Premier Doug Ford (@FordNation),

Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Hon Michael Parsa at ministermccss@ontario.ca

Parliamentary Assistant for Community and Social Services, Logan Kanapathi at Logan.Kanapathico@pc.ola.org

Municipal Government Representatives

The Compass Councillor:

Stephen Dasko at stephen.dasko@mississauga.ca

Your Local Councillor:

Find your councillor

Other MPs:

The Mayor of Mississauga: Carolyn Parrish at mayor@mississauga.ca

CALL TO ACTION

Advocate

Discover ways you can support.

flag of Canada

Write to MP to increase Canadian Disability Benefit

Support the increase of the Canadian Disability Benefit to promote financial stability & dignity for all Canadians on disability.

top view photo of houses

Support for the Indwell project

 Your voice is important as we advocate for the homeless and affordable housing. 

READ MORE
LEARN MORE

About Homelessness and Poverty Locally and Nationally

Food Insecurity

Annual Impact Report 2023. Food Banks Mississauga (Previously The Mississauga Food Bank).

Hunger Report 2023.  Feed Ontario.

What Can be Done to Reduce Food Insecurity in Canada?  PROOF, research program.

The Face of Hunger in Using the power of data to help in the fight against hunger. Link2feed and Food Banks Canada.

HungerCount 2024 – Buckling Under the Strain.  Food Banks Canada.

Housing Insecurity

Homeless Hub.  Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.

The National Housing Strategy Report.  The National Housing Council.

Responding to Youth Homelessness During Covid and Beyond.  Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.

Rent Control in Ontario – Facts, Flaws and Fixes. Canadian Centre for Polica Alternatives

Mental Health and Addictions

Peel’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan 2020-2024.  Peel Region.

Everyone Counts Peel:  2021 Community Report.  Peel Region.

South Asian Canadian Health Journal.  South Asian Canadian Health & Social Services.

We are a food bank and community outreach centre located in and serving South Mississauga within the postal codes L5E, L5G, L5H and L5J.

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About

  • The Compass is a registered charity: Charitable Registration Number 86235 2754 RR0001
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