Niagara Prosperity Initiative

Niagara Region established the Niagara Prosperity Initiative in 2008, providing an annual investment to support poverty reduction and prevention activities.

The Niagara Prosperity Initiative encourages applications where two or more organizations with a well-defined relationship submit an application for funding to achieve a common goal. One of the organizations must take the lead and be accountable for the delivery of the proposal.

Characteristics of well-defined relationships may include mutual benefit, shared organization decision-making, and accountability to partners and the communities they serve.

Niagara Poverty Reduction Strategy

Using a research-based approach that aligns with the Niagara Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Niagara Prosperity Initiative funds projects aimed at working together to prevent and end poverty and increase well-being in Niagara.

2025 - 2027 projects

Project 1: Indigenous well-being
Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board Project name: Kowaamjigewin Indigenous youth will develop a poverty reduction strategy with guidance and support from social workers to address barriers Indigenous youth face in employment and training. This project will break generational poverty beginning with our youth by: Identifying systemic barriers to employment Setting achievable goals Creating actionable plans for long-term success

Project 1: Indigenous well-being

Niagara Peninsula Aboriginal Area Management Board
Project name: Kowaamjigewin

Indigenous youth will develop a poverty reduction strategy with guidance and support from social workers to address barriers Indigenous youth face in employment and training. This project will break generational poverty beginning with our youth by:

Identifying systemic barriers to employment
Setting achievable goals
Creating actionable plans for long-term success

Project 2: Mental health and addiction (social assistance)
Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare (REACH) Niagara Project name: Program for Addiction Treatment and Healthcare (PATH) This program will build timely access for equity deserving populations to access client-led mental health and addictions care. REACH staff will: Facilitate access to REACH primary care clinics, case management support, culturally informed peer led services, and when ready, help clients access addiction treatment options Help clients complete an Ontario Disability Support Program application package and engage with Niagara Community Legal Clinic for appeals

Project 2: Mental health and addiction (social assistance)

Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare (REACH) Niagara
Project name: Program for Addiction Treatment and Healthcare (PATH)

This program will build timely access for equity deserving populations to access client-led mental health and addictions care.

REACH staff will:

Facilitate access to REACH primary care clinics, case management support, culturally informed peer led services, and when ready, help clients access addiction treatment options
Help clients complete an Ontario Disability Support Program application package and engage with Niagara Community Legal Clinic for appeals

Project 3: Mental health and addiction (Situation Tables)
Gateway Project name: Intensive Outreach Team Gateway staff will deliver clinical therapy and support to individuals struggling with acute mental health issues and addictions referred through Niagara's Situation Tables. The team will collaborate with homeless, mental health and developmental teams, and the Niagara Assertive Street Outreach Team.

Project 3: Mental health and addiction (Situation Tables)

Gateway
Project name: Intensive Outreach Team

Gateway staff will deliver clinical therapy and support to individuals struggling with acute mental health issues and addictions referred through Niagara's Situation Tables. The team will collaborate with homeless, mental health and developmental teams, and the Niagara Assertive Street Outreach Team.

Project 4: Income and employment
Workforce Collective Project name: Bridges to Prosperity This project will help people experiencing poverty achieve financial, employment and career goals. By working with Prosper Canada, this project will increase access to financial empowerment tools that improve financial literacy and stability. By connecting poverty reduction efforts with businesses and economic development, this project will engage employers to create decent work opportunities, including fair wages (Living Wage), secure employment, and inclusive hiring and workplace practices.

Project 4: Income and employment

Workforce Collective
Project name: Bridges to Prosperity

This project will help people experiencing poverty achieve financial, employment and career goals. By working with Prosper Canada, this project will increase access to financial empowerment tools that improve financial literacy and stability.

By connecting poverty reduction efforts with businesses and economic development, this project will engage employers to create decent work opportunities, including fair wages (Living Wage), secure employment, and inclusive hiring and workplace practices.

Project 5: Housing and early child development
Birchway Niagara Project name: After Care Support This project promotes access to resources that support survivors of domestic violence and their children as they transition out of shelter offered by Birchway Niagara and Gillian's Place, such as: Financial assistance Medical and mental health services Quality child care and after-school programs Programming will help rebuild lives through safety planning, crisis intervention, education and support when attending appointments. Group sessions will include topics such as financial literacy and strengthening protective factors to promote safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. The program will offer housing stability services, such as mediating with landlords and housing providers to ensure successful tenancies.

Project 5: Housing and early child development

Birchway Niagara
Project name: After Care Support

This project promotes access to resources that support survivors of domestic violence and their children as they transition out of shelter offered by Birchway Niagara and Gillian's Place, such as:

Financial assistance
Medical and mental health services
Quality child care and after-school programs

Programming will help rebuild lives through safety planning, crisis intervention, education and support when attending appointments. Group sessions will include topics such as financial literacy and strengthening protective factors to promote safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.

The program will offer housing stability services, such as mediating with landlords and housing providers to ensure successful tenancies.

Project 6: Food security
The Bridge Project name: The Bridge Food Recovery Expansion These projects combat food insecurity by redistributing surplus food from Niagara's tourism and restaurant industry to people facing hunger. The projects will improve access to fresh, culturally appropriate and affordable food through strategic partnerships with local shelters and food providers. Through the purchase of a refrigerated van, the projects will significantly scale collection and distribution of food. Food will be delivered to the food recovery kitchen, where community members, including those benefiting from the programs, will actively participate in processing the food.

Project 6: Food security

The Bridge
Project name: The Bridge Food Recovery Expansion

These projects combat food insecurity by redistributing surplus food from Niagara's tourism and restaurant industry to people facing hunger.

The projects will improve access to fresh, culturally appropriate and affordable food through strategic partnerships with local shelters and food providers.

Through the purchase of a refrigerated van, the projects will significantly scale collection and distribution of food. Food will be delivered to the food recovery kitchen, where community members, including those benefiting from the programs, will actively participate in processing the food.

Project 6: Food security
Community Care West Niagara Project name: FEED Niagara This project will strengthen Niagara's food security system by Improving coordination and logistics of food distribution of FEED Niagara food security agencies Leveraging partnerships with farmers and food producers Creating new collaborations FEED Niagara will increase its capacity and reduce food waste through the purchase of a blast freezer. Along with providing food to the most vulnerable, FEED Niagara will continue to advocate for the use of evidence-based policies to reduce poverty and food insecurity.

Project 6: Food security

Community Care West Niagara
Project name: FEED Niagara

This project will strengthen Niagara's food security system by

Improving coordination and logistics of food distribution of FEED Niagara food security agencies
Leveraging partnerships with farmers and food producers
Creating new collaborations

FEED Niagara will increase its capacity and reduce food waste through the purchase of a blast freezer. Along with providing food to the most vulnerable, FEED Niagara will continue to advocate for the use of evidence-based policies to reduce poverty and food insecurity.

Niagara Prosperity In...

Prosperity Projects