Social and Systems Change
No quick fixes.
Just real social change.
The toughest social challenges take more than just one person, organization, or sector to solve.
United Way East Ontario recognizes that we are stronger when we work together, with diverse voices at the table, to tackle tough problems.
Social and systems change is hard, slow, and sometimes messy, but your donation to United Way tips the scales in the right direction so everyone can reach their full potential.
Social and Systems Change
No quick fixes.
Just real social change.
The toughest social challenges take more than just one person, organization, or sector to solve.
United Way East Ontario recognizes that we are stronger when we work together, with diverse voices at the table, to tackle tough problems.
Social and systems change is hard, slow, and sometimes messy, but your donation to United Way tips the scales in the right direction so everyone can reach their full potential.
Peggy’s advocacy is transforming her neighbourhood for the better
As a survivor of domestic violence and a person living with a disability, Peggy knows what it’s like to feel unheard. Now, she fights to make sure seniors and people with disabilities have access to basic needs like food and housing, so everyone feels supported.
Peggy has built up her leadership skills through her involvement with an advocacy program supported by United Way. There, she received civic engagement training and learned how to influence elected officials on the issues she wants to see addressed.
“We have people with lived experience, we talk about topics that need to be challenged or fixed. It’s not just, you know, ranting and raving. We find answers.”
Beyond band-aid solutions
The chronic issues people face, like poverty and mental health, are still much worse than before COVID-19.
While we help people meet their basic needs and get through crisis, we also know that we must think long-term if we really want to break down barriers and improve lives.
When newcomers to Canada can’t get past the screening process for a job interview …
When social and community services can’t keep enough staff and volunteers to meet rising demand …
When parents are forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying bills …
… then it’s about more than one person’s needs; there are big problems we need to address to make stronger communities across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County, and Renfrew County.
What steps do we take to make real change? Let’s dig deeper into how structures and processes create these inequities in the first place. That might be intimidating, but we know what a better way forward looks like.
Here’s how we do it
United Way East Ontario uses all the tools in our box—investment, research, advocacy, convening, fundraising—to reimagine what it means to support our communities holistically.
We learn about the problem
- We work with the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study and 211 to understand where the needs are greatest.
- We listen to stories from people with lived experiences – because they’re not just numbers, they’re our neighbours.
- We lead community-based research, like the Eastern Ontario Caregiver Strategy, to make life easier for people carrying a heavy burden.
We bring people together to get results
Rallying the community to prevent addictions
project step delivers culturally appropriate addictions counselling, prevention education, and family support in every publicly funded high school in Ottawa. Alongside school boards, community agencies, and public health, we prevent casual substance use among youth from becoming addiction.
- 86% of youth who accessed project step counselling in the community improved their academic or employment success, and 76% had improved mental health outcomes.
Increasing employment for people with disabilities
The Employment Accessibility Resource Network (EARN) brings together employers, service providers and other stakeholders to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and to promote inclusive, accessible workplaces. This can break the cycle of poverty for a group often excluded from the workforce.
- EARN hosts hundreds of job fairs, employment coaching events, and job match activities each year. Since 2012, the 165-member network has helped more than 9000 job seekers with a disability find employment.
Responding locally to global issues
When people were locked down at home in the pandemic, the 100+ partners at United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Table created new ways of reaching vulnerable people disconnected from support networks.
- In the first year, Unsafe at Home connected more than 1,200 people living in violent homes with emotional, legal and financial support; safety planning; system navigation; basic needs; and more.
Connecting industries to reduce wealth gaps
We bring together businesses, governments, elected officials, social services, and community leaders through things like learning events and champions’ tables to prevent poverty and share wealth with marginalized communities. This can look like strengthening local supply chains, buying from diverse-owned businesses, hiring from underserved communities, and more.
- Social enterprises like Bottleworks empower youth experiencing homelessness on their path to financial independence.
We listen to the community and follow their lead
Many people have been marginalized by systems that do not include them or recognize their experiences – like Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, people with disabilities, newcomers, women, and others. By centering their voices and offering a platform to lead meaningful change, we reduce inequities.
We listen to the community and follow their lead
Many people have been marginalized by systems that do not include them or recognize their experiences – like Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, people with disabilities, newcomers, women, and others. By centering their voices and offering a platform to lead meaningful change, we reduce inequities.
We know that when we work together with a common vision, when we think differently about problems, and when we shift power imbalances, we can change the systems that hold many people back.
When you give to United Way East Ontario, your support brings us one step closer to a future where everyone thrives.
We take accountability seriously.
You should feel confident when supporting a charity, and we’re committed to full transparency, accountability, and cost-efficiency. We invest your gift in smart, strategic ways, to ultimately move the needle.
100% LOCAL IMPACT
Every donation is put to work in the community where it is raised to tackle the causes you care about.
TOP 100 CANADIAN CHARITY
Charity Intelligence, MoneySense & Maclean’s named United Way East Ontario a top-100 Canadian charity.
Learn more about United Way’s charity ratings and how your gift is managed here.
Need help?
If you or someone you know is seeking mental health help, here are some immediate resources you can use:
CALL 9-1-1
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
DISTRESS CENTRE OF OTTAWA AND REGION
24/7 access to a mental health support hub.
Visit dcottawa.on.ca
Call the Distress Line at 613-238-3311
Text 343-306-5550
211 EASTERN ONTARIO
Find community, social, government, and health services closest to you.
Visit 211ontario.ca or call 2-1-1
