categories of community need

Community needs have been separated into six categories: Providing Basic Needs; Creating a Better Community; Reaching Children & Youth; Reaching Individuals & Families; Promoting Health & Independent Living; and Providing Support for Seniors.

Programs are funded on a three-year cycle. Each year, the Social Planning Committee conducts in-depth research on two of the categories, and the Fund Distribution Committee assesses funding proposals from programs addressing needs in the categories under review.

Category of Community Need	Description	Priority Year
Providing Basic Needs	Offering food and shelter to individuals and families living in poverty Helping homeless individuals/families and those at risk of homelessness gain and maintain stable housing Providing supports and interventions for people experiencing crisis	2009
Creating a Better Community	Creating a safe and inclusive community Increasing volunteerism and civic engagement Ensuring people have access to information and resources regarding community services Increasing the capacity of agencies and neighbourhoods to recognize and respond to changing community needs	2009
Reaching Children & Youth	Helping children and youth to grow and achieve their full potential Providing opportunities for increasing participation in recreational, social and cultural activities Increasing engagement in school and learning recreational, social and cultural activities	2010
Reaching Individuals & Families	Improving parenting knowledge, skills and resources Providing job training, literacy, and career development opportunities Supporting victims of violence and abuse Providing bereavement support	2010
Promoting Health & Independent Living	Promoting improved quality of life for individuals with chronic health problems and disabilities Providing opportunities for increased participation in recreational, social, cultural and daily activities Reducing barriers and increasing awareness of disabilities issues	2008
Providing Support for Seniors	Helping seniors enjoy greater quality of life Providing opportunities for increased participation in recreational, social, cultural and daily activities Providing services that support independence and minimize institutionalization Nurturing support systems	2008