Durham Region Council Approves $750,000 for Food Security and Poverty Initiatives in 2025
Regional Council in Durham Region has approved $750,000 in funding for local non-profit organizations for 2025. According to the Region, the funding is intended to address food insecurity and poverty, and will be distributed through the Sustainable Food Security Fund and the Thriving Communities Fund, both part of the Community Social Investment Program.
The Region of Durham reports that one in four households in the area experiences food insecurity, and approximately 5.2 per cent of residents live in poverty. The approval of this funding was announced as part of efforts to promote wellness and reduce poverty in the community.
According to the Region, the Sustainable Food Security Fund is designed to improve access to fresh, nutritious food for residents experiencing food insecurity. This year, recipients of the fund include Feed the Need in Durham (for its Farmers Feed Communities and Vertical Farming projects), Ignite Durham Learning Foundation, Mannahelp, We Grow Food, and Zion Christian Reformed Church.
The Region states that the Thriving Communities Fund supports initiatives to prevent and reduce poverty through operational and capacity-building activities. Recipients of this fund in 2025 include Afiwi Groove School, Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South West Durham, Blue Door, Community Care Durham, Durham Community Action Group, Durham Youth Services, DurhamONE, Girls Inc. Durham, GraceWins Peer Support, and Redemption House of Recovery.
Additional information about the Community Social Investment Program can be found on the Region of Durham’s website. Quotes from the announcement attributed to Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner of Social Services for the Region of Durham, state that the program helps fund organizations supporting residents and that this investment will strengthen their ability to deliver programs to improve food security and reduce poverty across the region.