News Releases

Rising occupancy costs over the last decade have left many community organizations in the GTA struggling to afford staying in the neighbourhoods they serve, facing the risk of being displaced or even closed. United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) is committing a second major investment of $2.2 million in capital grants across 14 projects to secure community-owned spaces across the GTA and ensure residents can continue to access essential supports close to home. This round of funding is part of UWGT’s 10-year, $23-million commitment to support community agencies in pushing back against rising costs and helping to create and expand sustainable spaces.

The Slaight Family Foundation is announcing a transformative $25 million gift to St. Michael’s Hospital’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions and United Way Greater Toronto, taking bold, immediate action to address Toronto’s escalating homelessness crisis. This extraordinary investment will ignite an urgent response to an urgent need, while also building a new, scalable, science-backed system to move people from streets and encampments into supportive housing.

United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) announced that it projects the 2025 community campaign will raise $112 million by fiscal year-end, underscoring the dedication of a broad network of workplace employees, donors, volunteers, corporate partners, community leaders, labour partners and philanthropists coming together to ensure frontline agencies in Toronto, Peel and York Region have the support they need to meet urgent local challenges.

Increased development and upcoming revitalization projects in Cooksville, South Markham and Jane Finch are creating major changes and challenges across these neighbourhoods. To ensure equitable opportunities, United Way Greater Toronto is expanding its Community Action Grants (CAG) program with a $1.13 million investment to support local priorities in each neighbourhood.

Over four million Ontarians are food insecure. In 2024, more than one million Ontarians relied on food banks, making 8.7 million visits. The $10 million gift from the Slaight family will support six organizations working to keep communities fed including: Daily Bread Food Bank, Food Banks Canada, Right to Food, Second Harvest, The Stop Community Food Centre and United Way Greater Toronto. Working through their local, regional and national networks, these organizations will help make sure food reaches people and neighbourhoods facing the greatest pressure and will strengthen the broader response to hunger.

United Way Greater Toronto kicks off 2025 fundraising campaign with plans to continue building bold and long-term sustainable solutions to strengthen local networks across Peel, Toronto and York region. This year’s campaign welcomes Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary at Thomson Reuters, Norie Campbell as Campaign Chair. Following last year’s successful launch of the Any Way We Can campaign, the organization will continue to mobilize individuals, workplaces and organizations to support the work within the neighbourhoods that face the toughest challenges.

“Built for Good” shows how targeted investment in non-market housing can deliver thousands of deeply affordable homes, preserve existing stock, and ease pressure on public systems — all while creating jobs and economic opportunity

The Understanding the Experiences of African Asylum Seekers report from United Way Greater Toronto reveals that African asylum seekers continue to face profound barriers in their resettlement journey — from unaffordable housing and employment discrimination to systemic anti-Black racism and uneven access to basic supports. The report was initiated in response to the 2023 refugee crisis, when hundreds of newly arrived asylum seekers, many from African countries, were forced to sleep on the streets as the shelter system buckled under pressure. Developed in partnership with the City of Toronto, Region of Peel, York Region, and an advisory committee of community leaders, the report draws on interviews with 29 African asylum seekers and 9 service providers, offering an unfiltered look at the challenges people face and the steps we need to take to fix them.

Just months after launching its Community Real Estate (CRE) Initiative, United Way Greater Toronto is investing $2.125 million in capital grants to support 13 community projects across the GTA. This initial round of funding—part of the organization’s 10-year, $23-million commitment to help create and expand sustainable community spaces—will support various needs, from kickstarting new builds to retrofitting existing facilities and providing final-stage funding for major, transformative projects.

United Way Greater Toronto’s 2025 Community Campaign Commits to bold, long-term vision to create a more equitable region across Peel, Toronto and York Region. Norie Campbell, Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary at Thomson Reuters will lead as Campaign Chair and Dominique Barker, Chief Financial Officer at Lithium Royalty Corporation, will Chair UWGT’s Major Individual Giving Cabinet.

United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) is proud to announce the total allocation of $71 million over the next three years in Community Program Grants (CPGs), supporting over 250 programs and services across Peel, Toronto, and York Region. These investments in housing, homelessness, inclusive employment, and more like in mental health and food security, will strengthen a network of services while fighting the root causes of poverty, offering families across our region a better chance at safety and stability.

United Way Greater Toronto appoints Heather McDonald as President & CEO, bringing 25+ years of leadership in social services.