Women

When women rise, communities thrive. That’s why we’re expanding opportunities for women and gender-diverse people, who are disproportionately impacted by poverty and gender-based, intimate partner and family violence. We’re making sure they have all the things they need to build a good life — safety, housing, equitable job opportunities and community. Any way we can.

The more than 300,000 women in Peel, Toronto and York Region living on a low income bear the brunt of the affordability crisis. Women are more likely to work low-wage, precarious jobs while shouldering caregiving responsibilities — limiting their earning potential and increasing their risk of poverty. Racialized women and gender-diverse people, who must navigate overlapping inequities, are even more at risk. Financial strain makes it harder to access housing and enough food. It also traps many women in situations of gender-based violence (GBV) — an escalating epidemic — which can harm survivors’ mental and physical health, disrupt employment and drive women and their children into homelessness. These injustices run deep, but we refuse to stand by. We’re fighting for a region where all women can thrive.

Together with our network of 300+ community organizations, we connect women to vital supports — health care, food banks and emergency shelters — when they need them most. Through 118 programs, these organizations help women access training and opportunities to find decent and flexible jobs. They offer legal advice to survivors of violence. And they support girls in building leadership and STEM skills. By uniting government and community partners on bold solutions to address family violence and mental health, we’re building safer, more resilient neighbourhoods. Through our advocacy, we’re working for urgent action and long-term change, which means calling on the provincial government to declare gender-based violence an epidemic. And we’ll keep pushing to lift up all women for stronger, brighter, more equitable communities.

Building community takes community. Together, we have helped:

Whether it’s helping a single mother find employment or providing safety for a woman escaping violence, your support for United Way is making a difference and fostering a region where women from all backgrounds and circumstances can thrive. Any way we can.