Elgin St. Thomas Coalition to End Poverty
If you are seeking support, or if you or your family are looking for ways to help or provide assistance please reach out to;
- Community Help Connect at 519-631-6050 ext. 8012 or St. Thomas Public Library
- Reach Out
- 211 Ontario
- Community Connections
Thank you, stay safe and look after each other.
The Elgin St. Thomas Coalition to End Poverty formed as a result of conversations within Bridges out of Poverty St. Thomas Elgin. Bridges Out of Poverty St. Thomas Elgin is a group of committed community leaders and volunteers whose mission is to eliminate poverty by uniting the strengths and passions of those living in St. Thomas & Elgin County. In 2015, Bridges out of Poverty St. Thomas Elgin appointed a small working group to further investigate interest in a comprehensive poverty coalition to tackle the root causes of poverty and commit towards eliminating poverty entirely.
In October 2016, planning tables of community leaders across St. Thomas Elgin were invited to come together to talk further about what could be done. Subsequently, a group of about 25 agencies and community citizens met two additional times, December 2016 and January 2017 to establish and Public Health Unit agreed to provide backbone services and the Steering Committee met for the first time officially on February 15th, 2017.
OUR VALUES
Together we value
OUR FOCUS
The Poverty Coalition has identified four priorities to begin working on: Accessible & Affordable Transportation, Food Security, Income Security and Safe & Affordable Housing. Each priority includes a goal aimed at improving opportunities, access and resources so that no one in Elgin St. Thomas lives in poverty.
12,515 PEOPLE
are living below the poverty line in our community.
This number is more than the population of Aylmer, West Lorne,
Port Stanley and Port Burwell combined.