In July of 2015, Toronto City Council voted by a vote of 40-2 in favour of a Poverty Reduction Strategy, but has yet to fully commit to funding the plan. In July 2016, Council directed staff to draft a budget based on an across-the-board 2.6% cut in spending, affecting critical services linked to poverty reduction.

“More work is needed— Expanding dental care represents progress that could be easily stalled with higher transit fees and cuts to housing. We want to work with the Mayor and Council to ensure dental care expansion is part of a complete package on poverty reduction.” said Meagher.

While Council will consider the budget in early 2017, proposed cuts to items such as transit will be debated as early as September 2016, continuing through the fall and winter.

Social Planning Toronto is looking for a full time Community Planner to carry out community organizing in a variety of communities.

The general responsibilities of the position are to work with local community organizations, networks and coalitions to build local community capacity and civic participation and provide policy analysis on various topics related to the SPT priorities.

The program work will include working with a number of community-based coalitions and engaging in research projects.   Working with community partners to facilitate community needs assessments/strategic planning and assist in advocating for resources for local communities. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the policy analysis work of the SPT and supporting community involvement in the city’s budget process.

Key skills required:

• Community organizing that supports community participation and ownership
• Effective communication skills
• Conflict resolution and negotiating skills
• Facilitation skills
• Knowledge of and familiarity with networks and organizations linked to marginalized communities in Toronto
• Strong writing skills
• Research and analytical skills
• Able to integrate class, race and gender analysis into daily work
• Able to work as part of a team

Qualifications required:

• Post-secondary education at the Masters level or equivalent in social policy and/or community development
• 3-5 years of experience as a community worker/organizer
• Extensive work experience in community-based organizations
• Basic community research skills for participation in local projects
• Experience working under pressure and to deadline
• Experience working with different levels of government
• Experience working with diverse communities
• Experience working with executive directors and frontline workers

This position is a member of CUPE 1777.

Salary range $45,102.00 – $61,816.00 plus benefits

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and covering letter outlining how they meet the above criteria to:

Att: Maria Serrano
Community Planner Hiring Committee
Social Planning Toronto
1001-2 Carlton St
Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
Fax: 416-351-0107
Email: info@socialplanningtoronto.org

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, September 6^th, 2016 at 5:00 P.M.

Interviews will take place in the afternoon of September 8th and 9th, 2016

SPT is committed to employment equity, and encourages applicants from the full diversity of the community.

Speaking to the media today, members of the Commitment2Community Campaign pointed to the growing ‘Fairness Gap’ in the City’s finances, and solutions for Council to address concerns over housing, transit and services.

“The impacts on the women we work with on a day to day basis are enormous, and angering.” said Leila Sarangi, Community Program Manager of Women’s Habitat, stressing the impact of these cuts and fees on vulnerable Toronto residents. “Lack of affordable childcare, housing, rising transit cost and long wait times for buses make it impossible for women to find and maintain work.”

The group expressed alarm at the current proposal being discussed by City Council to cut the City budget by a further 2.6% in 2017. Tim Maguire, President of CUPE Local 79 pointed to a recent report by the City Manager which states that we have reached the ‘practical limits’ of finding efficiencies in the City’s spending: “Front-line workers are already delivering more with less and critical services are slipping. A cut to the City’s budget will reduce services and increase user fees for those who can afford it least, widening the Fairness Gap.”

Sean Meagher, Executive Director of Social Planning Toronto was adamant that Council can still take action, citing the City’s own Poverty Reduction Strategy passed last year: “We can close the Fairness Gap. We have the Council-approved and promised ProspertyTO plan, along with KPMG-vetted revenue tools that are quick and easy to implement.”, Meagher said.

In June, KPMG produced a report for City Council which outlined a range of revenue tools, including the Alcohol Beverage Tax, and a Commercial Parking Levy. City Council debates the Budget Process beginning on Tuesday July, 12^th 2016.

In the past two years the City of Toronto introduced seven enhanced youth spaces and will be opening three more this year. These spaces, which emerged as the result of community outcry, are founded on three pillars: dedicated space, dedicated staff, and responsive programming.

The new report from Social Planning Toronto looks at the experiences of girls in these spaces. It finds that while these spaces serve as much needed meeting places for youth, they tend to respond to the needs and priorities of young men better than young women. Lack of girl-specific activities and spaces, negative interactions with boys, and tension among participants are a few of the challenges girls encounter within these spaces.

At the same time, highly regarded staff, practical and interpersonal skill development, and peer relationships motivate girls to attend the enhanced youth spaces.

Find out more, including the full list of barriers, facilitators and key strategies, in the report Girls in Youth Spaces: An Evaluation of Young Women’s Experiences Accessing Youth Drop-Ins.

Read the Press Release.