The Regional Municipality of York (ww.york.ca)
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2008

York Region invests in 40 community projects through the Community Development and Investment Fund

38,000 residents benefit from $2.4 million investment

NEWMARKET - The Regional Municipality of York purchased many needed community social services for people across the Region in 2007 through the Community Development and Investment Fund (CDIF). In all, 40 projects received funding, helping 38,000 low-income residents.

“The Community Development and Investment Fund is an efficient, cost-effective and flexible way to purchase important community services for people across the Region,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “This is an important investment that actively supports
individuals, children and families who need assistance.”

All projects that received CDIF funding in 2007 addressed at least one of three priority areas:

- Child and family supports
- Homelessness services and homelessness prevention programs
- Employment skill development

“Building a strong network of community-based services is important to building strong communities where people are supported in times of need,” said Town of Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Brenda Hogg, Chair of the Region’s Community Services and Housing Committee. “CDIF enables agencies to reach out across communities to establish partnerships, engage volunteers and help build a stronger network of supports that
enables residents to remain active members of our communities.”

Examples of 2007 CDIF investments include:

· The Literacy Council of York Region provided training in employment and life skills to 90 residents to help them prepare to find and keep employment.

· Future Possibilities Canada provided the opportunity for children from Grades 4 to 6 to work with a trained coach to determine a goal and pursue activities to benefit the community. In 2007, 350 children successfully completed their goals.

· Pathways for Children, Youth and Families of York Region operated the Home Base Youth Drop-in Centre which helped 4,400 youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless through counselling, employment services, house search assistance, social recreation, food, clothing, life skills and other resources.

“Support received through CDIF allows Pathways to inspire and empower young people in crisis turn their lives around each and every day. As a community-based organization providing a continuum of care responding to at-risk children, youth and families, it is wonderful to see York Region firmly committed to making a difference at the community level,” said James Thomson, Executive Director of Pathways for Children, Youth and
Families of York Region Inc.

Through CDIF, York Region manages and distributes funds from both provincial and municipal sources, including the National Child Benefit, the Consolidated Homelessness Prevention program and Municipal Purchase of Service funds.

Please see the attached Backgrounder for a complete list of the 40 programs and services that were purchased in 2007 through CDIF and how residents benefited.

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, please visit www.york.ca

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