Community Wide Initiatives

United Way Halton & Hamilton is driven by a mission to unite our communities in tackling social issues and improving local lives. While collaborating with stakeholders like local organizations, businesses, and government bodies is vital, it’s only the starting point. Lasting change occurs when you actively participate in programs and engage in long-term planning for the betterment of local communities.

Our Progams

Community Donation Warehouse

Your United Way’s Community Donation Warehouse (CDW) is a hub for collecting and distributing essential items to frontline agencies. With the support of corporate and logistics partners, CDW offers a wide variety of in-kind donations that directly support families and individuals in Halton and Hamilton.

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Period Promise

Accessing menstruation products tampons, pads, cups and menstrual underwear can be challenging for those living in poverty. United Way is working toward menstrual equity by collaborating with donors, labour community and workplace partners in advocating for barrier-free access to products through the Period Promise initiative.

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ConnectED

The ConnectED program equips not-for-profit staff with the knowledge, skills, and tools to make a positive impact in their communities. Through workshops, courses, coaching, and more, we partner with subject matter experts to provide quality and relevant supports to build organizational capacity that strengthens the sector.

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Natural Supports

United Way offers Natural Supports simulations to raise awareness about mental health issues and assist youths in their day-to-day interactions across various aspects of life. Natural Supports are people who can provide support through existing connections – family members, friends, colleagues, coaches, or other community connections

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Make the Month

The Make the Month experience cultivate empathy among participants by offering insight into the challenges faced by individuals and families living on a limited income. Through this simulation, participants gain a firsthand understanding of the tough financial and life decisions that must be made each month.

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Roundtables

Your United Way participates in community tables across Halton and Hamilton, lending key perspectives, thought-leadership and connection to community conversations. Issues include service collaboration, housing access, poverty reduction, advocacy for older adults, and more. The collective power of these collaborative tables drives local change.

Communities Ending Poverty

This national, membership-based group consists of over 80 regional roundtables and 330 municipalities. A collective impact movement, CEP members share skills, opportunities, and inspiration to eliminate poverty in all communities.

Community Impact Leadership Network (CILN)

A network of Community Impact leaders across the United Way Canada movement to learn and share investment and impact best practices, focus area frameworks and strategies, and policy work among others.

Halton Granters Roundtable

A network of funders servicing the Halton Region including Community Foundations, Rotary Clubs, and others. Members discuss and share funding streams, practices, decisions, and sector trends.

Halton Older Adult Isolation Action Table

The action table brings together multiple sectors with the goal to increase connectedness for older adults in Halton who are at risk of social isolation.

Hamilton & District Labour Council (HDLC)

The Labour Council convenes labour unions in Hamilton to organize actions that benefit the working class and support the community at large.

Hamilton Funders Network

The network of community partners convene around supporting equitable opportunities to build healthy and inclusionary communities.

Hamilton Health Coalition

Local chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition (non-partisan) that focuses on advocating for improvements in public healthcare in Hamilton.

Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction Steering Group

A roundtable of Hamilton-local leaders across sectors and incomes, who work together on systems-level changes to create a healthier, inclusive, and more prosperous Hamilton.

Just Recovery Coalition Hamilton

The network of community coalition partners that share values, advocating for an equitable recovery within the city of Hamilton.

Oakville & District Labour Council (ODLC)

The Oakville and District Labour Council represents 10,000 public and private sector union members in the Halton Region. The council works to improve the lives of working people by advocating for policy change.

Oakville Child & Youth Networking Committee (OCYNC)

A network of agencies and service providers supporting children and youth from Oakville (and Halton more broadly).

Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Advisory Council (OHCOW)

Small group of labour advisors convene to review and advise on services information OHCOW is producing.

Ontario Community Benefits Network

A provincial network focused on community benefits policy and implementation in Ontario, to ensure every infrastructure project includes opportunities to benefit community (e.g., jobs, training, amenities, social procurement)

Poverty Free Halton

A small community group focused on advocating for those with lived experience of poverty, on a variety of topics including living wage, housing, and transportation.