Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

To improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

History of Organization

On May 19th, 1909, the passing in Parliament of The Canadian Red Cross Society Act established the Canadian Red Cross to serve Canadians as auxiliary to Government and the public authority, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Prior to 1909 it operated as a branch of the British Red Cross.

Within Canada we focus on emergency response, first aid and water safety training, community health, family reunification, and other services in communities across the country.

Internationally, we are a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, with approximately 100 million volunteers worldwide. The movement includes the International Committee of the Red Cross, which acts as a guardian of the Geneva conventions and is tasked under international humanitarian law to protect the lives and dignity of victims caught in situations of armed conflict.

The other arm of the movement is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which coordinates the national disaster response activities of more than 185 national societies, like the Canadian Red Cross, and each acts as auxiliary to the government in its own country.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Among our biggest accomplishments are the volunteers who dedicate their time to our cause. As part of Volunteer Week celebrations this year, the Canadian Red Cross in Ontario is unveiling a special photo exhibit entitled "Hometown Heroes: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Volunteers." The exhibit includes 30 portraits of volunteers who are involved in various Red Cross programs and services – everything from disaster response and community health to administration and governance. All of the portraits were taken by Toronto-based photographer, and fellow Red Cross volunteer, Johan Hallberg-Campbell. Over the course of a year, Johan travelled with the Red Cross across the province to photograph volunteers in their communities.

The Canadian Red Cross and Bell Media won a Crystal Award for their "Just Seconds" Public Service Announcement. The Crystal Awards are part of Canadian Music Week, and recognize the best in Canadian radio ads. The Red Cross and Bell Media won the Gold Crystal in the Public Service Announcement category.

Special congratulations go out to:

From Bell Media:

• Larry McInnes, creative director
• Mike Occomore, head writer
• Adam Karch, producer

And from the Canadian Red Cross:

• Tanya Elliott, director of public affairs in Ontario
• Tim Steele, volunteer

The food bank, a partnership between the Canadian Red Cross, the Daily Bread Food Bank, and the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) just recently had an open house. Only open on Tuesdays, the food bank has been serving over 1,200 families in the community each month since opening two years ago.

Sorauren Food Bank serves vulnerable persons affected by sudden loss of job, a sudden injury or illness, or being new to the country and not being able to work, persons being supported by welfare or receiving disability support. In providing assistance without any discrimination or impartiality to the persons receiving food, the program seeks to alleviate the suffering of the clients as they struggle to feed themselves, their children and family. In partnering with local community organizations such as the PARC (Parkdale Activity and Recreation Community Center) and Daily Bread Food Bank, CRC Community Initiatives has successfully provided the staff capacity to operate a Food bank in the Parkdale neighbourhood which has been able to provide continuity and support to the community.

Programs

>Community Initiatives: Homeless Services Street Relief, Scarborough Drop In
>Transportation
>First Contact

Canadian Red Cross isa humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the situation of the most vulnerable in our immediate, extended and global community. Individuals and families living in poverty, homeless and underhoused people, and seniors and people with disabilities living at home remain among the most vulnerable populations in Toronto. We respond to the needs through various programs such as homeless, and underhoused services, (Street Relief - hot meals, foot clinic, Scarborough Homeless Drop-In, Mobile Food Bank), settlement services (First Contact, Restoring Family links) and home support programs (Transportation, Meals-on-Wheels, HELP) and first aid and water safety. In Toronto, we continue to strengthen the response capability by using our emergency capacity and expertise to address the growing needs of homeless people. This success can be seen in our ability to setup a shelter within only four hours, to mobilize volunteers for Street Outreach within two hours, and to support Torontonians through our personal disaster assistance  (PDA) program. A mix of Red Cross services, ranging from rapid intervention initiatives to prevention programs, endeavour to respond to the urgent and growing needs of these groups.

Community Initiatives: Homeless Services Street Relief, Scarborough Drop In

The Street Relief program strives to improve the quality of life for people struggling with poverty in downtown Toronto by providing a food-program with a strong focus on health & nutrition. Clients include individuals who are homeless, under-housed, unemployed, precariously employed, seniors, children and newcomers to Canada. The program endeavours to improve the nutritional status of clients by complementing their food sources with a weekly breakfast/dinner service. Additionally, during the winter season a weekend lunch service is provided. Participants have access to a convenient central location and stability in service.

The Scarborough Drop-In Centre is a Canadian Red Cross community program which provides a multitude of services to vulnerable individuals who are homeless or marginally housed. The clients are often struggling to overcome the many issues associated with living in poverty: unemployment; social isolation; mental illness; physical or intellectual disabilities; addictions and post-traumatic stress. The Drop-In is located in the Kennedy Park community in south-central Scarborough, one of the key priority neighbourhoods identified by the City of Toronto/United Way Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy as an inner-suburb lacking in community and social services.  The CRC seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable people in a respectful, non-judgemental and compassionate manner. By providing a safe and comfortable environment that allows the Drop-In's clients to realize a sense of community, belonging and contribution, it aims to reduce the suffering and social isolation that is systemically pervasive in this segment of society.  Aside from providing basic necessities such as hot meals, clothing and daytime shelter, it provides referrals to the many Community Partners for client needs relating to housing, eviction prevention, employment training, health-care, food banks, addictions treatments, legal and harm-reduction services provisioning.  Through a focus on food, CRC seeks to promote healthy-living amongst participants. Nutritionally balanced meals incorporates the essential food groups as outlined in the Canada-Food-Guide.  In partnership with the Sherbourne Health Centre, health supports such as consultations with a dietitian, social worker and a registered nurse are provided. Street Relief also assists clients with basic necessities, providing referrals to shelters, drop-ins, clothing banks and food banks.

Funding and Program Partners

Homeless Services is mainly funded by the United Way of Toronto and through community donations and partnerships.

Program Impact

The SDI Centre assists homeless & under-housed individuals in accessing the basic necessities of  shelter, food, clothing & health care. The most pressing issue for the Scarborough area is a large number of "hidden homeless"; people moving from place-to-place, relying on an informal network of relatives/friends to find floor space, couches-even closets-to sleep in.

Street Relief strives to improve the quality of life for homeless,under-housed,socially-isolated, individuals struggling with poverty and cannot afford an adequate diet for a healthy-life, by providing free,nutritious hot-meals in a safe-environment.  SDI serves over 20,900 clients per year with 19 volunteers contributing 1,150 hours.

This program assists clients with access to basic necessities: shelter, clothing & health-care to alleviate the hardships of poverty & increase the individual’s capacity to cope. Street Relief serves over 12,670 clients per year with the assistance of 42 volunteers contributing 3,576 hours.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

"Today we see not only one city united but the emergence of three cities in Toronto resulting in over one million people in a city of 2.7 million living in low and very low income neighbourhoods.  If these trends continue as predicted, by 2025 low and very low income neighbourhoods will cover 60% of our city." 

(Toronto's Vital Signs 2011)

Participant Vignette

Testimonial #1

My name is ..... and I’ve been coming here to the “Red Cross” Drop-in center for about 1½ years. In this time I’ve been coming here the staff has been a wonderful help to me.

This letter is to acknowledge all the hard work and time the Housing Worker has put into looking out for me and always having important advice for me to listen to.  I can’t tell you enough how special this Housing Worker has become to me. I feel more like a friend than just a person who comes to lunch every day.

Testimonial #2 

The Housing Worker went above and beyond the call of duty to show me how to improve my living style and help me get a wonderful place to live.  She has helped me in so many different ways, too many to go into.  I can’t say enough good things about the Housing Worker. I respect her dearly and am proud to have had the pleasure of meeting her. She didn’t ever turn her back on me and always had an ear to listen to my problems.  She (Housing Worker) and she alone accomplished to get me in a housing program.  The “Red Cross” has a great worker in this person. She is a wonderful, beautiful person and never turned her back on me.  I can’t thank her enough but though it is proper to the organization’s credit to people who like the Housing Worker gives her all.

Also I don’t want to think I have left the other members of the “Red Cross” organization out.  Everyone who works here are fantastic people.  Friendly and caring human beings.  I care about them all.  They help a lot of people.

I believe not enough people show their appreciation for the work they do for society.

Housing Worker you are the best and I wouldn’t be where I am right now without your caring and help and support.

Thank you.

Respectfully and sincerely

Client

Transportation

The Red Cross transportation service provides rides throughout Toronto for individuals over 18 years of age who are unable to use public transportation due to limiting physical difficulties. Our clients are primarily seniors who attend medical appointments, adult day programs, physiotherapy, social appointments and events.  Many of our senior clients are cognitively impaired and require transportation to adult day programs that provide them with social and cognitive stimulation. An aging population brings an increased need for health and social services. With changes to the health care system that promote earlier hospital releases, the desire of seniors to stay in their homes, the demand for transportation services is increasing. In the absence of affordable transportation services, these low-income groups are unable to access healthcare, social/recreational activities or groceries. For many seniors and people with disabilities, financial resources limit their ability to access taxi services.  Our transportation vehicles operate with a Private Vehicle Operating license issued by the Ontario Highway Transport Board governed by the Public Vehicle Act (PVA). Attainment of the PVA licence by the Red Cross represents a significant investment in a safe and responsible transportation program. We are committed to maintaining our status as a leadership provider of transportation for vulnerable clients.

Funding and Program Partners

The Transportation Program receives funding from the United Way of Toronto as well as the Ministry of Health in Ontario.

Program Impact

The Transportation service improves the health and well-being and independence of seniors and persons with disabilities, acute/chronic illness or injuries, through provision of safe and clean vehicle for the client, trained and friendly drivers able to offer advice and provide doorto-door daily service including getting in/out of the vehicle. Last year we served 167 Adults and 517 Seniors on 20,832 rides across Toronto.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

"Transit, the underlying network that connects us, continues to rank poorly when compared to other major metropolitan centres. Chronic underinvestment in transportation has been identified as the Toronto Region’s greatest threat to global competitiveness. Our commute time is one of the longest and when compared to 14
other major international cities, we spend the least on public transit. Our skeleton is fragile."

"The city’s inner suburbs, where incomes have decreased 20% or more in the last 30 years (the geographic “City #3”, referenced in Toronto’s Vital Signs in 2009 and 2010) are significantly underserviced by rapid transit. City #3 has 19 local subway stops, compared to the 40 stops locally accessible to City #1 residents (the wealthiest and most advantaged of the three ‘Cities’ within Toronto. The ratio of the gap in transit service between the two ‘Cities’ is larger than the ratio of the gap in incomes."

(Toronto's Vital Signs 2011)

Participant Vignette

“They are very courteous, considering I have a hearing impairment.  Glad they will take an attendant with no extra cost.  Was living on my own, such excellent service for so long.  Long term care now, situation is different.  More complicated.  I couldn’t ask for better service.”

“Regarding volunteer drivers, I couldn’t ask for better service.  I use a walker, met me at my door, put walker in the car, me in the car, no complaints whatsoever.  Very satisfied on the phone and driving couldn’t ask for better service”

Client said: He is an excellent driver, Had his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road. Very pleasant, careful and proper driver.

First Contact

The CRC First Contact Program aims to provide a systematic & humanitarian approach to deal with the most pressing issues of refugee claimants, and to minimize further human dislocation, distress and exploitation of asylum seekers. The program achieves these objectives by providing timely access to information on a variety of issues affecting refugee claimants' survival and wellbeing (housing,social services,legal referrals,health care,etc.)

First Contact aims to: Mitigate homelessness by providing refugee claimants with accurate information about housing, social services, legal and health services;  Provide a 24/7toll-free telephone number for refugee claimants to access information about services and supports available in the community;  Provide a drop-in centre that will serve as a point of congregation, provision of referrals and services, especially for refugee claimants who are living in the general hostel/shelter system; The program assists refugee claimants who have recently arrived to Toronto. The addition of a toll-free line in the past two years has increased our reach and ensured all claimants are able to access First Contact services when in need. The toll-free number is accessible to claimants who have been detained and are in the Toronto Immigration Holding Centre(TIHC). Extra services are available to particularly vulnerable separated minors 16 & 17 years of age.

Funding and Program Partners

This program is funded by the United Way of Toronto.

Program Impact

Upon arrival to Toronto it is critical that Refugee Claimants get reliable information and referral supports in a timely manner in order to avoid becoming homeless, missing important deadlines vital to their claim, and from being preyed upon by individuals who do not have their best interest in mind.  The First Contact Program serves an average of 830 clients of all ages over the course of a year.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

"In December 2010, the Federal government announced cuts of $43 million in funding to newcomer settlement programs in Ontario: In Toronto, the province-wide cuts to the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program means a loss of programming that assists vulnerable students in navigating the school system and accessing services in the community. The loss of settlement programs like SWIS will likely make the adjustment more difficult for newcomer students and have a negative impact on academic outcomes."

(Toronto's Vital Signs 2011)

Participant Vignette

Latvin, a refugee claimant from Lithuania staying in a homeless shelter missed a deadline in responding to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, triggering claim abandonment proceedings by the Immigration and Refugee Board.  Once notified, a distraught Latvin came to the Red Cross office looking for assistance in communicating with IRB regarding continuing with the refugee claim process.  Upon investigation, we discovered that the reason he did not respond to CIC was because he had not received the letter on time. We assisted Latvin by sending a letter to CIC explaining the situation. Eventually, his case was reopened. Latvin was allowed to present his case before the IRB and we continue to follow his progress in the Refugee Determination Process.

 ~story of Latvin from Latvia

Settlement Information Worker
Canadian Red Cross, First Contact Program

In the beginning of November we had a call from a shelter regarding a minor who had just arrived in Canada. The minor was a female from the DRC and was seeking asylum in Canada. When we got the call from the shelter they told us Elisa had not made her claim yet. My task at the CRC-First Contact was to pick her up from the shelter then take her to the Inland Citizenship and Immigration Canada office. Everything went well at the Inland office and Elisa was happy to know she is in the process of claiming status in Canada. Two days later, I found space at “Sojourn House”, a refugee shelter in the city. We immediately referred Elisa to Sojourn house and Elisa moved to Sojourn House the next day. She liked the setting a lot better than the women’s shelter, housing many different women. This entire process was very rewarding. To assist someone vulnerable with their status and housing, especially to make them feel happy about it made me feel self-accomplished.

 ~story of Elisa from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Placement Student

Canadian Red Cross, First Contact Program

* Names have been changed to protect client identity.