The United Way is looking to the future, focusing on the well-being of local residents.
The agency has released the results of a community survey and subsequent report, highlighting the priorities, concerns, and ideas shared by nearly 600 local residents.
Lorraine Goddard, CEO of the United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent says the survey results show affordable housing, mental health and addiction support, food security, and youth development are among the top priorities of area residents.
The “Voices of Chatham-Kent: Shaping our Community’s Future Together” report aims to guide the United Way and its partners as they invest in and support the community, with a renewed focus on equity, prevention, and long-term impact.
“This is more than just a report, it’s a call to action,” Goddard said in a news release. “People across Chatham-Kent were incredibly clear, they want bold, collaborative solutions that address root causes and create real, lasting change. We’re committed to working alongside our community to make that happen.”
Goddard says the organization is now exploring a more “collective impact approach,” including a model called Cradle to Career, a community-driven strategy with a proven track record of improving outcomes for children and youth from early childhood through to employment.
The agency will also use the survey results to help create strategies for community investments, using tools like a Neighbourhood Opportunity Index to ensure investments are directed to where they’re needed most.
The Voices of Chatham-Kent report is available at www.weareunited.com/voicesofchathamkent.
