2024-2025 Annual Report_UWWRC - Flipbook - Page 51
2025 Key Highlights & Shifts
Affordable Housing & Homelessness
Despite the reduction, housing remains one of our largest funded areas, underscoring its
continued importance amid a growing homelessness crisis.
United Way Waterloo Region is engaged in the region wide Plan to End Chronic
Homelessness, reflecting the critical role of a network approach to addressing the
affordable housing & homelessness crisis, that includes government, funders, service
providers and those with lived experience.
Children & Youth
Remained relatively stable across three years: $465,500 (2023)
$419,000 (2025).
Continues to be a consistent pillar of United Way investment
→ $475,755 (2024) →
Mental Health & Addictions
Decrease in 2025 investment reflective of the intersectionality with community and social
supports.
Community & Social Support
2025 investment: $705,985 (largest single allocation across all cause areas).
Two thirds of investments in this Issue Area were in organizations exclusively serving equity
deserving communities, including Black, Indigenous, & Racialized communities,
2SLGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. Services provided reflect wrap-around supports –
including counselling, advocacy & basic needs.
Food Insecurity
2025 investment: $298,234, more than double 2023 levels.
Inflation has impacted costs across a wide range of basic needs – like housing – leaving
little for food.
This rebound highlights recognition of rising food costs, and demand for emergency food
programs
Hate, Gender-Based & Family Violence
Fluctuated but held steady around $200,000 annually, reflective of our ongoing
commitment to equity and safety.
Leadership, Volunteerism & Capacity Building
2025 investment: $108,450, a significant decline from $275,485 in 2023.
Strategic shift to wrap capacity-building into other cause areas
Literacy, Employment Skills & Assistive Devices
2025 investment: $70,000, the smallest funded area.
Considerably reduced from 2023 levels, reflecting a focus on core urgent needs
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2024/2025 Annual Report
