The Halton Bulletin presents local results from A Recovery-Free Zone, a one-year province-wide follow-up survey conducted by the Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) on the impact of the economic downturn on nonprofit community social service agencies in Ontario. The 2010 research was expanded to include a survey of non-governmental funders and foundations.
Some of the findings from the Halton survey found that demand is rising, agencies are unable to meet the demand; funding cuts are affecting critical programs; coping strategies may be unstainable; communities continue to feel the effects of the economic downturn and agency workers are caught in the squeeze. Recommendations include investing in people through a nonprofit employment program and improving access to and benefit levels for Employment Insurance and social assistance.