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Why Toronto the Good is getting worse

Toronto is often touted as one of the best cities in the world to live. It even took the top spot in The Economists Safe Cities Index in 2015.

But a new Vital Signs report from the Toronto Foundation, which pools philanthropic dollars to support community initiatives, poses a critical question: the best city to live in for whom?

For the first time in its 16-year history, the report applied an equity lens to its data from hundreds of sources across 10 areas such as housing, health, transit and the environment, to provide a snapshot of the issues impacting people in the city.

Its findings, released at a press conference Wednesday (February 28) at George Brown Colleges Waterfront Campus, reveal that Toronto is going to have to radically shift gears on how it sees itself if its going to succeed in being a liveable city for all its residents.

The report points out that not only does the quality of life for Torontonians vary dramatically depending on neighbourhood, income, race, immigration status, gender, sexual identity and age, those differences are becoming more marked.

For example, the report cites data on income, finding that on average racialized men earn approximately $15,000 less than non-racialized men, while racialized women earn $10,000 less than their non-racialized counterparts.

In the area of wealth, there is nearly three times the number of households living on less than $20,000 per year than there are those living on $100,000 per year or more.

In terms of public safety, the city is also becoming more segmented, with a 30 per cent increase reported in sexual assaults (2,258) in 2016 since 2010. Those most at risk include women, Aboriginal women, non-heterosexual individuals and people with disabilities.

Sean Meagher, executive director of Social Planning Toronto, the reports lead agency, remarks that Inequities like that divide the city, and its becoming more divided and isolated all the time.

His statement finds support in the United Way research paper, The Opportunity Equation in the Greater Toronto Area, released last year.

Toronto is no longer a city of neighbourhoodsits a collection of islands segregated by income, write the reports co-authors.

Toronto used to be a middle class city but the distinction is gone. In 1980, middle class earners made up about 60 per cent of the GTAs population. Low-income and high-income earners represented 28 per cent and 12 per cent of residents, respectively

But according to 2015 data cited in the Opportunity Equation report, the middle class comprises only 28 per cent of residents in the GTA, while low-income earners make up more than half the population at 51 per cent. The percentage of high-income earners almost doubled to 21 per cent.

The number of low-income neighborhoods also increased dramatically in that period. In 1980, there were only five very-low-income neighbourhoods. In 2015, there were 88.

The reports findings are pressing.

The inequities in Toronto arent an outlier in an otherwise prosperous city. It’s a growing problem that Meagher says hampers the success of everyone. It is cheaper to run a fair city.

Meagher cites the cost of affordable housing, a dire need in the city, versus band-aid solutions like emergency shelters. Data from the report shows that, on average, one unit of affordable housing costs the city $23 per day, versus the $69 a day it costs to maintain emergency shelters, while jails cost $142 and hospitals $665.

By exposing the citys equity gaps, the report ultimately seeks to be a tool for action by identifying the areas where policy-makers, nonprofits, service providers and philanthropists can most effectively direct resources.

With both provincial and municipal elections coming up this year, the Toronto Foundation is also positioning the Vital Signs report as a reference tool. It includes a call to action section that encourages readers to ask candidates questions, host issue-based discussions and consider broadening their financial support to different organizations.

Philanthropy is most effective when it is strategic, Julia Howell, Toronto Foundations vice president of community engagement tells NOW. If we can zero in on where the gaps exist rather than broadly disseminating support, then its actually going to be able to make change happen.

chrisr@nowtoronto.com | @missrattan

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