Transitional housing initiatives
Transitional housing initiatives: In Niagara, there are upward of 167 beds available in emergency shelters. Shelter beds use decreased by [...]
Homelessness and the use of shelters in Niagara
Homelessness: Being homeless means one does not have a usual and safe place to call home and to return to [...]
Core housing needs in Niagara
The term acceptable housing refers to housing that is acceptable in condition, suitable in size, and affordable. Adequate housing does [...]
New Housing Price Index in Niagara
The New Housing Price Index (NHPI) measures changes over time in contractors’ selling prices for new homes. The New Housing [...]
Purchase price of a home in Niagara
The average price to purchase a single detached home in Niagara in 2010 was $217,938 ($213,032 so far in 2011). [...]
Housing Starts and the building industry
Housing starts (including single, semi, row, apt) were up inNiagara in 2010 (1354) compared to 2009 (1015). Housing Starts declined [...]
Vacancy rates in Niagara
According to the CMHC, 2011 Spring Survey, in the St. Catharines– Niagara CMA, vacancy rates were 4.8% for April, 2010 [...]
Wait times and availability of affordable and subsidized housing in Niagara
Subsidized Housing in Niagara: Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) owns 2,636 affordable housing units (504 townhouses, 350 single and semi-detached houses, [...]
Average monthly rent trends in Niagara
Average monthly rent 1992 to 2009 in Niagara and other Canadian municipalities. Source: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/corp/about/cahoop/cahoop_0005.cfm and Canadian Real Estate Association (MLS) May, [...]
Average Market Rent (AMR) for 2-bedroom in Niagara
Average market rents: The Average Market Rent (AMR) is calculated annually by Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). AMR [...]
Spending over 30% of income on housing in Niagara
Affordability of housing, and spending over 30% of income on housing: [pull_quote align="right"]“Housing costs can be the single largest expenditure [...]
Variety of housing options in Niagara
The new 2011 Census was conducted in May of 2011 and data will be forthcoming. In Niagara, there is a [...]
Employment services in Niagara
Employment Services: There are several “for profit” and government-funded employment service organizations in Niagara. Organizations that are funded by the [...]
Early Development Instrument (EDI) in Niagara
The EDI (Early Development Instrument) is largely based on the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, and other existing [...]
Internet access and use in Niagara
Internet access and use: Access to and use of the internet adds to the education of our citizens. The internet [...]
Scores in Niagara on EQAO testing for grades 3 and 6 – reading, writing and math; grade 9 – mathematics; and grade 10 – literacy
EQAO testing results: The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is a provincial agency that designs and tests Grade 3 [...]
Literacy levels in Niagara
Literacy level ratings: Literacy rates in Canada are calculated on 5 levels for each of reading prose, documents, and numeracy. [...]
Composite Learning Index (CLI) scores in Niagara (learning to know, to do, to live together and to be)
The Composite Learning Index: The Canadian Council on Learning provided a Composite Learning Index (CLI) as a measure of learning [...]
Connections with other sectors
Arts, culture and heritage - connections with other sectors: “The cultural sector does not exist on its own, but acts [...]
Involvement and time spent on arts, culture and heritage activities in Niagara
In 2010, according to the General Social Survey (GSS) released July 2011, the average time spent, ( in hours and [...]
Living in Niagara – 2011 provides a description of:
12 critical sectors that describe life in Niagara and 142 critical indicators associated with each of those sectors. Niagara as [...]
What Have We Accomplished So Far?
We have described Living in Niagara in 2008 in a written and sharable document. We have identified 11 key areas [...]
What Gaps in the Data Need to be Addressed for the Future?
Information needs to be gathered on the variability across the region in regards to literacy, low income, poverty, education, health [...]
What are the Next Steps in the Process?
Involve interested Niagara stakeholders in the analysis of the data and in the development of improvement action goals for each [...]
How can Individuals and Groups Get Involved?
1. Use the information and indicators to stimulate discussion at work and in the community. 2. Join with others in the region [...]
Introduction to Getting Started
A region or city is enhanced when a new child, a new graduate or a new immigrant makes a start [...]
Starting Out as a Refugee or Immigrant
Refugees enter Canada at the Fort Erie Peace Bridge point of entry to seek asylum from war, persecution of genocide [...]
Starting Out as a Child
The presence of child care services and supports for children and their parents or caregivers is a measure of the [...]
Starting Out as a Youth and Graduate
The prevailing belief is that many of our young people leave the region for a post secondary education and many [...]
Leadership Diversity
A community thrives if there are opportunities for leadership at all levels and involving the diversity of voices and ideas. [...]
Net Migration
Net Migration data about the rate of migration per 1,000 population was derived by comparing the addresses supplied on personal [...]
Introduction to Belonging & Leadership
A community builds what is called social capital when its citizens have a well developed sense of civic responsibility and [...]
Volunteering in Niagara
Volunteering enriches the volunteer and contributes much to the community, the local economy and the non-profit sector to build the [...]
Charitable Giving
Niagara residents have increased the amount they give to charity each year from 2001 to 2006. The median charitable donation [...]
Political Involvement
Civic participation builds the capacity of a community and a nation. One way to exercise civic participation is through engaging [...]
Sense of Community Belonging
In 2005, 69.9% in Niagara reported they had a very strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging to their local [...]
Trust in Others
It takes trust in one another to build a safe community where everyone feels comfortable to engage with others and [...]
Participation in Social Networks and Social Activities
Being socially connected with families, friends and with community contacts through social institutions, clubs and organizations fosters social interaction, increases [...]
Having a Religious Affiliation
Having a religious affiliation is believed to be of benefit to the individual, but also to support building social networks, [...]
Introduction to Income, Prosperity & Poverty
Economic development in a region needs to be enjoyed by all of its citizens. Regional development involves creating a place [...]
Overall Economic Development
The CIBCWM Metropolitan Economic Activity Index (2007) is a measure designed to rank economic development in Canada’s largest CMAs. Nine [...]
Income and Earnings
Niagara had the lowest median, after tax employment income in all of Ontario at $23,396 in 2005. In 2005, in [...]
The Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO) Poverty Measure
The Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) is a measure based on total income before or after tax and is expressed as [...]
The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor and for Different Groups
The gap between the rich and the poor is widening in Niagara, as in all parts of Canada. According to [...]
Market Basket Measure
The Market Basket Measure (MBM) includes the cost of food, shelter, clothing, transportation and other costs of living related to [...]
Food Bank Use in Niagara and The Hunger Count Survey
The annual Hunger Count Survey provides a national snapshot of food bank use in Canada. The total number of individuals [...]
Social Assistance
Children and their families make up 52% of the people receiving social assistance in Canada. […]
The Number of Personal and Business Bankruptcies
The number of personal consumer and business bankruptcies in a region are a measure of whether individual or business finances [...]
Introduction to Employment & Work
Having opportunities to work, contribute and earn a living wage are important to the well being of a family, an [...]
Employment Rates
The employment rate for Niagara went down slightly from 60.7% in 2005 to 59.0% in 2007. In 2007, Niagara’s employment [...]
