About 25 in 5

What is the 25 in 5 Network?

25-in-5: Network for Poverty Reduction is a multi-sectoral network comprised of more than 100 provincial and Toronto-based organizations and individuals working on eliminating poverty.

We have organized ourselves around the call for a Poverty Reduction Plan with a goal to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years and 50% in 10 years.

Eliminating poverty in Ontario is possible. It just takes leadership and commitment— and a plan.

Steering Committee

Click here to see the 25 in 5 Steering Committee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to see our most frequently asked questions.

Charity may help Jean, but not our broken welfare system: Fiorito
February 15, 2013

Jean has cancer and can’t afford to eat properly. Many people want to help. But does individual charity mask the poverty of our welfare policy?

Jean has cancer. She is my age. She knows what the future holds. She shrugs.

It’s coming to us all.

You remember that her disability cheques cover her rent, her phone, her television, and not much else; for all her other needs, including food, she has maybe a hundred bucks a month.

In addition to her disability cheque, she gets a few crumbs of money as part of the special diet allowance, because she has hypertension and high cholesterol.

But she has not been getting a particular portion of the special diet allowance — the portion meant for those who have cancer — because of this cruel qualifier: she has the illness, but she is not losing weight.

Oh, well, then.

Read more here
$45M dental-care boost protects poorest children
October 1, 2010
Ontario is expanding free dental services for poor children to include preventative care such as check-ups, cleanings, X-rays and fillings, the Star has learned.

Health Minister Deb Matthews will announce Friday that the “healthy smiles” program — costing taxpayers $45 million annually — is designed to help 130,000 kids aged 17 and under.
Big bang for full-day learning buck
August 30, 2010
Ontario is missing out on a significant economic payoff by offering a scaled-down version of full-day learning this fall, says a report being released Monday. A new economic analysis of the initiative outlined by the premier’s early learning adviser last spring shows an immediate return of $2.02 for every dollar invested in operations and $1.47 for every dollar spent on new classrooms, says the report, obtained by the Star.
Funding shortages for home services are staggering
August 27, 2010
ARCH Disability Law Centre, dedicated to advancing the rights of people with disabilities, says its campaign was prompted by “an alarming and growing trend of adults with intellectual disabilities being unable to afford vital supports that would facilitate their development, independence and participation in the community. “This crisis is growing and we need your help,” ARCH says.
Radical change for Ont. mental health urged
August 26, 2010
A new report says a “radical transformation” of mental health and addiction care is needed in Ontario if people are to receive the help they need.

Poverty reduction key to economic recovery
In this, the second annual report of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, we continue to track the progress of the Ontario government in meeting its poverty reduction commitments.

Poverty reduction is a commitment we make to each other, to ensuring that individuals and families across Ontario are able to recover from economic and social misfortunes. It is also a commitment that all parties in the legislature made to all Ontarians.

Find more research and resources here

25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
c/o CSPC-T
2 Carlton St., Suite 1001 | Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
ph. 416-351-0095 x.214 | fx. 416-351-0107
info@25in5.ca