We are physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, health promoters and other health providers committed to addressing poverty as a health issue.
We believe that poverty represents a serious, reversible threat to the health of Ontarians and we work from the well-accepted understanding that poverty is the most powerful known risk factor for ill health.
We work as clinicians in Toronto and other areas of Ontario to improve the health of people living in poverty, through tailored health assessments and interventions, and through improved access to resources for more adequate income.
We ally with other anti-poverty organizations, adding our health expertise to the knowledge base of people living in and working to end poverty.
We meet with government and policy makers at all levels to advocate for those who live in poverty and to raise awareness about the health impacts of poverty.
In order to avert an escalation of the current health crisis caused by poverty in Ontario, we believe those at risk must be given immediate relief by raising social assistance rates by at least the 40+ per cent they have dropped since 1995.