All Publications
The Social Planning and Research Council was established in Hamilton in 1966, in response to the need for a coordinated approach to social change. We have stayed true to this intention over 50+ years of history – now, as then, we are committed to improving the quality of life for Hamilton citizens, with a focus on social, health and economic issues, in collaboration with other community partners.
All Publications
Community Data
Poverty Reduction and Elimination
Healthy Development of Children and Families
Housing and Homelessness
Equity and Inclusion
Policy Analysis
Where’s the Exit?
New research report from SPRC Hamilton:Where’s the Exit? Persistence of poverty in Hamilton and Ontario, 1992–2023 Along with annual snapshot data that show rates of poverty overall in a community, it is helpful to understand “persistence of poverty”: how many people...
Family and Child Poverty in Hamilton
Using taxfiler data, the new SPRC report Family and Child Poverty in Hamilton report explores child and youth poverty, family poverty, depth of poverty, and the impacts of poverty on housing, food security, and income security, It also examines community participation, belonging, and social inclusion.
Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need
The Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need report provides a data‑driven foundation to guide Hamilton’s development of a Community Benefits Framework (CBF). Using 2021 Census data and other validated sources, this report identifies population groups and...
Disability and Demographics: Profile of Persons with Activity Limitations in Hamilton
Using 2021 Census data on activity limitations, this new report explores types of disability, demographics like ages, gender, immigration status, and further characteristics such as housing, income, education, and employment to gain insights into the Hamilton...
Linking Social Assistance Rates and Homelessness in Hamilton
A recent policy brief from Maytree highlights how Ontario’s deeply inadequate social assistance program directly contributes to the growing homelessness crisis across the province. Through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for data from the Ministry of Children,...
Climate Justice Framework Engagement Summary Report
In August 2025, the City of Hamilton engaged the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC), along with other partnering organizations, to conduct a series of community engagements to support the Climate Justice Framework. Through partnership with...
Hamilton Living Wage 2025
Hamilton’s new Living Wage is $22.60/hour, a 6.1% increase from last year. This updated calculation, released by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) on November 10, reflects what it truly costs to live and work in Hamilton: covering essentials like rent, food,...
Barely hanging on
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Ontario Living Wage Network highlights a growing challenge across Ontario: wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living. You can read the report here. Here in Hamilton, over 60,000 workers are...
A Province That Forgot: The Case for transforming Ontario’s Personal Needs Allowance to bring dignity to Residential Care Facility tenants in Hamilton and beyond
This is the first-ever report dedicated to Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), a hidden part of Ontario’s social assistance system. At only $149/month and frozen since 2019, the PNA is the only personal income for tenants in residential care facilities (RCFs). The report...
Reflections on Climate (In)Justice
On June 24, 2025, SPRC Hamilton hosted a screening of the documentary, “A Matter of Justice: Climate Change in Black Communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.” Following the screening, Dr. Ingrid Waldron, the film’s documentarian and McMaster professor,...
Where’s the Exit?
New research report from SPRC Hamilton:Where’s the Exit? Persistence of poverty in Hamilton and Ontario, 1992–2023 Along with annual snapshot data that show rates of poverty overall in a community, it is helpful to understand “persistence of poverty”: how many people...
Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need
The Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need report provides a data‑driven foundation to guide Hamilton’s development of a Community Benefits Framework (CBF). Using 2021 Census data and other validated sources, this report identifies population groups and...
Disability and Demographics: Profile of Persons with Activity Limitations in Hamilton
Using 2021 Census data on activity limitations, this new report explores types of disability, demographics like ages, gender, immigration status, and further characteristics such as housing, income, education, and employment to gain insights into the Hamilton...
New SPRC Report: Map of top home countries of birth of Hamilton’s recent immigrants
This report was prepared for the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council and provides maps of the top 10 countries of birth of Hamilton recent immigrants, and the top 10 most common non-English home languages spoken by Hamilton residents. Download PDF
Racialized Population in Hamilton 2021
This bulletin summarizes some key trends regarding persons who identify with racialized groups in Hamilton based on data from the 2021 Census. The term ‘racialized,’ which includes both visible minorities and Indigenous peoples, is becoming more common. The Ontario...
Hamilton Living Wage 2023
Hamilton’s new Living Wage is $20.80/hour. A new report from the Ontario Living Wage Network shows that a full-time worker in Hamilton needs to earn $20.80 an hour to meet their needs and participate in the community. A Living Wage is an evidence-based calculation...
Profile of North Hamilton 2023
The Profile of North Hamilton outlines the area's trends and conditions, emphasizing critical issues for both the Compass Health Centre Board of Directors and the broader community. It includes community demographics, socio-economic data such as income, housing,...
Canada Learning Bond Participation in Hamilton
Introduction Over the course of several months in 2014 community partners in Hamilton collaborated to arrange and host a series of community events that would invite and assist eligible families with young children to register for the Canada Learning Bond (CLB)....
Rental Housing Market Amplifies Inequality for Young Renters
Hamilton Social Landscape, Issue #30 Young renters face more challenges to finding affordable housing, according to the SPRC report from November 2022. Households led by racialized and Indigenous youth are among the highest rates of renter households, amplifying...
Renter Growth in Hamilton
Hamilton renter households are growing in all parts of the city. Growth of renter households across Hamilton was 11.5% from 2016 to 2021, a 5 times higher growth rate than the 2.3% growth in owner households in that time. Two new reports have been released, 2021...
Where’s the Exit?
New research report from SPRC Hamilton:Where’s the Exit? Persistence of poverty in Hamilton and Ontario, 1992–2023 Along with annual snapshot data that show rates of poverty overall in a community, it is helpful to understand “persistence of poverty”: how many people...
Family and Child Poverty in Hamilton
Using taxfiler data, the new SPRC report Family and Child Poverty in Hamilton report explores child and youth poverty, family poverty, depth of poverty, and the impacts of poverty on housing, food security, and income security, It also examines community participation, belonging, and social inclusion.
Linking Social Assistance Rates and Homelessness in Hamilton
A recent policy brief from Maytree highlights how Ontario’s deeply inadequate social assistance program directly contributes to the growing homelessness crisis across the province. Through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for data from the Ministry of Children,...
Hamilton Living Wage 2025
Hamilton’s new Living Wage is $22.60/hour, a 6.1% increase from last year. This updated calculation, released by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) on November 10, reflects what it truly costs to live and work in Hamilton: covering essentials like rent, food,...
Barely hanging on
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Ontario Living Wage Network highlights a growing challenge across Ontario: wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living. You can read the report here. Here in Hamilton, over 60,000 workers are...
A Province That Forgot: The Case for transforming Ontario’s Personal Needs Allowance to bring dignity to Residential Care Facility tenants in Hamilton and beyond
This is the first-ever report dedicated to Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), a hidden part of Ontario’s social assistance system. At only $149/month and frozen since 2019, the PNA is the only personal income for tenants in residential care facilities (RCFs). The report...
Reflections on Climate (In)Justice
On June 24, 2025, SPRC Hamilton hosted a screening of the documentary, “A Matter of Justice: Climate Change in Black Communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.” Following the screening, Dr. Ingrid Waldron, the film’s documentarian and McMaster professor,...
SPRC Hamilton Community Impact Event: Reflections on Climate (In)Justice
August 18, 2025 On June 24, 2025, the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC) held our annual community impact event to reflect on and share the impact of our programs in the community over the past year. In attendance were SPRC staff, board members,...
The Faces of Poverty in Hamilton
This bulletin takes a closer look at what poverty looks like for some of the Hamilton groups most impacted by poverty. Keep scrolling down to read this report, or use the buttons to jump to a section: Measuring Poverty Faces of Poverty Recent Immigrants Singles – with...
While we celebrate lower gas prices, how will the loss of the carbon rebate impact lower income Canadians?
As published in the Hamilton Spectator, April 9, 2025 The recent cancellation of the Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) has sparked significant concern for low-income Canadians who have come to rely on these payments to help offset basic living expenses. The CCR was designed...
Family and Child Poverty in Hamilton
Using taxfiler data, the new SPRC report Family and Child Poverty in Hamilton report explores child and youth poverty, family poverty, depth of poverty, and the impacts of poverty on housing, food security, and income security, It also examines community participation, belonging, and social inclusion.
Ensuring every child has access to nutritious food
The call for a national school food program in Canada, like those in other countries, is growing louder. By Donna Weldon Every day, Tastebuds' student nutrition programs serve over 20,000 students across Hamilton with nutritious meals and snacks, ensuring no child...
Canada Learning Bond Participation in Hamilton
Introduction Over the course of several months in 2014 community partners in Hamilton collaborated to arrange and host a series of community events that would invite and assist eligible families with young children to register for the Canada Learning Bond (CLB)....
Binbrook business offers sweet support to school nutrition program
A Binbrook-based business is supporting a school nutrition program. The business, named Ashley's Sweets & Treats, offered to hold a cupcake decorating class at the school and donate a portion of each registration fee to the nutrition program, which provides...
‘With food costs soaring and no national program, Canadian schools struggle to feed students’
By Caroline Alphonso, Education Reporter Globe & MailTuesday, March 14, 2023 Globe and Mail Article March 14, 2023.pdf
The Hamilton Spectator: Demand for school-based food programs soars in Hamilton
City food programs are working to keep up with a spike in demand amid inflation and rising food costs, with some reporting a 25 per cent increase in demand over recent years. And food prices in Ontario are climbing — about 18 per cent since 2018. The latest Canada...
MEDIA RELEASE: First Ontario Credit Union Invests in Local Student Nutrition Programs in Hamilton
FirstOntario Credit Union has donated $20,000.00 to Tastebuds, Hamilton’s Student Nutrition Collaborative. This food funding received will allow the Hamilton Tastebuds Student Nutrition Collaborative to scale up operations of local student nutrition initiatives and...
The hidden costs of a school day create barriers to learning for many students in our community
Results of The Cost of a School Day project, created by the Hamilton Community of Practice for the Knowledge of Student Wellbeing, show that there are costs associated with various aspects of the school day which disproportionately create disadvantages for low-income...
Hamilton CAPC Systems Navigation Program
A Review of Hamilton CAPC Council: Strengthening Relationships Through Community Engagement and Advocacy Download Report Funded by: Public Health Agency of Canada
The Sprout Newsletter – Spring 2018
Published: June 2018 Newsletter from Tastebuds’, Hamilton’s Student Nutrition Collaborative Funded by: Ministry of Children and Youth Services To view the Newsletter, please click here.
Linking Social Assistance Rates and Homelessness in Hamilton
A recent policy brief from Maytree highlights how Ontario’s deeply inadequate social assistance program directly contributes to the growing homelessness crisis across the province. Through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for data from the Ministry of Children,...
A Province That Forgot: The Case for transforming Ontario’s Personal Needs Allowance to bring dignity to Residential Care Facility tenants in Hamilton and beyond
This is the first-ever report dedicated to Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), a hidden part of Ontario’s social assistance system. At only $149/month and frozen since 2019, the PNA is the only personal income for tenants in residential care facilities (RCFs). The report...
Mapping Core Housing Need in Hamilton
This SPRC report illustrates core housing need across Hamilton's Census Tracts using 2021 Census data. This report contains interactive maps that allow for the exploration of data at the census tract (neighbourhood) level, with clickable popup information for each...
Hamilton Housing Crisis: 2010-2023 Trends
Hamilton Social Landscape Hamilton's Housing Crisis:2010-2023 Trends in Rental Housing Explore this report ↓ Or download simple PDF viewof this webpage How to explore this report: Use the buttons in each section to jump to next section, or just keep scrolling down ↓...
Hamilton’s Housing Crisis: Financialization Overview
SPRC and the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC) jointly submitted to the National Housing Council’s Review Panel on the Financialization of Purpose Built Rental Housing in August 2023. As two organizations committed to advancing the right to housing in our...
Hamilton Post-Pandemic Emergency Shelter Size Review: Key Findings
In June 2022, the City of Hamilton Housing Services Division selected the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton to conduct a post-pandemic review of the size of the emergency shelter system. The scope directed the SPRC to consult service providers, review...
Open Letter to the City of Hamilton on the Proposed Encampment Protocol
June 30, 2023 Michelle BairdDirector of Housing ServicesCity of Hamilton71 Main St WestHamilton, ONL8P 4Y5 [via email] Dear Ms. Baird: RE: Open Letter to the City of Hamilton on the Proposed Encampment Protocol Please accept this letter as the Social Planning and...
SPRC Submission to the Federal Housing Advocate Encampment Review
The Federal Housing Advocate has launched a review on homeless encampments as a violation of human rights in Canada. As part of the review, the Federal Housing Advocate is seeking input from people deprived of housing and community-based organizations on what is...
Hamilton-Centre tenants urgently need more protection: election candidate survey
Green and PC candidates do not respond to SPRC survey on rental housing The Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton sent a survey by email to candidates in the Hamilton Centre by-election to ask their views on the housing crisis facing tenants. The survey...
Rental Housing Market Amplifies Inequality for Young Renters
Hamilton Social Landscape, Issue #30 Young renters face more challenges to finding affordable housing, according to the SPRC report from November 2022. Households led by racialized and Indigenous youth are among the highest rates of renter households, amplifying...
Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need
The Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need report provides a data‑driven foundation to guide Hamilton’s development of a Community Benefits Framework (CBF). Using 2021 Census data and other validated sources, this report identifies population groups and...
Disability and Demographics: Profile of Persons with Activity Limitations in Hamilton
Using 2021 Census data on activity limitations, this new report explores types of disability, demographics like ages, gender, immigration status, and further characteristics such as housing, income, education, and employment to gain insights into the Hamilton...
Linking Social Assistance Rates and Homelessness in Hamilton
A recent policy brief from Maytree highlights how Ontario’s deeply inadequate social assistance program directly contributes to the growing homelessness crisis across the province. Through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for data from the Ministry of Children,...
Climate Justice Framework Engagement Summary Report
In August 2025, the City of Hamilton engaged the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC), along with other partnering organizations, to conduct a series of community engagements to support the Climate Justice Framework. Through partnership with...
A Province That Forgot: The Case for transforming Ontario’s Personal Needs Allowance to bring dignity to Residential Care Facility tenants in Hamilton and beyond
This is the first-ever report dedicated to Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), a hidden part of Ontario’s social assistance system. At only $149/month and frozen since 2019, the PNA is the only personal income for tenants in residential care facilities (RCFs). The report...
Reflections on Climate (In)Justice
On June 24, 2025, SPRC Hamilton hosted a screening of the documentary, “A Matter of Justice: Climate Change in Black Communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.” Following the screening, Dr. Ingrid Waldron, the film’s documentarian and McMaster professor,...
SPRC Hamilton Community Impact Event: Reflections on Climate (In)Justice
August 18, 2025 On June 24, 2025, the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC) held our annual community impact event to reflect on and share the impact of our programs in the community over the past year. In attendance were SPRC staff, board members,...
Refugees and Asylum Claimants in Hamilton: A Demographic Profile
In collaboration with SEND Relief, the SPRC has published a report on refugees in Hamilton. Close to 31,000 people living in the city of Hamilton in 2021 came to Canada in the 1980s or later as refugees. That represents about 6% of Hamilton’s overall population. This...
Mayor’s Task Force on Transparency, Access, and Accountability
SPRC Hamilton staff supported the Mayor's Task Force on Transparency, Access, and Accountability's engagement strategy through consultations with equity-deserving groups via focus groups. SPRC Hamilton also retained an Indigenous engagement specialist to conduct...
New SPRC Report: Map of top home countries of birth of Hamilton’s recent immigrants
This report was prepared for the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council and provides maps of the top 10 countries of birth of Hamilton recent immigrants, and the top 10 most common non-English home languages spoken by Hamilton residents. Download PDF
Where’s the Exit?
New research report from SPRC Hamilton:Where’s the Exit? Persistence of poverty in Hamilton and Ontario, 1992–2023 Along with annual snapshot data that show rates of poverty overall in a community, it is helpful to understand “persistence of poverty”: how many people...
Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need
The Community Benefits Framework – Understanding the Need report provides a data‑driven foundation to guide Hamilton’s development of a Community Benefits Framework (CBF). Using 2021 Census data and other validated sources, this report identifies population groups and...
Disability and Demographics: Profile of Persons with Activity Limitations in Hamilton
Using 2021 Census data on activity limitations, this new report explores types of disability, demographics like ages, gender, immigration status, and further characteristics such as housing, income, education, and employment to gain insights into the Hamilton...
Climate Justice Framework Engagement Summary Report
In August 2025, the City of Hamilton engaged the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC), along with other partnering organizations, to conduct a series of community engagements to support the Climate Justice Framework. Through partnership with...
A Province That Forgot: The Case for transforming Ontario’s Personal Needs Allowance to bring dignity to Residential Care Facility tenants in Hamilton and beyond
This is the first-ever report dedicated to Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), a hidden part of Ontario’s social assistance system. At only $149/month and frozen since 2019, the PNA is the only personal income for tenants in residential care facilities (RCFs). The report...
Indecent Social Assistance in Hamilton and Ontario
New data shows more single people are excluded from Ontario's post-pandemic economy Scroll down to view this report Or download a simple PDF view of this webpage Growing homelessness including encampments across Ontario, and record levels of visits to food banks, are...
Volunteer Advisory Committees (VAC) Review
In July 2023, Hamilton City Council tasked the Government Relations and Community Engagement Division with reviewing the City’s Volunteer Advisory Committees (VACs). Partnering with the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC), the review gathered...
Hamilton’s Housing Crisis: Financialization Overview
SPRC and the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC) jointly submitted to the National Housing Council’s Review Panel on the Financialization of Purpose Built Rental Housing in August 2023. As two organizations committed to advancing the right to housing in our...
Hamilton Post-Pandemic Emergency Shelter Size Review: Key Findings
In June 2022, the City of Hamilton Housing Services Division selected the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton to conduct a post-pandemic review of the size of the emergency shelter system. The scope directed the SPRC to consult service providers, review...
Open Letter to the City of Hamilton on the Proposed Encampment Protocol
June 30, 2023 Michelle BairdDirector of Housing ServicesCity of Hamilton71 Main St WestHamilton, ONL8P 4Y5 [via email] Dear Ms. Baird: RE: Open Letter to the City of Hamilton on the Proposed Encampment Protocol Please accept this letter as the Social Planning and...