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
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...
Public Launch of the SPRC Report: Demographic Profile of Refugee & Asylum Claimants 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. This new SPRC Report uses census data and other sources to give insights into the demographic characteristics of this population. Join us in person at the...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Inflation, Social Assistance, And Hunger In Hamilton
The combination of high inflation and frozen social assistance rates is causing a food insecurity emergency for Hamilton residents living in deep poverty across the city. Inflation in Ontario has hit lowest income residents most intensely. Low income residents spend...
2021 Census: Poverty In Hamilton By Major Age Groups
The 2021 Census showed that poverty rates have changed substantially across Canada including in Hamilton. The income data in this latest Census is from the 2020 tax year, and for almost a third of Canadians, their income included Canada Emergency Response Benefits...
Show Us the Money: Income Security in Ontario 2022
On May 18, 2022, SPRC Hamilton and Community Development Halton hosted a virtual Town Hall called, Show us the Money: Income Security in Ontario: Preparing for Provincial Election 2022. Below is a pre-election resource to assist with conversations on the income...
Equitable Vaccinations in Hamilton
Key findings: Ontario’s Vaccination strategy includes Equity as a key pillar, and groups facing disproportionate riskare to be prioritized, to help reduce the magnification of inequalities that COVID-19 has created. Progress on vaccinations has been slower for many...
Housing, Homelessness, and the Health Pandemic
Key findings: Neighbourhoods with high proportions of residents living in rental housing have high rates of COVID-19. The rental housing market is under stress from many landlords using tactics to increase rents and/or evict tenants during the pandemic. People...
Occupational and Employment Impacts of COVID-19
Key findings: Average COVID-19 infection rates are highest in neighbourhoods with high proportions of workers in healthcare and sales and service occupations and lowest in neighbourhoods with high proportions of management and natural resources workers. The economic...
Children and COVID-19 in Hamilton
Key findings: COVID-19 infection rates are high in neighbourhoods with high proportion of children 0-17 and neighbourhoods with high rates of child poverty. Severe mental health distress among some children is leading to increased rates of hospitalization. Rates of...
COVID-19 and Intensification of Inequalities
Key findings: Neighbourhoods with high proportions of racialized residents have high rates of COVID-19 infections.Areas with low proportions of residents facing material deprivation have low rates of COVID-19 infections. Residents who identify as Arab/Middle Eastern,...
Equitable Recovery from COVID-19
Key findings: The effects of the global pandemic are not over and will persist for all society, for some time to come. Persons and groups already experiencing inequality are seeing the most acute effects of the pandemic. Social justice principles must be centred in...
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...
Hamilton Living Wage 2024
Hamilton’s new Living Wage is $21.30/hour. A new report from the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) shows that a full-time worker in Hamilton needs to earn $21.30 an hour to meet their needs and participate in the community. A Living Wage is an evidence-based...
Canada Disability Benefit Forum: Response to Draft Regulations
The Canada Disability Benefit was designed by the Federal Government to reduce poverty and support eligible individuals with disabilities. The Benefit will launch in July 2025. The SPRC helped organization a community forum on September 16 2024 on the draft...
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...
Basic Income: It Still Matters…
Join us for a look back at the transformational impact of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot Project. Basic Income: It still matters... Tickets, Fri, 27 Oct 2023 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
Frozen In Time 3: A Virtual Town Hall on Ontario’s Social Assistance System
Join us for a virtual town hall on Wednesday, September 20th at 7pm-8pm on Zoom. We'll examine Ontario's social assistance system & what needs to change! Register Here: Meeting Registration - Zoom Speakers Include: Dr. Peter Graefe, McMaster University: Research...
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)....
Hamilton Living Wage 2022
It's Living Wage Week 2022 and Hamilton's new living wage is $19.05. A new report from the Ontario Living Wage Network was released on Monday that suggests hourly wages required to live in Ontario have increased amid decades-high inflation and remain significantly...
Inflation, Social Assistance, And Hunger In Hamilton
The combination of high inflation and frozen social assistance rates is causing a food insecurity emergency for Hamilton residents living in deep poverty across the city. Inflation in Ontario has hit lowest income residents most intensely. Low income residents spend...
2021 Census: Poverty In Hamilton By Major Age Groups
The 2021 Census showed that poverty rates have changed substantially across Canada including in Hamilton. The income data in this latest Census is from the 2020 tax year, and for almost a third of Canadians, their income included Canada Emergency Response Benefits...
Young Parent Program Review
Published: December 2017This report provides a program review of Catholic Family Services St. Martin’s Manor and the Salvation Army Grace Haven. Funded by: Catholic Family Services St. Martin’s Manor, the Salvation Army Grace Haven To read the full report, click...
Tastebuds’ Feast on the Farm Fundraiser
Published: May 2016 Created for distribution at Tastebuds’ Feast on the Farm fundraiser, held on May 26, 2016. Click here to see the infographic. Funded by: Ministry of Youth and Child Services
The Quarterly Sprout – Winter and Spring 2016
Published: February 2016 Newsletter from Tastebuds’, Hamilton’s Student Nutrition Collaborative, 2016 issues. Winter Newsletter Spring Newsletter Funded by: Ministry of Children and Youth Services
The Quarterly Sprout
Published: September 2015 Newsletter from Tastebuds’, Hamilton’s Student Nutrition Collaborative, 2015 issues. Winter Newsletter Spring Newsletter Fall Newsletter Funded by: Ministry of Youth and Child Services
Tastebuds’ Local Harvest Program Bulletin – 3Acres Sweet Potatoes
Published: February 2015 Click here to view the bulletin. Funded by: Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Tastebuds’ Local Harvest Program Bulletin – 3Acres Pears
Published: January 2015 Click here to view the bulletin. Funded by: Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Tastebuds’ Local Harvest Program Bulletin – 3Acres Cucumbers
Published: December 2014 Click here to view the bulletin. Funded by: Ministry of Children and Youth Services
The Quarterly Sprout
Published: October 2014 Newsletter from Tastebuds’, Hamilton’s Student Nutrition Collaborative, 2014 issues Winter Newsletter Spring Newsletter Summer Newsletter Fall Newsletter Funded by: Ministry of Children and Youth Services
2012-2013 Hamilton CAPC Local Evaluation
Published: July 2013 This local evaluation of the Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) uses numerical data from program partners to identify numbers of sub-groups of participants and visits within each program, and presents stories from program partners about...
Hamilton Community Action Program for Children Evaluation
Published: August 2012 This purposes of this evaluation of the Hamilton Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) program are to 1) assess the long-term impacts of CAPC in east Hamilton since 1993; and 2) offer recommendations for program improvement. A mix of...
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...
Hamilton’s Rental Landscape: Understanding the rental housing crisis and solutions to end it
The current rental landscape is changing, and changing fast. Highlighting data on rental housing from a variety of sources, the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton is publishing a series of bulletins to bring attention to Hamilton’s renters, the buildings...
Rents and Affordability in Hamilton and Ontario
A recent report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives shows that a minimum-wage earner would have to work 54 hours a week to afford a one bedroom apartment in Hamilton. This troubling situation is not unique to Hamilton, as many communities across Ontario...
Rising Eviction Rates Threatening Tenants And Affordable Housing
Tenants are being squeezed by increasing rental prices as illustrated in the previous bulletins in this series (Rents and affordability in Hamilton and Ontario and Rents in Hamilton's neighbourhoods). This bulletin provides data for another pressure renters are under:...
Growth In Hamilton’s Renter Households
One reason rents are increasing at higher rates recently is that the number of renters in Hamilton has increased to 68,545 households in 2016. This figure is higher than any census year since 1991, an increase of over 8,000 households since a low of just under 62,000...
Rental Housing in Hamilton’s Neighbourhoods
In Canada, a full-time minimum wage worker can afford a one-bedroom apartment in only 70 out of 795 neighborhoods across the country, 9% of neighbourhoods examined in the CCPA report, Unaccommodated1. In the City of Hamilton, there are no neighbourhoods where a...
Primary Private Rental Stock In Hamilton
The 68,545 rental dwellings in Hamilton identified in the 2016 Census can be divided into the three main types of rental units: those in private primary rental buildings, those in private secondary units, and subsidized units, most often run by non-profit...
Rental Quality Concerns
The lack of new builds or reinvestment into aging rental stock in Hamilton has led to more and more tenants living in substandard housing. The Canadian Census asks renters and homeowners if their housing is in need of regular maintenance, minor repairs or major...
Not-for-profit Housing
Housing is key to social welfare, and in fact Canada now recognizes housing as a human right in legislation, but “housing is famously the shaky of ’wobbly pillar’ of the welfare state in that it is only slightly decomodified” (Still Renovating: A History of Canadian...
Hamilton’s Rental Landscape: Trends In Hamilton’s Rental Stock
Lack of new builds or reinvestment into aging rental stock in Hamilton has led to more and more tenants living in substandard housing. The Canadian Census asks renters and homeowners if their housing is in need of regular maintenance, minor repairs or major repairs....
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...
Fact From Fiction: Unpacking Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom
Join us for an engaging online event on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 12:00PM. This event aims to shed light on the important topic of gender diversity and inclusion in the classroom. We will debunk misconceptions, explore real-life experiences, and provide...
Hamilton A Belonging City: Launch of Hamilton for All & Anti-Hate Toolkit
As you know, emboldened acts of hatred are plaguing Hamilton and the rest of the world. A coalition of many organizations and individuals formed No Hate in the Hammer in 2019 to address acts of Hate and build a more inclusive Hamilton. Over the past year, this group...
It’s time to ‘listen, learn and act’ to address hate in Hamilton
Celebrating March 21st International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for 2023. SPRC Executive Director and Co-chair of No Hate In the Hammer, Kim Martin, joined Kojo Damptey, former Executive Director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion,...
Hamilton For All
The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council and the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion launched a new public education campaign, #HamiltonForAll, that aims to stimulate dialogue and open minds by encouraging Hamiltonians to stand up against prejudice, exclusion and...
YWCA Hamilton Building Opportunities: Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Occupations Evaluation
Published: January 2017 Building Opportunities: Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Occupations was a three year project led by YWCA Hamilton in partnership with Workforce Planning Hamilton (WPH). The project was designed to research, understand, and communicate the...
Voter ID Clinics During the 2015 Federal Election
Published: January 2016 The Hamilton Neighbourhood Action Strategy, the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, and the Hamilton Public Library, partnered to administer voter ID clinics during the 2015 federal election. The purpose of the clinics was to increase...
Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council Service Provider Survey Report
Published: May 2015 This report documents findings of the 2014 Service Provider Survey for the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC). The main objective of the 2014 Service Provider Survey is to document levels of awareness of services available to newcomers...
Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council 2014-15 Contribution and Impact Assessment
Published: March 2015 The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) again enlisted the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton (SPRC) to conduct an evaluation of the impacts of the HIPC’s work in the community and to quantify its members’ contributions...
YWCA Hamilton Bridging for Internationally Educated Persons Program Evaluation
Published: October 2014 The goals of this evaluation of the YWCA Hamilton’s Bridging Internationally Trained Individuals Program are to explore and offer recommendations for strengthening several elements of the program, including the effectiveness of recruitment 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...
South Mountain Community Engagement Initiative Evaluation Baseline Results
Published: February 2017 The South Mountain community engagement initiative reaches out to seven social housing complexes operated by Kiwanis Homes Inc., Victoria Park Community Homes Inc. and McGivney Homes Inc.. The initiative, funded by the Ontario Trillium...
YWCA Hamilton Building Opportunities: Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Occupations Evaluation
Published: January 2017 Building Opportunities: Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Occupations was a three year project led by YWCA Hamilton in partnership with Workforce Planning Hamilton (WPH). The project was designed to research, understand, and communicate the...
Everyone Has A Home: Policy Brief to the National Housing Strategy Consultation
Published: October 2016 This submission to the federal government’s National Housing Strategy consultation is based in part on the City of Hamilton’s housing and homelessness action plan. The policy brief includes suggested federal strategies to address affordable...
Violence Against Women Services in Hamilton: Assessing Gaps and Barriers in Service
Published: April 2016 This report is phase two of the “Mapping Community Assets” report recently produced by the Woman Abuse Working Group. It is intended to provide a baseline system overview of intimate partner violence and sexual violence of adult women. Goals of...
Paths to Research Collaboration: A Guide to Working with McMaster Researchers
Published: January 2016 If you are a community, non-profit, or public organization looking for assistance with research, or if you have been approached by McMaster University researchers interested in conducting research with you, this guide is for you. It is a...
Youth Confidence in School, Community and the Future – Hamilton Findings
Published: May 2012 In the City of Hamilton, 319 students participated in the Youth Confidence in Learning and the Future Project survey. Of the students surveyed, 53% identified as female, while 47% identified as male. The largest response by grade was 53% from grade...
Supporting Laid Off Workers in Hamilton: The Value of Employment Training at the Hamilton Jobs Action Centre
Published: May 2011 The purposes of this research are to: determine the value of short-term employment related workshops accessed by dislocated workers at HJAC; explore options for maximizing these benefits to laid off workers and to the wider unemployed/underemployed...
Our Health Counts: Urban Aboriginal Health Data Research Project: Community Report – First Nations Adults and Children
Published: April 2011 The goal of the Our Health Counts (OHC) project was to work in partnership with Aboriginal organizational stakeholders to develop a baseline population health database for urban Aboriginal people living in Ontario that is immediately accessible,...
Seeking Better Outcomes for Youth in Hamilton
Published: January 2011 This report was prepared by the SPRC in partnership with the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton as a resource for addressing youth issues in Hamilton. It has been structured to focus on current knowledge about youth issues drawn from...