New Updates! Click here to see updates with new information and data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Oakville community.
The Oakville Resiliency Report is available in five languages (Arabic, Punjabi, Spanish, Chinese, English).
About the Report
On March 17, Oakville went into lockdown after the Ontario government declared a State of Emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the insecurity, we found our Resiliency to support each other. Within weeks the Foundation’s Oakville Resiliency Fund distributed over $625,000 to frontline charities — our Community Heroes. Our Resiliency Report shares the local impact of the crisis and great work that our charities continue to do in our community that you can help support.
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity is not a new problem in the Oakville community, but it is a challenge that has been exacerbated by COVID-19. Local food charities report between a 30% and 300% increase in requests for food at a time when they have fewer volunteers and donations.
Physical Health
Health concerns other than COVID-19 continue to play a part in people’s day-to-day lives. More than half of Acclaim Health clients have reported reduced mobility and a third have been hospitalized or accessed the emergency room since the pandemic started.
Housing and Shelter
Finding safe housing and shelter, and keeping it, during the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for many. Physical distancing and sanitization rules have caused shelters to reduce capacity, enforce quarantine periods, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for all staff and clients and prioritize high risk clients by moving them into hotels.
Mental Health
Feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression are on the rise. Concerning is the uptick in reports of suicide ideation and thoughts of suicide, with 1 in 20 Canadians saying they had experienced thoughts or feelings of suicide in 2020 compared to 1 in 40 in 2019.
Education and Schools
Days before March Break it was announced that schools would close. Both the Halton Catholic Children’s Education Fund and the Halton Learning Foundation have indicated that requests for support for basic needs by students and their families have grown more than 400% since March.
Community Connections – Arts, Culture and Recreation
Arts, culture and recreation organizations throughout the country are struggling. These organizations were more likely than other types of organizations to report decreased demand, capacity and revenue. They have faced more difficulty transitioning to virtual settings and developing new programs.
How Can I Support Oakville’s Resiliency?
GIVEOakville is a crowdfunding initiative that helps you give where your passions lie while learning about the important charities and programs supporting the most vulnerable in our community. When you choose to give through GIVEOakville, you can be confident that you are supporting the greatest needs in Oakville. Your chosen charity receives 100% of your donation; The Foundation covers all transaction fees.
