Community Research

The Foundation For What We Do

Groundbreaking research helps us uncover and understand the issues that shape life in our communities. With deeper insight, we can build stronger, long-term strategies to address persistent social challenges. Research is the foundation that drives meaningful results, creating lasting impact and improving the lives of everyone who calls this region home. Much information is gathered by sitting at cross-sector community tables, but we also conduct surveys, community consultations and initiate, collaborate and consult on community research projects. Here are the reports that we have led or supported within Simcoe Muskoka and across Ontario.

Built for Good (2025)

We know there’s a housing crisis. And that what we are doing is not working. We need to focus on a piece of the puzzle that has been missing. New research led by United Way Greater Toronto and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF) shows Ontario faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the affordable housing we actually need.

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Bringing Affordable Housing Home (2023)

United Ways across Ontario facilitated province-wide sector engagement to develop practical, solutions-focused recommendations to all levels of government on growing and protecting affordable and deeply affordable housing in Ontario, including through partnership with the sector.

“Bringing Affordable Housing Home” is a shared action plan for advancing housing stability in Ontario. It was developed by 400 Ontario nonprofit leaders in collaboration with United Ways across Ontario, Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, Ontario Alliance to End Homelessness, Ontario for All & Ontario Nonprofit Network

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Muskoka VitalSigns Report 2023

This Vital Signs report focuses on the District Municipality of Muskoka. It’s a community check-up that identifies significant trends in a range of sectors and areas that are critical to quality of life and maintaining smart and caring communities.

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ReThink Poverty 2023

The ReThink Poverty presentation is an overview of poverty in Simcoe Muskoka. Statistics and details are provided for five indicators of poverty: income stability, housing affordability, energy poverty, food security, childcare, and mental health

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North Simcoe and Area’s VitalSigns Report 2023

This Vital Signs report focuses on North Simcoe and area (Midland, Tiny, Tay, Penetanguishene and includes Christian Island and the Township of Georgian Bay). In March of 2021 North Simcoe and Area surveyed youth in the region asking questions about their understanding of community and what youth saw as the most pressing challenges. Next to the pandemic, youth pointed to Affordable Housing, Climate Action and Mental Health as major concerns. With this in mind, this Vital Signs team started gathering data early in 2022, asking questions, identifying resources, and talking to folks working with
those most affected.

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Simcoe Muskoka Community Profile 2021

The Simcoe Muskoka Community Profile focuses on areas in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka. Statistics and detail provided cover topics including individuals living in poverty, demographic composition, and the needs both met and unmet by municipality.

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Analyzing 211 Rural Unmet Service Needs 2018

The Analyzing 211 Rural Unmet Service Needs study is a joint project of the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) and Ontario 211 Services (211 Ontario) to undertake an exploratory analysis of 211-caller needs data, focusing on those originating in rural Ontario jurisdictions and those needs logged as “unmet needs.”

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Simcoe Muskoka’s VitalSigns Report 2016

A report intended to be a snapshot of our communities, capturing our two larger areas of Muskoka and Simcoe County, as well as the six reporting domains within. This report reached out to a broad range of organizations and community members throughout Simcoe Muskoka.

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Good Food Organization program

United Way Simcoe Muskoka is proud to be part of Community Food Centres Canada’s Good Food Organization (GFO) program. Together, this growing network of 400 organizations is fighting for action on the pressing issues of food insecurity, poverty, and inequity.

Visit here to find out more.