The real cost of city cuts

The tool then facilitates policy-makers and planners to make changes to the planned policy to mitigate adverse effects on the most vulnerable and to enhance equity objectives. [...] Finally, the HEIA tool assists in setting targets and measurements to determine the policy’s success.2 This document provides a high-level HEIA assessment of three Budget decisions that will have negative health impacts for vulnerable populations: reducing child care funding and subsidies, the elimination of the Hardship Fund, and limiting the development of affordable housing to complet- ing only [...] Hardship Fund On September 19, 2011, the Executive Committee referred the following recommendations in the report from the City Manager, back to the City Manager for consideration as part of the 2012 and 2013 budget process: Toronto Employment and Social Services — Eliminate the Hardship Fund, and request the Provincial Gov- ernment to fund these services, and items. [...] If a gap exists between the end of the Hardship Fund and the creation of a new program, the health of vulnerable populations will be compromised. [...] In considering changes to the Hardship Fund, city staff should analyze data on the populations who currently use the program to determine whether it is reaching the most vulnerable people who are in the greatest need.