Pathway to Potential (P2P) Strategy Renewal

Project Context

In 2008, the City of Windsor and County of Essex launched the 'Pathway to Potential' (P2P) regional poverty reduction strategy. This initiative aimed to address the concerns about poverty levels in the Windsor-Essex region, encompassing several municipalities. P2P consisted of two intervention streams: an external organization focused on advocating for change and innovation, and funding for community-based organizations that directly served low-income residents. The funding was allocated through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process overseen by the Human and Health Services Department.

In 2017, P2P underwent a comprehensive renewal and introduced a nine-point plan to enhance residents' assets through social investments. Around $2.1 million was invested annually by the City of Windsor and County of Essex since then. Currently, P2P supports 14 programs that assist vulnerable youth and families, address accessibility and financial barriers, and collaborate with community leaders. In early 2024, a new RFP cycle will provide an opportunity to enhance the poverty reduction strategy. To ensure the strategy aligns with current and future needs, as well as establish an effective RFP process, an internal and community consultation process will be conducted.

Project Purpose

The goal is to update the Social Investment Plan and align it with the vision of P2P for the next four years. This process includes engaging a diverse range of residents, community leaders, and organizations to identify barriers and issues faced by those living in poverty. The outcomes from the consultation would be a vision for Pathway to Potential, a revised roadmap of the 9-Point Social Investment Plan and new priorities identified for the next four years.