ILEO Initiative: The Role of Non-Profit Organizations in Public Policy
Our PPG2017 — Urban Policyclass as part of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy taught by Gabriel Eidelman has come to an end. Through the opportunity of being a part of this class, we had the chance of working with United Way Greater Toronto and their ILEO Initiative to see the role of the non-profit sector in policymaking. My policy group consisting of Vienna Vendittelli, Michelle Verbeek and I were tasked with addressing the following question to assist United Way staff: what municipal or provincial land use policies have the greatest potential to protect residents living in affordable rental units from displacement?In tackling this issue our team interpreted the problem as low-income households in the Greater Golden Mile are at risk of losing access to affordable housing (primarily rental) and ultimately being displaced as a result of gentrification.
With the existing context of the Greater Golden Mile, our policy team examined several policy levers that can be implemented in order to address the challenges associated with the need for affordable housing and preventing displacement from gentrification. There were two primary tools that we felt could be leveraged given the existing context which are inclusionary zoning and community land trusts. Through the implementation of these two policies, we felt its success would be possible given the constraints associated with the time frame of development as well as the political will of governments and relevant stakeholders. Inclusionary zoning can be an effective tool in promoting equitable land-use development and allow for permanent affordable housing stock to all new developments and have a targeted approach in providing access to low- to medium-income households. Community land trusts is a lever than will promote the protection and access to affordable housing for residents and through land stewardship, it can play a critical role in building community wealth and allow all stakeholders to have a voice in decision-making.
Given the framework of the ILEO Initiative, these two policy models have the most potential in succeeding given the existing policy landscape and can address the need for strengthening communities with disinvestment and social polarity to promote individual well-being. By leveraging these tools, it can work towards creating an effective and long-term cycle of public and private investment in low- to medium-income neighbourhoods in order for these communities to thrive.
The opportunity to provide our policy insights to United Way Greater Toronto was a tremendous opportunity to gain real world experience in the non-profit sector in addressing public concerns and with respect to this initiative, local economic opportunities. We were able to see the constraints faced by such an organization but also the great potential in building their public policy capacity to engage in a multi-stakeholder approach to serve the public interest. It also allowed me to learn the importance of leveraging existing tools and to look at best practices to inform policy development within a local context as well as the need to build a narrative to communicate why these public policy considerations are of such importance for the well-being of citizens within our neighbourhoods to allow equal opportunities for all. A final thank you to United Way staff and Professor Eidelman in arranging this opportunity to build my personal public policy capacity within the non-profit sector and to reaffirm my policy interests in urban policy and the exciting work that is being done by great organizations!
