Item - 2025.EX28.19

The Executive Committee:

1. Referred Item EX28.19 to the Executive Director, Social Development for consideration as part of upcoming social development and community development plans.

At its meeting on November 25, 2025, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee considered item CR8.5 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the Letter (November 24, 2025) from May Mohamed

Social Development Plans – Citywide Implementation

City Council should consider, in partnership with local neighbourhood coalitions, developing and implementing Social Development Plans (SDPs) / Community Development Plans (CDPs) across all Toronto priority neighbourhoods by 2027.

Evidence-Based Success – Regent Park

The demonstrated success of the Regent Park Social Development Plans—including outcomes identified in the Federation of South Toronto Residents Associations (FoSTRA) White Paper—such as:

- Zero gun-related deaths in 2023;
- Increased youth employment and leadership;
- Strengthened community cohesion and service coordination;
- Resident-led initiatives advancing employment pathways, housing supports, wellness programs; and community-governance models.
 

These outcomes demonstrate Social Development Plans/Community Development Plans are proven tools for strengthening safety, well-being, and community resilience—particularly benefiting Black, Indigenous, and racialized residents.

Federation of South Toronto Residents Associations Submission – Civil Society Support

City Council review the submission from the 29 resident associations represented by the Federation of South Toronto Residents Associations (FoSTRA), circulated October 8, 2025, calling for a citywide Social Development Plans/Community Development Plans rollout as a cornerstone for community safety, social cohesion, and equitable neighbourhood development.

Federation of South Toronto Residents Associations’ October 2025 citywide submission—endorsed by 29 neighbourhood associations—identifies Social Development Plans/Community Development Plans as scalable strategies that improve neighbourhood safety, housing stability, youth employment, tenant advocacy and community-led governance. Neighbourhoods themselves are requesting a formal mechanism to coordinate this work.

Social Need and Economic Pressures

Priority neighbourhoods with large Black and racialized populations are disproportionately affected by, housing unaffordability, youth unemployment, economic pressures including the impacts of U.S. tariffs and gaps in neighbourhood-level supports. Social Development Plans/Community Development Plans offer structured, long-term, neighbourhood-based strategies that address these systemic challenges.

Anti-Black Racism Intervention

City Council recognize that Social Development Plans/Community Development Plans are core anti-Black racism interventions because they:

- Address neighbourhood-level disparities in safety, policing, housing access, and economic mobility;
- Build community capacity within Black and racialized neighbourhoods; and
- Support resident-led and equity-based governance structures.
 

Global Framework Alignment

As highlighted in the Federation of South Toronto Residents Associations White Paper, Social Development Plans/Community Development Plans:

- Align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals focused on inequality reduction, community resilience, and sustainable cities;
- Reflect the pillars of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent; and
- Position Toronto as a leader in community-led urban equity planning.
 

Create opportunities for international partnerships through platforms such as the World Urban Pavilion.

Indicators and Accountability

When developing Social Development Plans City Council should take the following into consideration:

- Develop equity-based indicators and benchmarks to track Social Development Plans/Community Development Plan outcomes through an anti-Black racism lens, including race-disaggregated data related to youth opportunities, community safety, service access, and housing stability; and
- Align tracking with the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (Recognition, Justice, Development), United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and City equity frameworks.
 

Budget Request

City Council request the Mayor to consider, in the development of the 2026 budget, allocating sustainable funding in the range of $250,000-$500,000 annually per neighbourhood to support neighbourhood associations or coalitions leading Social Development Plan implementation.

Thank you for considering our recommendation to fund the development and implementation of Social Development Plans in the 2026 Budget.  This work will further support equitable development, promote community safety, and reduce the prevalence of Anti-Black Racism. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these recommendations further as the budget is developed.