Women

Empowered
Reducing Peel Poverty through Entrepreneurship
I'm opening a spa

My mom sells Toys

Something I like,
finally.

PEEL GROWS AT A RATE OF 2%YEARLY

That's the third largest growth rate in the GTA

White Paper: Women Empowered through Entrepreneurship.

WRITTEN BY NADA POYSER

FOUNDER OF NADA POYSER COPYWRITING.

EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Everyyearthousandsofwomenincludingsinglesupportparents,newcomers,olderwomenand
abusesurvivors,gothroughlifeinpoverty.Thisreportjoinsresearch,personalexperienceand
existingdatawiththeobjectiveof1)identifyingthefinancialdisparitiesfacedbythesewomen,some
evenwithchildren,(2)describeaneasybusinesssuccessstrategysynthesizedfromyearsofdata,
and(3),discussthebenefitsofpartneringwiththisprogramnowandinthefuture.
Thereportalsodiscussescurrentactivitiesthatarecomplimentary,lessonslearnedfromother
programsintermsofsupportforentrepreneurialpursuits,resourcestoencourageselfemployment
amongwomen,whilepointingoutpossibleprofitgapsandsolutions.
Thispaperwascraftedoutofaneedtoexplorethe
financialimperativetosupportPeel'spoorercitizens,
especiallywomen.ThereareprogramssuchastheOntario
SelfEmploymentBenefitsProgram(OSEB)thatprovide
resourcesforbuildingbusinesses,howeverapplicantsare
requiredtobeorhavebeen"inthelaborforce."Another
similarprogramallowsallOWrecipientstojoinbutit
lacksthedepthofOSEBandparticipantsareleftseeking
waystofundtheirideas.Womeninpovertyrequire
servicesfocusedonouruniqueandvariedneeds.

Starting a business needs resources.

Entrepreneurshipcanbeviewedasastepupfromselfemployment,
whichinlegaltermsmeansthatbusinessownershipwouldgofromsole
proprietorshiptopartnershiporcorporation.ForthosejoiningtheWomen
EmpoweredthroughEntrepreneurshipprogram(WEE),thatmeans
choosingalltheresponsibilitiesofbusinessownershipandthenchoosing
touseavailableresourcestoimprovetheirlifestylesandthenpayit
forwardinthecommunity.Alltheactionstakentowardbusiness
ownershiprequireresourcessuchasinformation,funds,coachingand
support.Yet,thedifficultiesinaccessingresourceshasbeenahuge
deterrenttothoselivinginlowincomesituationsorarereallynewtothe
countryandWEEcanhelptochangethat.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ExecutiveSummary
1.
TableofContents
2.
Introduction
3
Overview
45

Objectives
67

Specifications
89

Conclusion
10

"I thought going through a divorce was hard,

until I had to take care of myself and
children, alone. Sometimes people say, maybe you can't
afford to live in Brampton. And I think, I love my city, this is
my home.."

Introduction
Thispaperiswrittenforthosewhoareworkingwithorinterestedinfindingnewresourcestohelpreduce
thepovertyrate,amongwomen,intheRegionofPeel.Itisespeciallyforthosesearchingforresourcesto
helploneparentsandtheirchildrenrisewellabovethelowincomecutoffpoint.
Peelhasalotofappealforthoseintheirlatethirtieschoosingtoworknearbyandraisefamilies.Located
closetoToronto,withareputationforaffordablehousing,itisnowondertheTricityregionofPeelgrows
atarateof2percentperyearwithsomanyyoungfamilies.Witheachyear,however,comesanadditional
27,000pluspeople,whoaremostlyimmigrantsneedingresources.Thisculturalmeltingpoteffect,brings
vibrancyanddiversitytotheregion,buteconomicdisparitiestendtoarisealongwithethnicenclaves
wherepeoplelivetogether,separately.
WhatPeellacksinaffordabilityitseemstomakeupforingrowthanddevelopmentrate.But,theeconomic
gapcontinuestowidenforthosewhoaremarginalizedbypovertyandunabletocommunicatetheirneeds.
ItisinterestingtonotethatPeelhasthehighestproportionofPunjabionlyspeakersinOntario,andthat
manyofthesearewomenandchildren,unabletocommunicateintheculture'sofficiallanguage.
TheRegionofPeel's2005StrategicReviewofPovertyinPeelrevealedthatpersonslivingbelow

thepovertylineinclude:

Singleparents
Familieswithyoungchildren
Personswithdisabilities
RacializedCommunities
Recentimmigrants
Singleseniors(especiallywomen)
Andaccordingtoa2015PreBudgetsubmissionbytheRegionofPeel,"unemploymentrateremains
highat8.2%anditsyouthunemploymentrateevenmoresoat17.6%."Entrepreneurshipcanhelpwith
theunemploymentrateandassistwiththemunicipality'splanto"worktogethertodevelopsolutions
1.
thatwillleadtogreaterprosperityandanimprovedqualityoflifeforallresidents."

1.https://www.peelregion.ca/council/advocacy/2015provincialprebudgetsubmission.pdf

Overview
Theeffectpovertyonsocietycanbemeasuredofthestrainon
socialandhealthservices,orthelackofskilledworkers.A2008Cost
2
ofPovertyAnalysisshowedthatpovertycostOntario$10.4billion
andthecountry$21.8billion.AndaccordingtothePeelPoverty
ReductionStrategy201419,thereisacommitmentto,"investing$50
millionoverfiveyearstocreateanewLocalPovertyReductionFund
targetedatsupportinglocalsolutionstopoverty.Thefundwill
supportinnovativepovertyreductioneffortsacrosstheprovince."
Sincethefocusisonprovidingsustainedfundingforprogramswith
strongoutcomesandasapartofthepovertyreductionstrategythe
governmentispreparedto:"providingmentorship,trainingand
assistanceinaccessingcapitalinordertodevelopandlaunchtheir
ownbusinesses.Ourgovernmentisinvesting$45milliontohelp
3
Ontariosnextgenerationofentrepreneurs.".Nowistheidealtime
forthisprogramtobeimplementedandusedasapartofthe
strategy,evidenceandbestpractices.

Federalfundingfor
existingsocialhousing
unitsinOntariowill
declinefromalmosthalfa
billiondollarsannuallyto
zerodollarsby2033

Who Am I ?
I'manadivorced,solesupportparentof4,livingbelowthepovertylineandinneedofthisprogram.
Asaformerhomemakerandsupplementalincomeearner,Iwasshockedtolearntheamountfor
marketrent,thelengthofthewaitinglistforsubsidizedhousingandhowlittlesocialservicefunding
therewasforthoseofseekingtoescapetheshacklesofpoverty.Iaminthemorethanhalfofthe
GTApopulation,agedof15to65plus,who'scompletedapostsecondaryeducation.Butduetofamily
constraints,Ifindmyselfstrugglingtomakeendsmeet,resortingeventoseekinghelpfromourlocal
foodbank,TheKnightsTable.Mynaturalcuriosityanddrivetoimprovemysituation,gavemethe
impetusto"createadoor"wherenonewasbeingopened.And,afteryearsofselfemployment
experience,thelastofwhichwasahomedaycare,Ihavelearnedthatfinancialindependencecanbe
achievedbywomenthroughcreativity.Myexperienceasacaribbeantrainedteacher,homeschool
educator,writerandmypassionatededicationtohelpingwomenthrive,givemetheadvantageto
initiatethisprogramgearedtowardmotivatingwomentoenhancetheirlivesandtheirfamiliesthrough
entrepreneurship.

2.http://www.oafb.ca/assets/pdfs/CostofPoverty.pdf.
3.https://www.ontario.ca/page/realizingourpotentialontariospovertyreductionstrategy20142019all#section7

Show me the Money

ThewaittimeforsubsidizedhousinginPeelisnowfivetosevenyears.Withapproximately13percentof
residentslivinginlowincomesituations,andaveragerentbeingcloseto$1200,itishardtonotaddress
theneedformoreincome,throughcreativemeasures.Iamproposingthatthosewhoareinvestedin
povertyeliminationinPeelandtheGTA,getinvolvedinprovidingentrepreneurialtrainingandmorale
boostingsupportforthesewomen.Inthelast4years,Ilearnedaformulausedtocreateandmultiply
momentumwhichleadstoincomeonline.Theformulainthesimplestformisto:gainfollowersusing
freebies)offerupsell)offerbonus)feedthemintoyourfunnelandkeepthemengaged.It'sasimple
formulausedtocreatemillionsofdollarsinincomeonlineandoffto,butinordertocreateandofferquality
andvaluetoyourfollowers,oneneedsaninjectionofcapital.
Anidea,withlittlemoneyandfewoptionsforworkthatfitsauniqueschedule,leavemanywomen
impoverishedandchildrenvulnerable.ThereareprogramslikeFamilyFirst,gearedtowardhelpinglone
parentsfindsuitablework.However,entrepreneurshipsupportwillsewtheseedsofsuccessintofuture
generationsandhelpimprovetheeconomyinthefuture.

Theaveragewaittime
forsubsidizedhousing
inPeelis57years

AccordingtothePeelPovertyReductionStrategy201419,entrepreneurshipasaninitiative
isworkingwellwithyouths."Supportingentrepreneurshipamongvulnerableyouth.One
programbeingdeliveredthroughtheYouthEntrepreneurshipFundistheStrategic
CommunityEntrepreneurshipProjectsprogram,whichsupportsyouthfacingmultiplebarriers
toemploymenttogaintheskillsnecessarytoimplementaselfemploymentventureorsmall
scalebusiness.TherehasbeenastrongAboriginaluptakeoftheprogram,at39percent.In
onecase,a16weekentrepreneurshiptrainingandbusinesssupportprogramdeliveredby
theKenamatewinNativeLearningCentreishelping24lowincome,atriskAboriginalyouthin
4
Kenoraandsurroundingareas."
4.https://www.ontario.ca/page/realizingourpotentialontariospovertyreductionstrategy20142019all#section7

Objectives
Build Confidence
Increase Income
Encourage wellness

Less
Psychological Distress
Increase Educational
Attainment
Lower Illness rate

The Strategy
Thinkofthisasapartnershipforpoverty
reductionamongwomen,inPeel.Likethe
UnitedWayandThePeelPovertyReduction
StrategyCommittee,wewillbeaddingour
efforts,inafocused,resourcedmannerthat
allowsprivatesectorbusinessestobecome
leadersinsupportinginitiativesthatbuild
strongercommunitiesandaddresspersistent
issues.

"Ifanopportunitydoesn'tknock,
buildadoor."MiltonBerle

StudieshaveshownthatCanadianimmigrantshaveaslightlyhigherselfemploymentrate
AndTheRegionofPeelshouldbenoexception.Thisshiftispossibleduetotheoverallyouthfulnessofthe
Regionandnumberofsinglesupporthomesneedingfunds.Theeconomyhascontributedtothisneedto
redefineemploymentasawholeandalsoasitaffectsimmigrantslivinginCanadatenyearsorless.Itisthis
coregroup*thatinitiatesselfemploymentandinsomecasesentrepreneurshipintimesofeconomicturn
downandjobinsecurity.
Therearemanyotherreasonspeoplechoosetoworkforthemselves,including:aneedforeconomic
independence,carryingonafamilybusiness,andidentifyingopportunities.Buttherearealsomoresinister
reasonsthatpushresidentsawayfrombeingselfemployed,thatneedtobeaddressed.Thelackoftraining
andexperiencedisenfranchisestheunderresourced,"aroundathirdofemployersstatethattheywouldnot
hirenewcomersforsalesandmarketingoccupations,supervisoryandmanagerpositions,andassenior
6
leadersandexecutives."WithWEEinplace,motivatedwomenareallowedtheopportunitytotransform
theirlives,withmeasurablechangessuchasincreasedincome,education,professionalbusinessetiquette,
communicationandfinancialskills.Readontolearnofthewaywecouldusethissimple,yetprofound
systemtoaddressincomeandlifestyleissues.

5.http://metcalffoundation.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/12/immigrantselfemploymentandentrepreneurship.pdf
6.http://www.peelhaltonworkforce.com/sites/default/files/PHWDG%20LLMP%20Report%202015%20Final_0.pdf
*Gvtpapertocopystyle.*

Specifications
Plans
Thisdocumentrepresentsthebeginningofanecessarydiscussiontoaddresstheneedforsupport
andradicalstrategytotacklethecurrentchallengesfacingourfemaleresidents.Women
EmpoweredthroughEntrepreneurship'svisionistosecuresustainedfundingtohelp24womenper
yearabdicatetheconfinesofindigence.Ofcoursethisisamassiveundertaking,thatwillrequire
guidanceandmentorshiptobeestablishedandbeginningremovingthebarriersfacedbywomen
motivatedtotransformtheirsituations.LiketheOntarioEmploymentandtrainingsystems,WEE
seekstobecomeavitalpartoftheinfrastructurepoisedtoreducepovertyinOntario.

Funding used to:

Raiseawareness,supportandbuildteam(Programbetatesters)
Createaplansimilartoonesofferedbysocialservices(OSEBandOSWED)with
valueaddedbonusesofonlinetraining,fieldexperienceandselfemploymentstatus
Gainsupportfromprivatebusinessesandgovernmentagenciesworkingtoreduce
povertyinOntario.

Action
Ourmissionistoprovideaprogramthatusesentrepreneurshipandlifeskillstrainingtohelpwomenin
PeelandeventuallyOntario,becomemoreselfsufficient.Thethreemainareaswewillbedevelopingin
thisprogramare:Entrepreneurialmindset,skillsandactions.Byprovidinginstructiononlinein
comprehensive,learnerfocused,downloadablemodules,participantswilllearnattheirownpace,have
continuousaccesstopracticeandmasterthemoredifficultconceptsandlearninamannersuitableto
theirpersonality,rightathome.Nomoreneedforchildcare,transportationormissingvitalinformation.
First,however,wemusttakethenecessarystepstoinitiate,testandstreamlinetheWEEprogram,while
raisingcommunityinterest.

Mindset
Skill
Action

Measurements
Mindset-practicing
emotional security,
confidence and
discipline

Objectives

Outcomes

Metrics

Long term

Skill-putting ideas to the

test. Doing research and
using resources to create
businesses or "doors."

Action-massive, focused
movement toward
successful business
practices

ConfidenceTrainingExperience
DisciplinePotentialPossibilities
OwnabusinessOrganizedplanMetwithVIP*
Fit&HealthyDressedWellSave/makemoney
BodyLanguageApplymaterialCurrentIncome
WellnesspracticesNichesBusinessplan
DiversifyAcquireproductFocusonGiving
FinancialSecurityPackageofferGet$$/support

Conclusion
ThehardshipfacedbymanynewcomersandatriskpersonsinPeelaremany.Andbarriers
togainfulemploymentcancauseundueinsecurityandpauperism.Ifthispaperhasbroughtto
yourattentiontheneedforspecializedprogramsforwomeninpoverty,startinginPeel
Region,thentheauthorhasdoneherjob.
Ifyouarenowconsideringwaystosuccessfullyimplementthisentrepreneurialapproach
WEEandawareofitsfutureeffectonunemployment,selfemploymentandbetteringthe
community,thenshehasdoneherjobwell.
Genderbaseddisparitiessuchasdifferencesinearnings,powerindecisionmaking,lackof
propertyownershipandphysicalsafety,forcewomenintounderaddressedinsolvency.
Genderbasedsolutionsareneededtomakethedifference.WomenEmpoweredthrough
Entrepreneurshipwillallowwomen,whoarewillingtochangetheirsituations,accesstoa
programwiththepaceandfocusofacareercollege,handsontrainingoftradeschool,and
thecoachingandpracticalityofapprenticeship.
Finally,theauthorintendedthatthisdocumentshowssheisindeedcapable,willingand
preparedtolaunchherauthorentrepreneurialbusiness,withWEEasasignificantvalue
propositionblockinthebusinessmodel.Asawomanfacingtheeconomichardships
mentionedinthispaper,thisauthorismotivatedtopartnerwithkeypartiestoleveragethe
businessmodel,contributeresourcesandaddtothebettermentofhercommunity.

NadaPoyseristheauthorofBalancingActs:TheGuardian,acontemporaryfictionabouthealingfrom
betrayalandonewoman'scomebackfromthebrinkofdestitution.DueFall2016.She'sathorough
researcherandwordcrafter,whospendsmajorityofhertimeteachingcomplexconceptsinthesimplest
form.Youcanfindoutmoreaboutherat:Nadapoyser.com

10