YWCA Muskoka introduces new Circles Muskoka to support residents facing financial challenges

The initiative is part of the YWCA's Bridges Out Of Poverty program

YWCA Muskoka introduced its new Circles Muskoka program during the Bracebridge General meeting, on April 7, 2026.

YWCA Executive Director, Hanna Lin, outlined the community-based initiative aimed at supporting individuals and families experiencing financial stress.

Circles Muskoka is part of a broader "Bridges Out of Poverty" approach, which focuses on building relationships, strengthening community connections, and helping participants develop tools to improve their financial stability and overall quality of life.

The program brings together YWCA staff, community partners, and trained volunteers to create a supportive environment centered on encouragement, goal-setting, and long-term growth.

The initiative will offer weekly meetings in Bracebridge, with accessible space, meals, and childcare provided to reduce barriers to participation.

Participants will work alongside peers and volunteers, receiving guidance from a coach and coordinator while building skills and connections that support lasting change.

The program is expected to launch this October and will operate in partnership with several local organizations, including Bracebridge United Church, Out of the Cold, Muskoka Family Focus, and New Hope Free Methodist Church.

Lin indicated that the funding support is being provided through United Way Simcoe Muskoka and the Government of Canada's Reaching Home program, with additional community donations welcomed.

She also highlighted the need for programs like Circles Muskoka by pointing to local data. Approximately 9.4 per cent of Muskoka residents live in low-income households, with that number rising to 10.7 per cent among children under the age of five.

She continued that employment challenges also persist, with more than half of working residents employed part-time or seasonally, and nearly 60 per cent earning less than $40,000 annually. Muskoka's median employment income is also reported to be 19 per cent lower than the provincial median.

Food insecurity also remains a significant concern, with one in four households in Muskoka experiencing some level of food insecurity, according to the report. Notably, about 20 per cent of households relying on food programs or food banks are currently employed, underscoring the gap between employment and financial stability.

Through Circles Muskoka, YWCA aims to address these challenges by fostering connection, reducing isolation, and helping individuals build pathways out of poverty through community support and shared learning.

Committee expressed appreciation for the organization’s programs and services and impact it has on the community.

Deputy Mayor, Brenda Rhodes, said she completed their Bridges Out of Poverty workshop and suggested that other Committee members do the same to understand people’s experiences better which can be useful when developing community initiatives.

She added that it’s “a valuable resource” regardless of whether you’re working with people directly. She said, “It can help with people on all levels.”