Man believes ACORN could help Durham
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low-income and with a disability, but he has also seen how one
organization can make a difference.
ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is a
community organization of low-and-moderate-income families, working
for social and economic justice and stronger communities. Mr. Cuthbert
joined the province-wide initiative and is looking for Durham
residents to join him.
"I hope it will grow throughout Durham Region because all of the
cities and towns here have the same problems," he said.
He wants to help make a difference in the community for the benefit of
low-and-middle-income people as well as seniors and those with
disabilities.
"Given the opportunity we can make a difference," he said. "With
numbers we can move mountains."
Mr. Cuthbert became interested after he saw an article in a Toronto
newspaper about ACORN and it immediately resonated with him.
"Durham Region needs that organization here," he said.
Mr. Cuthbert has cerebral palsy and uses an electric wheelchair. He
had difficulty finding affordable and appropriate housing, but now
lives in Durham Regional housing in Pickering, in a wheelchair-
accessible unit. Now, helping people who face housing challenges, as
he did, motivates him.
"I have seen what the chapter in Toronto has done," he said. "They
clean up slum housing and crack houses and shut down slum landlords."
With more than 300,000 member families, ACORN is organized in 850
neighborhood chapters in more than 100 cities across Canada, the U.S.,
the Dominican Republic, Peru and Mexico. ACORN's goal is to represent
the interests of Toronto and Canada's low-and-moderate-income urban
communities on the critical issues of social and economic justice.
ACORN members participate in meetings and work on campaigns, elect
leadership from the neighbourhood level up, and pay the organization's
core expenses through membership dues and grassroots fundraisers.
Anyone interested in joining
DURHAM REGIONAL PICKERING ACORN CHAPTER
106-1990 Whites Road,
Pickering, Ontario L1V 6P5
(905) 839 9031
Contact: Garry Cuthbert
Coordinator and Recruiter