Healthy Communities

The Neighbourhood Equity Index is a powerful resource to build momentum and action for access to resources and opportunities to thrive in every neighbourhood. Across Ottawa neighbourhoods, there is significant inequity, affecting quality of life in the present as well as long term social, economic and health outcomes for residents. Based on the World Health Organization’s Urban HEART (Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool), the NEI provides an evidence-based framework to tackle this geographically-based inequity through:

Assessment: The index assesses and compares inequities at a neighbourhood level, providing an overall equity score for each neighbourhood as well as an equity score for five domains: health, physical environment, economy, social development, community and belonging.
Response: The NEI focuses action around key cross-neighbourhood themes impacting neighbourhood equity (such as economic opportunity, mental wellness and safety). It is intended to mobilize partnerships and resources to address inequity in the geographic distribution of resource and the existence of inequitable opportunities to thrive.

SPCO leads and manages the NEI, which is co-facilitated and supported by the United Way of Eastern Ontario and City of Ottawa. The NEI was supported by United Way of Eastern Ontario, the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Community Foundation and the Canada Summer Jobs program. See www.neighbourhoodequity.ca.

See also data and mapping specific to seniors at this link.

OCPHE