The Self-Help Clearinghouse of Metropolitan Toronto: Reflections on seven years of survival and beyond

Abstract

In May of 1987, Health and Welfare Canada awarded the Self-Help Clearinghouse of Metropolitan Toronto a three-year demonstration grant. Today, the Toronto Clearinghouse remains the only free-standing self-help resource of its kind in Canada and is a registered charitable organization whose mandate is to facilitate the growth and development of self-help/mutual-aid groups, networks, and resources. This paper describes the unique Toronto Clearinghouse model which from its earliest beginnings has been a partnership between the self-help community and interested and supportive professionals. The success of this model stems from its strong grassroots origins, respect for a community empowerment approach, and focused goals and objectives. Using information gleaned from the archival history of the Toronto Clearinghouse and through a series of interviews with past and current members of the Clearinghouse board of directors, program staff, and local self-help group members, the paper explains the 'roller coaster ride' which has characterized the history of the Clearinghouse to date. Finally, the paper illustrates that while the achievement of financial stability has been an ongoing challenge in the face of variable community and political support, the Toronto Clearinghouse is, today, a strong centre of self-help activitity and promotion, involved in a unique exercise to determine the role that self-help ean play as a strategic component of an overall health and social services system- and with every reason to he optimistic about its future.