Research and Knowledge Building

Bridging Health Gaps: A collaborative study on addressing healthcare disparities in racialized communities

A project of the Racialized Health Working Group- Supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada

Committed to advancing structural change and promoting culturally grounded models of care, the Racialized Health Working Group brought together diverse partners to address health inequities affecting South Asian, Black-African-Caribbean, Latine/Hispanic, MENA, and East Asian populations. These communities often confront similar challenges in the healthcare system—including language obstacles, financial pressures, and longstanding mistrust—prompting the group to unite and identify both targeted and cross-cutting policy solutions.

Beginning in September 2024, HDC carried out surveys, interviews, and focus groups with Latine-Hispanic participants throughout Toronto and the GTA. This work revealed significant concerns within the community, such as discrimination linked to racial and immigration status, limited knowledge of mental and physical health resources, and reduced civic participation in health-related processes.

Across all components of the study, one conclusion consistently emerged: community-driven strategies are essential to dismantling barriers to care in racialized groups. Meaningful involvement from community leaders, grassroots networks, faith organizations, and local advocacy groups is crucial for building more accessible and responsive healthcare systems.

Read the full report in English: Bridging Health Gaps: A collaborative study on addressing healthcare disparities in racialized communities
Read the full report In Spanish: Rompiendo Barreras: Un estudio colaborativo para abordar las disparidades en la atención médica en la comunidad Latina
Know more about the RHWG initiative at CASSA site: https://www.cassa.ca/racialized-health-working-group-initiative/

Partnership Overview

Overview

The Donde Vivimos (Where We Live) project reflects a deepening partnership between the University of Toronto and the Hispanic Development Council (HDC), a community-led organization advancing the rights and well-being of Spanish-speaking communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Drawing on HDC’s long-standing leadership and connections with other Latine-serving organizations, the project responds to the urgent and under-researched issue of housing (in)stability among Latine newcomers. The study was co-developed through weekly meetings between HDC and university partners to center lived experience, with a research team largely composed of Latine newcomers or Latine Canadians across diverse career stages and with diverse lived experiences. This collaboration enhances academic and community capacity for equity-focused research, demonstrating how universities and grassroots organizations can co-lead justice-driven, culturally grounded work.

If you have any questions about this project, contact:

David Sanchez Villa: davidsanchezvilla.hdc@gmail.com