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Caring beyond mandate: The contribution of community organizations

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  • Elizabeth Nelson

Abstract

Community organizations perform essential care services that are key to maintaining the well-being and survival of their communities. Often, the care work they undertake benefits underserved urban populations. The labor of these organizations and the support they provide may be underrecognized by municipalities that do not understand their role within the community service landscape, and who do not offer sufficient support for these groups to function securely. The entrenched neoliberal and hegemonic structures characteristic of Canadian municipalities contribute to a structural neglect that places community organizations, and by extension the individuals they serve, in precarity. This hinders the functioning of these collectives and the caring labor they undertake. Drawing on research conducted with community organizations in Cornwall, Kingston, and Ottawa, Ontario, this article highlights the importance of recognizing the care work of community organizations. It posits the benefit that municipal support systems might gain by supporting them in their critical care work to better meet the diverse needs of their communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Nelson, 2026. "Caring beyond mandate: The contribution of community organizations," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 44(1), pages 86-103, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:44:y:2026:i:1:p:86-103
    DOI: 10.1177/23996544251351450
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