multiple barriers Identifying systems-level barriers and challenges in Hamilton Strengthening neighbourhoods and reducing poverty. HCF supports neighbourhoods in different ways: Funding community development workers in all of the NAS communities. These workers play an important role in helping resident leaders to connect and engage their fellow citizens. Supporting small grants programs in priority neighbourhoods. The funds enable neighbours to develop and implement projects most meaningful to their community. Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction: HCF and the City of Hamilton launched the Roundtable over a decade ago to focus on systemic-level change needed to reduce and eliminate poverty in Hamilton. As the 2015 recipient of the national Cities Reducing Poverty Award, the Roundtable continues to be acknowledged for its collaborative efforts to influence public policy and promote social inclusion (RE)Imagining NAS. In 2016, City of Hamilton asked HCF to review the Neighbourhood Action Strategy. This involves working closely with residents to develop research, and feedback to improve and conceptualize NAS. Neighbourhood Leadership Institute. This program enhances the skills of neighbourhood and community leaders from the NAS communities by allowing them to participate in leadership training while developing a local project idea. The NLI is composed of two distinct streams: Resident Leadership stream: Participants engage in leadership training and develop project ideas for their neighbourhoods Professional Development stream: Launched in 2016, this stream an academically recognized program developed in partnership with McMaster Centre of Continuing Education. Impact Investing In October 2010, HCF's board of directors established the $5 million Hamilton Community Investment Fund enabling the foundation to put more of its assets to work locally. The fund enables the foundation to invest directly some of its assets into the community, or social/environmental enterprises, rather than into the stock market. The investments can take the form of direct investment into charitable or non-profit ventures, or as loans to qualified organizations for purposes which further the foundation’s mission. In 2013, HCF moved on a number of investment strategies targeting financial returns coupled with social impact, using the majority of The Young Fund – HCF’s largest donor-advised fund – as a pilot for selecting socially responsible investments in the public markets (where environmental, social and governance practices are important investment considerations). The balance of The Young Fund is being used for directly investing in funds and organizations that seek both social and financial returns. Impact investing at HCF follows two streams: Local: Loans to charities,