West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas and Initiatives Sample of data supporting goal areas Goal Area: Community Social Development 1. Plan and support community events that promote social connections among all community members. From Sacred Stories: From Steering Committee: Community events Community events that connect Getting to know residents/each other better Events/activities to get to know your neighbour Connections: social development – celebration, healing, respect Ongoing engagement and community member involvement (volunteerism) From community Forum: Enabling/facilitating events/activities for people living in West Broadway to get to know/interact with one another in healthy ways Make neighbourhood more welcoming (i.e. – welcome wagon, assistance moving from and to dwellings Organize neighbourhood sporting activities (ex. apartment soccer tournament, tag) Organize/arrange events to facilitate good neighbour relations (ex. – block parties, neighbourhood clean-up, festivals, cooking lessons, show movies etc.) Neighbourhood events – socializing, gardening, cooking, and work bees – to share connect, help. West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 1 “Good Food Club” model extolled as being inclusive and wide-reaching.” West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 2 2. Support development of multi-generational and inter-generational programming with a particular emphasis on children and youth. From Seniors’ PATH: Senior/ teenage program with food, sharing circle and teaching From Community Forum: More parent & parent-child programming More youth programming Programs & people available to instill values such as respect and healthy social behaviour From Sacred Stories: From Steering Committee: Programming for all ages Space/programs for intergenerational connections Senior centre (x2) Youth activities Youth programming; increased hours Youth/children resources Resources/animation across the life span: youth to senior Family resource centre; open in the evening West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 3 3. Support programs and activities that encourage the participation of Aboriginal peoples, new comers to Canada, seniors and those who live with mental or physical health challenges. From Community Forum: Enabling/facilitating events/activities for people living in West Broadway to get to know/interact with one another in healthy ways Make neighbourhood more welcoming (i.e. – welcome wagon, assistance moving from and to dwellings More support to seniors (ex. – seniors housing, reducing isolation, community shopping, meeting spaces, seniors complex) New programs for newcomers, language training, making people feel welcome. An activity program for mental health consumers, building self-esteem and making them welcome in the neighbourhood From Seniors’ PATH: Drop in/ visitors for seniors, especially shut ins Senior’s help line, free, anonymous Outings for seniors (ie Birds Hill Park) Resources available in many languages From Sacred Stories: West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 4 West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 5 West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 6 4. Advocate for funding to enable longer operational hours for agencies and programs. From Seniors’ PATH: Need drop in and place for food open evenings and weekends From Community Forum: Need for service agencies to have extended hours (evening, weekend, overnight) and offering more resources (ex. – child care, community laundry facilities) Child Care (more spaces needed and extended hours of service) From Sacred Stories: West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 7 5. Encourage increased recreational and sports activities development. From Seniors’ PATH: More music programs for children From Community Forum: Recreation and music opportunities (without financial barriers) are a great way to meet neighbours. Enabling/facilitating events/activities for people living in West Broadway to get to know/interact with one another in healthy ways -- Activities mentioned included an exercise program at New Life Ministries and Yoga at West End Cultural Centre. -- “Active living programs – done together = Safer and Healthier. From Survey: What would you like to see to improve community health and wellness (pick up to 3)? More adult recreational classes at the community centre (BNC) 58.8% (154) Youth, females, those living in WB < 2 years, and persons on low income more likely to prioritize More youth programs in the area 52.7% (138) Sports leagues at the community centre (BNC) 48.5% (127) Youth more likely to prioritize Community centre (BNC) open longer hours 44.7% (117) Aboriginal persons, those with a disability, and persons on low income more likely to prioritize From Sacred Stories: West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 8 From Steering Committee Recreation Neighbourhood sports/games Increased recreational activities Out of the house activities Recreation: leagues, adult recreation, extended hour Recreation programs especially for adults, sports leagues West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 9 Goal Area: 6. Housing and Accommodation Continue to implement WBDC Housing Plan including local planning and networking capacity, development of innovative and diverse housing options and implementing initiatives that seek to minimize vacant, abandoned or poor quality housing in the neighbourhood. From Steering Committee: Balance Mix of housing types (x3) From community Forum: A great diversity in neighbourhood: home-owners, condos, rentals, row houses – keep the mix active to prevent ghettoization and gentrification. From Survey: What do you think should be done to help home owners in West Broadway? Most popular answer: Grants or loans to fix up the exterior of homes 66.0% (173) Renters less likely to prioritize What type of actions would you like to see on housing? Pick up to 3 priorities: Fix up deteriorating housing 56.1% (147) Those with a university degree more likely to prioritize Renters, Aboriginal persons and persons on low income less likely to prioritize Build more low income housing 54.2% (142) Youth, those with a disability, renters and persons on low income more likely to prioritize Support to moderate income persons to become homeowners 48.1% (126) Those with a university degree more likely to prioritize Those with a disability, renters, and persons on low income less likely to prioritize Supports to fight rent increases 42.7% (112) Youth, females, Aboriginal persons, those with a disability, renters and persons on low income more likely to prioritize Those with a university degree less likely to prioritize Grants to low income tenants to remain in home if rent increases 39.7% (104) Females, Aboriginal persons and renters more likely to prioritize West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 10 7. Support resources, education, advocacy and funding for renters and landlords. From Community Forum: Pressure on landlords (eg. no welfare if building substandard) and incentives for landlords that are achieving a particular standard Importance of caretakers – support good ones Obtain resources to alleviate housing crisis (ex. grants for tenants, controls on condo conversions and rent increases) Initiate and resource innovative ideas (ex. – boarders in private single family homes/rooming house alternatives/shelters) WBDC should provide education, information and advocacy support regarding poverty and housing issues (including networking with organizations doing such advocacy) From survey: Caretaker/landlord education mentioned 11 times and Protection from landlords mentioned 10 times as an “other idea” for “What should be done to help renters/tenants in West Broadway?” What do you think should be done to help landlords in West Broadway? Please pick up to 3 priorities: Grants or loans to fix up the interior of rooming houses/apartments 67.2% (176) West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 11 Seniors less likely to prioritize Training for caretakers and landlords on working with tenants 65.3% (171) Females, Aboriginal persons and renters more likely to prioritize Grants or loans to fix up the exterior of rooming houses/apartments 51.5% (135) Information and education on energy/water improvement savings 35.9% (94) Seniors less likely to prioritize West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 12 8. Advocate for increased funding to address affordable housing issues. From Community Forum: Three main themes around which advocacy should be done: poverty, safety/police, housing WBDC should be lobbying/doing more advocacy with government, private sector, and increase whole community life. WBDC could provide more networking opportunities for community members to collaborate around these issues of advocacy. #s, petitions and media. Province should be lobbied to either eliminate above guideline rent increases or provide rent supplements for all below LICO. We need to push for more low-income housing. Address housing crisis – more affordable housing developments Obtain resources to alleviate housing crisis (ex. grants for tenants, controls on condo conversions and rent increases) Initiate and resource innovative ideas (ex. – boarders in private single family homes/rooming house alternatives/shelters) From Survey: What do you think should be done to help renters/tenants in West Broadway? Please pick up to 3 priorities: Lobbying to fight rising rents and gentrification 48.9% (128) Youth, females and renters more likely to prioritize Information and resources to address bedbugs 44.3% (116) Residents of WB and those living in WB < 2 years more likely to prioritize Grants to low income tenants to combat rising rents 43.5% (114) Females more likely to prioritize Advocacy for tenants on tenant issues 42.4% (111) Information on tenant’s rights and responsibilities 37.8% (99) Renters and persons on low income more likely to prioritize Seniors less likely to prioritize Grants to landlords to improve housing conditions 29.8% (78) Females, those with a disability and renters less likely to prioritize Affordable Housing ranked in the Top 3 priorities for 61.6% (135) of respondents West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 13 Goal Area: 9. Increasing Income and Power for Well-Being Improve community communication and networking. From Steering committee: Provision of information: WBDC connect to low-income members of neighbourhood Information hub Communication/networking From the Community Forum: WBDC needs to find ways that low income people can participate, not top-down but driven by community members’ needs and energies. WBDC needs collaboration of ALL community members Need inclusive efforts to reach out to those in rooming houses and in other excluded situations. Board meetings held at 12 noon, not convenient for most residents. WBDC needs to be more representative of people who live here. WBDC to be more of an info sharing hub. We need to make more of an effort to get the info out there Notice boards/online community bulletin board/apartment bulletin boards with resident ambassadors. West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 14 Enhance the respectfulness of government agencies, businesses and organizations toward the community members they serve. 10. From community Forum: -- “Personal connection rather than service providers – agency folks should be personally invested in the community.” From the Sacred Stories: West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 15 West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 16 Support the development of neighbourhood education and training programs. 11. From the Community Forum: Availability of educational resources: (ex. computer centres, adult education programs) Support for parents (ex. education, removing barriers to accessing education, support network) From Renters’ PATH: Need for employment centre and help getting jobs and going back to school Resource centres located in neighbourhood; more family centres, women’s resource centres, employment centres, resources, legal services and computer courses needed From Seniors’ PATH: Free legal help/ rights/ education Supports for youth to keep them in school and out of trouble From comments received on paper/via email: Free educational classes on money management and budgeting basics From MB Housing Conversations: English reading groups for newcomers West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 17 Develop, implement and support mentorship strategies that support community members in advocating for tenant, welfare and housing issues. 12. From Community Forum: WBDC should provide education, information and advocacy support regarding poverty and housing issues (including networking with organizations doing such advocacy) Mentorship programs – getting community people to help community people From Renters’ PATH: Want improved relations with landlord, a more responsive landlord with quality prompt maintenance that does not involve increase in rent Tenant advocate – someone with authority a “middle man”, impartial to help tenants deal with issues with landlords. Don’t need education of tenants and tenants don’t want to spend time chasing after landlords West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 18 13. Encourage and support local hiring. From Steering Committee: Community Economic Development Hiring community people Hiring Aboriginal people Increase businesses on Broadway and Sherbrook; especially locally owned Mix of service (commercial, retail) Local business; local jobs; local community initiatives Economic development on Broadway Sustainability support for business and non-profit sector Economic development: celebrating, encouraging business activity in area From Community Forum: Employment training program – get people participating in the economy/job opportunities. From survey: What do you think should be done to help those living in poverty in our neighbourhood? Please pick up to 3 priorities: Education and training 63.7% (167) Seniors less likely to prioritize Job creation 56.1% (147) Residents of WB more likely to prioritize Lobbying the government to improve supports 50.0% (131) Renters more likely to prioritize Research and action plan to understand who, why and supports 49.6% (130) Renters and those with a disability more likely to prioritize Those with a university degree less likely to prioritize Other ideas? Frequency Issue 12 Cooking Classes/Householder education 10 Welfare / EIA rate adjustment 6 Housing stuff 6 JJob Action Poverty Reduction ranked in the Top 3 among 58.8% (127) of survey respondents. West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 19 Goal Area: Community Spaces and Environment 14. Continue to plan and support initiatives that maintain and enhance community spaces in the West Broadway neighbourhood. From Steering Committee mooshing meeting: Green space development Green space – active transport Active transportation Community spaces: especially green, garden and recreation; tot lot Community spaces: maintain/enhance; litter and garbage Green space access and usage Beautification: waste and graffiti removal Beautification: less tagging, more cleaning/sprucing up Outdoor recreation spaces From Community Forum: Develop a dog park Find community gathering places (ex. – partner with schools, other buildings not in regular use 24/7) Build neighbourhood pride by increasing the frequency of clean-ups – back lanes, first-ofmonth bins, graffiti removal, general garbage (enlist Tim Horton’s and McDonald’s to take responsibility for their containers). Back lane beautification projects West Broadway needs more green space! From Survey: Actions to take on how West Broadway looks? Garbage and bulk waste pick up 63.4% (166) Females and residents of WB more likely to prioritize Those living in WB < 2 years less likely to prioritize In “other ideas” Gardens/Parks mentioned 12 times, litter issues/maintenance of public space/snow removal mentioned 11 times, art installations, crime/safety, affordable housing options also mentioned by several respondents. Important environmental actions? More green space and garden development 51.9% (136) Youth and females more likely to prioritize Litter issues/maintenance of public space/snow removal/recycling mentioned 10 times. What would you like to see done with green spaces in West Broadway? Please pick up to 3 priorities: Access to the river 63.0% (165) West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 20 Seniors and renters less likely to prioritize Tot lots (play spaces or structures for children) 56.1% (147) Persons on low income more likely to prioritize More community orchards (fruit trees/shrubs) 55.3% (145) Youth and renters more likely to prioritize More community gardens 55.0% (144) Kids programming mentioned 7 times What would help you use these green spaces more? Frequency Issue 18 Gardens 17 Crime safety 16 litter issues/maintenance of public space 16 Benches/beautification/picnic tables 12 Info/advertisement 9 river walk/River park 7 Events 5 kids programming West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 21 Goal Area: Safety 15. Continue to implement the WBDC Safety Plan to enhance the safety of the West Broadway area. From Steering Committee mooshing meeting: Safety issues: citizen patrols, lighting, block parents, perception Safety: foot patrol Safety connections and some/few specifics – priority for some Crime and safety Foot patrol: visible safety presence OK; but fun, visible, community presence better Community Forum: Bring back community policing (philosophy change), walk the streets and get to know residents. Night hours lots of folks don’t always feel safe going out. Safety mandate is based on idea that there is a high crime rate in WB… Is this true? CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) to make neighbourhood safer, increase visibility. Helping residents/community members lobby for changes such as crosswalks/speed bumps/traffic calming Victimized by crime (even in broad daylight), don’t always report as it feels like “nothing’s gonna happen” and police think the problem is where you live. System is not trying to help/change. WBDC lobby WPS & fire dept. to restart community policing & community fire prevention. Three main themes around which advocacy should be done: poverty, safety/police, housing West Broadway Community Plan Draft Goal Areas & Initiatives 22
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