Integrated Community

Development Pilots Update

April 8, 2008

Gwyneth SchermelManager, Community Development Services

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Project Update

• Started in June 2007

• Halton Integrated Services Steering Committee (HISS)

• Halton Neighbourhood Connections –Communities Working Together (HNC)

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Background

Comprehensive Housing Strategy

Direction 5 – Retaining and Regaining Housing

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Purpose

5.2

•Develop community development approach and delivery plan for assisted housing communities

•Build on Our Kids Network model with focus on service coordination to support families

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Objectives

• Develop in-house capacity for

community development

• Increase tenant retention

• Increase community service

provision, awareness and use

• Create tools and templates that

can be replicated in other

housing communities

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Key Stakeholders

•Our Kids Network

•Children’s Aid Society

•Oakville Parent Child Centre

•Halton Regional Police

•Tenant Representative Council

•Elderly Services Advisory Committee

•Most represented on Steering Committee

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Pilot Selection

•Based on various factors, e.g.

• Existing community services

• Population density

• Geography and tenant diversity

•Chosen by the Halton NeighbourhoodConnections Steering Committee (HNC)

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Pilot Locations

Sheridan Woods, Oakville

• 51 mixed income family townhouses

• 2 and 3 bedroom units

• Large influx of special priority placement

tenants in past 2 years

• Issues concerning tenant and domestic

disputes

• Complaints of unsupervised children

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Pilot Locations

Walker’s Landing, Burlington

• 515 Walkers Line

• 2 and 3 bedroom units

• 80 mixed income family townhouses,

1 seniors mid-rise apartment building

• Some conflict between children, youth and

seniors

• No tenant representative

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Milestones

•February 2007: Proposal to Our Kids Network

•March 2007: First Housing Integrated Services Steering Committee Meeting

•June 2007: Coordinator hired

•August 2007:

• Pilots selected and surveys started

• HCHC Staff Focus Group

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Survey Design

•Basis of Comparison

• Halton and other common measures

•Focus on Tenant Engagement

• In-person interviews and focus groups

•Focus on Assets

• Volunteer work – previous and future

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Survey Design

•Tiered System

• In-person with follow-up, then phone or mail

•Stress on Families

• Strengths and Difficulties Survey: Ages 4-17

• Social Provisions Scale: Ages 18+

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Survey Areas of Focus

•Perceived health and personal safety

•Community capacity measures

•Social engagement and capital

•Community participation

•Social stress

•Service knowledge and use

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Emerging Tools and Resources

•Portable amplification system for meetings

• Improved tenant demographic statistics

•Various survey techniques

•GIS mapping of agencies

•211 Search by postal code

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Emerging Issues from Survey

•Low proximity to many services

•Agency service hours

•Highly educated tenants with low paying jobs

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Next Steps

•Tenant groups

•Agency partnerships

•Photo-voice project

•Survey results

•Report-back to tenants

•Tenant engagement