Strong Neighbourhoods

To Support Decent Lives for All

2015 Kitchen Table Talks

Social Development Centre Waterloo Region Advancing community through participation & knowledge

December 3rd

UN International Day of Persons With Disabilities since 1992

2015 Theme: Inclusion Matters

Making Cities Inclusive and Accessible for All

Decent Lives Forums and Kitchen Table Talks (KTT)

May 1 – Decent Work & Decent Income

June 22 – Community Action for Decent Lives

July-September - 14 Kitchen Table Talks

Kitchen Table Talks – Purpose

To host informal discussions of what decent lives and strong neighbourhoods mean

To provide input to Kitchener and Waterloo ‘strong neighbourhoods’ strategy

To open discussion in neighbourhoods that are affected by the building of the LRT

Selecting Neighbourhoods Supportive, seniors and/or subsidized housing or rental housing

stock Absence of community facilities such as community centres, health

care services etc. Child development risk status Proximity to proposed LRT stations and stops Low voter turnout in previous elections Higher numbers of food bank users Presence of sidewalk access issues identified by Disabilities and

Human Rights Group project in 2013.

8 Kitchener, 3 Waterloo neighbourhoods first priority (all factors)4 Kitchener, 2 Waterloo neighbourhoods second priority (4 factors)

Participants Hosts invited through existing groups and communication networks

110 participants in 14 sessions across Kitchener and Waterloo

Many participants living outside hosts’ neighbourhoods

Reasonably good distribution of participants across K-W

Demographic Profile - Age

24 years of age or younger

25-44 years of age

45-64 years of age

65-74 years of age

75 years of age or older

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Income

$0-9999

10,000-19,999

20,000-39,999

40,000-59,999

60,000-79,999

80,000-99,000

$100,000+

Unknown

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00%

Other

66% female52% attained college, university or

higher education34% live alone26% not born in Canada25% attained high school or less22% English as second language9% lived in Canada less than 10 years

Positive Feedback

95% strongly agreed /agreed they understand the purpose of the session

94% strongly agreed/agreed they were able to contribute to the discussion and share their knowledge and ideas.

94% strongly agreed/agreed their ideas and opinions were listened to.

91% strongly agreed /agreed that the meeting ran smoothly.

Thematic Analysis

What is a decent life?

What makes a neighbourhood strong?

What needs to happen to create neighbourhoods able to support decent lives for all?

What Is A Decent Life?

Basic Needs are Met

Participation Relationships

Autonomy Access to Services Sense of Purpose Informal Supports

Responsive Community Leadership Positive Attitudes

What Makes a Neighbourhood Strong? Social environment

- People and Connections - Social and Other Activities -Safe - No Crime

Physical environment- Amenities - Accessible - Transit - Clean and Healthy Community - Community Space - Indoors & Outdoors - Distinctive Neighbourhood Features

Leadership - Working Together - Voice and Influence - Responsive Leadership

Flexible to Deal With Continual Change

What Needs to Change? Social Environment Realities

- People not engaged - Systems not responsive - Social patterns are divisive

Physical Environment Realities - Existing built environment can’t easily be changed - Natural environment

Making Change Happen - Education, crisis, change system, good use of resources- Defining the right size of the neighbourhood, planning park composition

Observations Talking about neighbourhoods is not easy

Talking about decent lives in neighbourhoods is also a challenge

Identifying own neighbourhood a challenge for most

Participants who are low income or experience limitationstalk about neighbourhoods in more concrete and nuanced ways

Strong neighbourhoods are typically defined by strong relationships; however, low income participants seem to bemore affected by the physical environment.

Next Steps

Sharing the full report from all Decent Lives conversations in 2015

Further exploration of the top issues with the Community Social Planning Council

Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

151 Frederick St, Suite 300Kitchener ON N2H 2M2Phone/TTY: 519-579-1096Toll Free: 1-877-579-3859Fax: 519-578-9185Website: http://www.waterlooregion.org

What’s not to like? f: Socialplanningcouncilt: @SPCofKW