HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-08-094 - Downtown East: Ya Gotta Luv It Project1
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Community Services
REPORT
Report To: Community Services Committee
Date of Meeting: December 1, 2008
Submitted By: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and
Services (x2687)
Prepared By: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs and
Services (x2687)
Wards) Involved: Ward 3 and 6
Date of Report: November 19, 2008
Report No.: CSD-08-94
Subject: UPDATE - "DOWNTOWN EAST, YA GOTTA LUV IT"
PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
BACKGROUND:
The "Downtown East, Ya Gotta Luv It" project (DEYGLI) was developed to address negative
perceptions about the east end of Kitchener's downtown core. The project builds on a long
history in the Cedar Hill and adjacent neighbourhoods, where citizens continue to work in
partnership with the City of Kitchener, the Police, local schools and other stakeholders to
address local issues related to community health, stability and safety. The project uses a
community development approach and has included activities such as neighbourhood visioning,
investigating new or enhanced bylaw enforcement standards and protocols, starting a landlords'
group, and hosting local community-building activities and events. While the focus has been on
the Cedar Hill area, it is clearly evident that the nature of the project and stated goals has also
impacted neighbourhoods outside Cedar Hill and could very well have effect across other core
neighbourhoods and perhaps even the region.
REPORT:
In February 2007 the DEYGLI advisory group received a general provisions grant from the City
of Kitchener in the amount of $36,650 for two years of funding, for a pilot project in Wards 3 and
6. The project was intended to test the "Landlords Program" template currently operating under
the DEGLI project in the areas including:
1. Downtown East;
2. Ward 6 (Highland Road and Queen Street Areas), and
3. The area around Conestoga College
Report No. CSD-08-094
Paae 2
The DEYGLI advisory board were to work as a resource for Waterloo Region Police and the
City of Kitchener to help train interested community leaders to resolve issues occurring in the
residential community between landlords, tenants and the surrounding neighbours. Community
leaders were to be instructed in the approaches that were developed in the DEYGLI project with
police and others, and encouraged to establish their own approaches to dealing with issues in
their neighbourhood.
In addition to expanding the landlord program to other sections of Ward 6 and Ward 3, the
request for funding was also to support the continued work of the DEYGLI project (jointly funded
with the Trillium Foundation). Per the direction of the Community Services Committee and
Council in 2007/2008, the attached report outlines the progress of DEYGLI and the Landlords
program. Highlights of the attached report include involvement with the following:
• Nuisance Bylaw -DEYGLI worked with Waterloo Regional Police Service, City of
Kitchener Enforcement Division, Neighbourhood Associations and a local business
representative to develop a draft bylaw, passed by Council December 2007.
• Property Standards Review Committee -Work has resumed on a draft bylaw and a
handbook, "Enforcement 101 ", designed to help people understand the complexities of
bylaws and steps to reporting violations.
• Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance -DEYGLI chairs the Kitchener Downtown
Community Council, a sub committee of the Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance, which
discusses common issues of the six downtown neighbourhoods.
• The Kitchener Market -DEYGLI project worked with a number of market vendors,
downtown neighbourhood associations and the "I Believe in Kitchener Group" to create
a report to Community Services Committee requesting; i) that the City of Kitchener
consider a mini grocery market, operating five days per week, in the upper market, and
ii) a governance model allowing a partnership between the City of Kitchener, vendors
and the community to support the market.
• The Landlord Project -DEYGLI partnered with Waterloo Regional Police Services to
work with 22 addresses, 16 landlords and five community groups representing
approximately 98 apartments, 47 single unit rooms and 1 multiple unit commercial
building. These buildings were located inside and outside the Downtown East area,
reaching from Highland Road and Queen Street to the Rosemount Area of Krug Street.
Problems addressed related to issues of drug use and prostitution and the significant
impacts of this on the surrounding community.
• Sex Trade Initiative -DEYGLI have brought together a panel of women, who have
overcome their addictions to drugs and their reliance on prostitution, to work with Victim
Services. DEYGLI also continues to partner with Waterloo Regional Police Services on
the implementation of an exiting initiative for women who are addicts and support their
habit through prostitution.
Report No. CSD-08-094
Paae 3
In addition to the points above, the attached report details many other initiatives, meetings and
programs the DEYGLI was involved with in 2007/2008. The final report and evaluation for the
project, including the section on lessons learned from pages 16 to 18 in the attached, is due to
Trillium in June 2009. Council can expect the DEYGLI advisory group to report back to a
Community Services Committee meeting upon completion of the report to Trillium, in 2009.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
Mark Hildebrand
Director, Community Programs and Services
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November 17, ~0~8
Chairman Ceoff larent~
I~ayar and Council
Dear Chair Loren#z:
Thank you fo~t#~e opportunityto bringyou upta date on our
project aptly named "Dovntown East# Ya Cotta Luv ItI„
Ike have included the highlights of the praject far ~0~7 to ~p~8
with a particular emphasis on our Landlord's Rrogram. This
praject has been successful in reducing the number of
residences irr~pacted by drugs and prostitution in vulnerable
areas la~ated in Downtown East and surrounding
neighbourhoods frara ~lighland and Queen to the Rosemount
area.
At this time, we would like to thank you and the Council far the
opportunity afforded tv us to focus on issues that have plagued
the vulnerable neighbourhoods in the east end of Downtown
Kitchener far over twenty years. The praject has made a
difference and that can be proven by the number of young
families and young couples who have moved into these
neighbaurhoQds in the last ~ months.
we would like t~ emphasisthat while these neighbourhoods
continue to remain vulnerable to the issues of drugs and
prostitution a system of managed intervention needs to remain
in place if we are to continue t~ be successful in changing these
neihbaurhoods~
Sincerely
dally Cun~
Chairperson
Downtown East, Ya Cotta Luv It! Project
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I~HEI~I~T FI~N~ THE. DwNT~wN EAST, ~~ ~TTA- Lim ITS
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Nuisance By~a
Downtown East ~a Latta ~t ~ Project acted as the catalyst for tha formation of the
nuisance Bylaw ~omrnittee. The committee was made up of people representing
waterloo Region ~oiice service, the nfarcement Division of the City of Kitchener, two
downtown neighbourhood associations, ane suburban neighbourhood association, ane
business representative. A representative frarn the Kitchener Downtown on~rnunit~
I~ealth centre ~ present far the iriit~al meeting but indicated that they would not attend
and others. The committee agreed to ensure that all documents were sent to then.
with the Director of ~nforcen~ent, lVlr. haync Turner the committee developed a drab
proposed bylaw. over the course of a few months. A position paper was developed frarn
the draft and meetings were attended with interested stakeholders in the City including
but not exclusive to the Kitchener Downtown Business Association, seven
neighbourhood associations in the downtown and event associations in the suburbs,
several carr~.tnittees dealing with social issues ~ the downtown, a committee dealing with
the issue of homelessness throughout the Region of waterloo.
The draft was presented to the finance and Administration ammittee on December 3
and passed into ielslat~an December 17t~, aa~.
Agencies representing the homeless obj ecte to the proposal for fear that the enforcement
officers would target that population.
The groups were assured that ail personnel involved with enfarcen~ent including police
received a lot of training on issues of mental health, dlverslt~, senslt1vit~, etc.
~n Fe6ruar~ of ~a48, the committee reconvened to discuss the status of the bylaw. once
the bylaw was passed in December of 207, the enforcement staff` of the pity of
Kitchener has men mare training pertaining to mental health issues
D~~L~ was responsible for organizing and facilitating regular meetings and helped to
organise meetings with other stakeholders to present the draft proposal far information
and support.
D~~LI also organized the representation frorr~ the stakeholders at the Finance anal
Administration ~ornittee meeting.
~~aperty tan~ar~s Review ummittec
The work an this can~n~ittee was suspended to allow several n~e~nbes to work on the
Nuisance Bylaw. However, work has resumed with a Draft bylaw in process as well as
Enforcement ~ U 1 handbook designed to help people to understand the complexities of
bylaws and how to he ore effective in their reporting of violations. The daft bylaw is
anticipated to be before the Finance otnmittee early spring of ~~~9
I~owatown eihbourhaad Alliance
DEYC~LI chairs the Kitchener downtown omrnunity council which is a sub committee
of the downtown Neighbourhood Alliance. Sig downtown neighbourhoods had come
together originally to support the creation of the 1owntown community centre. The
prod et oardinator for ~EYLI is now on the executive and in her capacity requested
that e part~clpating asso~l~t~ons form an a~~lanee to dlCUSS Issues In cDmmon.
Ta date some of the issues discussed and work conducted are:
+:~ The inter ~ontral Bylaw an Triplexing for the neighbourhoods in the central
areas of Kitchener Including Mount Hope Brelthaupt, Victoria Park, central
Frederick, King East, civic centre, Auditorium and cedar Hlli
~~' DEY~rLI arranged for a meeting with the Downtown Neighbourhoods Alliance to
review the Nuisance Bylaw and received written support far the bylaw.
~~• with a number of representatives from Kitchener, attended a rnecting with
waterloo arnmunity Council to hear the ~ammittee for Better governance
review their research supporting Amalgamation
~:+ DEYxLI lnltlatd the first meeting between downtown neighbourhoods to discuss
concerns raised by Vendors at the Market concerning governance and a Vendor
Caoperati~re.
~~~ DEYC~LI Continued to play a pivotal role as the col~mittee expanded and became
known as the Kitchener Market Collaborative.
• DEY~LI continued to work with the Kitchener Market collaborative to complete
and present a Business Plan to the ~omrnunit~ Services Conunittee of the City of
Kitchener.
~~• DE~L~ continues to work with Kitchener Market Collaborative and the
Kitchener Market Staffta achieve a successful full time Market.
~~• DEYL~ organized twa meetings with Professor Bob Williams for downtown
neighbhouhhoods todiscuss changes to ward Boundaries
Z
Discussians scheduled for future Meetings:
o ~n gong facial Issues in the Dov~ntov~n
Kitchener N~arket
*;• Downtown fast ~ gotta Luv Iti Project warked with a nutr~ber of downstairs
I~'larket v~ndUrs, davrntov~n netghbaurhood assoc~attons and the I Believe to
Kitchener Crroup to create ~ report to Community services requesting that the
City of Kitchener consider two recaendations;
o A Mini Cracery 1Vlarker in the Upper Market to operate days per week
o A governance n~adel that would a~law partnership het~veen the City of
Kitchener, vendors and Community to work together to suppar~ e
Market.
• Both xecon~.n~endations were acoepted and ratified in March, ~aa~.
• The Kitchener Market Collaborative as the group is knov~n worked with the City
of Kitchener to submit warding to the "Storybook" that vas presented far the
Public Consultation Process that hewn the beginning of ,April ~aaS,
• The Kitchener Market Collaborative had camn~itted to subrriitttng its Business
working Plan to the Community Services Committee in June ~0~ but as a result
of a chane~aver in staff, the Business Plan was submitted to the nevi Director of
the Market in June, ~aa8.
•~• The Kitchener Market Callabarative, since June has worked collaboratively with
the new staff of the Market and remains highly energised and committed to plans
for a full time upper market
• A K~tcher~er Market Collaborative member walked with Market staff in the recent
~ktoberfest Parade as a scooter riding Cann Stalk
The group suffered the lass of a valued and very active n~enaber through the sudden
death of Dr. Thomas Seebohm. I3r. Seebahm contributed to the research, reports
and illustrations of what the upper market could lank like,
There is a renewed excitement about the Market, a real sense that the Market will
continue to expand and retain its rightful spot as the anchor that has been rriiing for
a fang tithe in Downtown Bast.
3
impact of the N~arket on the a~~aceut co~nmun~ties
It was predicted that the building of the 1Vlarl~et wauld result an averall improvement
of a oomnlunities that surround the arl~et. fiver the last 1 S months there has been
tangible improvement to the streetscape in and around the Market A number of the
residential buildings have or are in the pracess of receiving a "face lift}'.
cedar street North has seen mayor changes from ding through to weber.
Duke street frarn cedar to Scott with the carn~letion ol` Le Marche has taken on a new
life.
cedar Street South is slowly changing with bath major and minor renovations occu~.-ing
on 5 of the residential buildings between Ding and Charles Street.
Laudlurd Prv~ect
The Downtown East Ya gotta Luv Its Project partnered with Waterloo Region Police
Service to worl~ with approximately ~~ addres~es,1 ~ landlords and S con~rnur~ity groups
representing approximately ~S apartments, 47 single unit rooms, I multiple unit
commercial building located bath inside grid outside the Downtown East area from
~Iighland Road and queen Street to the Rosemount area of ~xu Street. The problems
related to issues of drugs and prostitution or susp~cians of see.
The numbers quoted here da not truly reflect the issue. for example one address, a
duplex has impacted four streets In the Rosemount area for the last eight years. mother
address in the central l~rederick area irr~pacts over 2~ addresses. one multi unit building
very close to the Market has negatively impacted Iowntawn East for over 15 years,
mother ~ unit building with one problem unit impacted the other four units and two
streets.
Df the ~~ addresses, several experienced problems mare than once: addresses would be
considered to be on going and ~ addresses would have sporadic ~roblerns due to the type
of tenants the addresses would attract, However the sporadic problems rarely are
observed by the surrounding residents because of the relationship DE~~LI has with the
landlordslsuperintendantsond police.
These addresses account for approximately 7~ units vulnerable to destabilisation at any
given time. The problems literally i4pap_up" sporadically and in order to ensure the
problems da not escalate, they must be dealt with as quickly as passible and with
.
cans1stent approc .
In each case there was an effort to support the tenants ar tenants in trouble initially but
either the tenants weren't willing to either seek help or change their choice of friends.
The problems in a number of these buildings resulted in other tenants moving out in ardor
to escape what they perceived as a dangerous situation.
4
In neighbourhoods where the adjacent residents were aware afthe issues, meetings were
held. Police and often Property standards were involved in educating the residents about
what was required to bring charges against either the offenders or the owner. often the
owners were present. In all but three cases, ownerllandlordlsuperintendantscooperated
with residents ~ enforcement, In one ease the owner' daughter has finally been
requested to became involved ~n finding perrnaner~t solutions. The other two eases are
ongoing with parhlers continuing to worl~ on solutions.
Property standards and in several cases, Fire have been active partners in helping to
impra~e the properties in order to ensure safety and security for tenants.
Information was gathered frarn many sources including the cotnrnunity that could prove
the tenants were engaging i~ illegal activity and the landlords were guided through the
process required b}~ law to give notice to the tenants. ~~ many cases, the tenants
challenged the order to e~rict and the landlords were forced to take the tenants to the
Tribunal. Both police and DB~LI accompanied the landlords through the process
including attending at the Tnbunal. This has occurred tunes in the last year, each
ease, a settlement was mediated that resulted in the tenant being evicted,
DB~~I has just been approached by the property manager of a 1 ~ unit apartment
complex that I~E~L~ had recently supported to consult on similar issues at properties ~
Guelph.
In the majority ofcases, the addresses where the landlord has received support through
this initiative, the properties have been renovated and today provide safe and secure
housing for people from ail socio-economic strata,
one of the supports offered to the owners is Community Impact statement that the
canarnunity originally created and has been rnodi~ ed since to reflect the spectltc issues of
a property, ~ Community Impact statement outlines how the activity occun-ing at an
address or throughout a community impacts quiet and peaceful enjoyment of a spcif
property and haw that activity reflects on the larger downtown camrnunity as both the
residential, commercial and retails communities in Downtown continue to struggle for
success. The ammunity Impact statement is used tQ help an adjudicator to fully
appreciate the impact of the behaviour on the larger conmunity,
The process is a relatively fang one sometimes taking up to six months tv resolve, It often.
requires many discussions between DEYLI and enforcement to come up with ways to
handle an issue. It requires teaching landlords and community who "owns" what
prablerr~s. There is a pracess that cam~nunities o through in artier to accept that they too
have a rate in recovering their com~nun~ty. Communities} geed leadership to fully
understand haw and why they must worl~ as a partner with each other, the City of
Kitchener, the landlord and the police. This is often a difficult pracess that requires
understanding, patience and the ability to persuade people to worl~ positively towards a
5
goal. The process often includes many dlscusslons about the ethics of only having foals
of enforcement available in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a safe community.
People are uncorrYfortableforein people out of communities. while this is positive
attribute and must be understood and respected, there are no other choices available. ~f
the negative behaviour is allowed to continue, it will overtake a community very quickly
and people who would be a stab~li~~n lnfluence move.
~t is very draining on all parties and usually results in the negative behaviour increasing
prier to the issue being resolved. once the problem tenant has been successfully evicted,
it takes another couple of months for the people frequenting the address to move an.
evera~ Anecdotes ~o illustrate the Im~ac~ of Behaviour rela~~ag to peap~c addicted
to drugs.
Where are few tools to help people in our community who axe addicted to drugs. one
person in con~nunity can very seriously destabilise and cause general havoc within that
community and beyond because he ar she acts as a catalyst for others i~a similar
circumstances to access fragile people and bu~ldings. The issues of addiction are
complex and the solutions are complex. There are na tools presently available to
communities, na supports except for enfarcen~ent to help people who are addicted to
drugs therefore comrnuntties only have enforcement to help them recover their
neighbourhood.
here are a few examples ofhow one or two people who were the actual tenants allowed
their space to be used as a "flop house" for others:
Two brothers completely disrupted three separate neighbourhoods not only creating
havoc but also dragging other people previously not involved into the world of drugs.
ether residences in the impacted neighbourhoods told many stories of acts of violence,
increase in break and eaters of bath vehicles and homes, exposure to the men who
purchase the services of women who use prostitution to support their drug habits parents
terrif ed for the safety of their children, n~en and women terrified for their safety always
wandering when the violence might escalate and hurt them. There were stories of many
sleepless nights while the addicts used the saver of darkness to loudly pursue their trade
in sex and drugs.
one woman who had an alcohol addiction but had it under control was enticed into the
world of crack cocaine and i the end, last custody of her three children and ended up in
~ ail. The woman had lived successfully at that address for aver seven years prior to this.
~t took less than one year for her to loose everything
Another woman gent from living fairly successfully an the edge, became involved with a
rnan who was a drug dealer, ended up a crack addict, became very ill and literally lost
everything including her vehicle as her vehicle was bung used to store drugs for sale
the had previously lived at the same address far I D years with few problems. ~t took her
approximately months from meeting the n~ar~ to being evicted. the was then followed
to her next address where she literally "flopped" with ~ friend. The superintendent of that
building was told and both the wo.ar~ and the friend were evicted.
In a small apar~nent complex, t~vo apartments were involved in the drug activity. The
apartment building attracted a a j ority of Asian faille who were terrified b~ the
violence associated with drugs. The landlord had captured a picture of a grandmother
cleaning up the entrance to the building to ensure her grandehildxen would not seethe
blood that was the result of an. assault with a knife. A number of the families moved
from the building for the sake of safety for their children.
At a larger apartment building designed with a court yard, the apartments associated with
the drag dealing were located in the back section of the building. The buyers would
stand in the middle of the coin yard at all hours of the day and night and screw for the
access door to be opened. it was disruptive and at times scary for the people 1n the rest
of the building and adjacent homes. Again as at other addresses, many of the other
tenants moved a a direct result of the drug activity.
At an address that we are presently working on, the community has been affected by
illegal drug activity far eight years. The reasons this address has such a long history are
t~vo fall:
1. The problems involve the two owners of the address and we have almost na tools
t0 enCOUr~gC compllance 1~1 thls context.
~, The neighbours have nvt been consistently reporting the problems.
D~YLI has recently become involved in a dispute between two landlords of two
separate addresses. The only solution for this is civil suit which may escalate an
already volatile situation. w remain involved in support of the landlord who i being
bullied.
badly the common denominator in the majority ofthese addresses is the same people
"flapping" at each of these addresses. Most landlords have reported finding mattresses
and sleeping bags strewn throughout the residence for people who use the address as a
"fop house" to use and sell drugs and sex. Al~nast all addresses to the general vicinity of
a problem address repar~ used needles and condoms found on their properties. once
surrounding residences report constant foot traffic through the back of their properties
regardless of fencing as the addicts try to escape being seen accessing or exiting a
specific address. In same case, stolen property i brought hack to the "flap house" via
private backyards. Fences arc destroyed, detritus of the drug world left behind making
backyards no longer safe places for children and adults to enjoy.
In each case noted here, the issues were resolved in favour of the larger community.
7
~ pasi~ive uncxpeeted result
Through the process it was revealed that there are ~ number of people living in the
community who have worked hard to change their lives and are now recovering addicts.
They cannot live in a home or neighbourhood where there is a drug activity, so they are
very motivated to ensuring that their comrr~unity remains fine of active drug dealing as
their any other choice is to move. Where are few communities left where housing
remains relatively affordable.
has this process with landlords warhed?
fiver the last year, property values have increased by approximately 1 ~~Io and far
properties that are single family homes and have "curb appeal', the average time between
placing a property for sale and the property being Bald has decreased substantially.
Far example, a house on church trect recently sold earlier in the year far 23,Oaa.a~
aver the price the couple purchased it fior less than a year earlier and was said within the
first month of offering. Young couples purchased in bath cases.
Another example is a house purchased last gear by a young ca~ple v~ha are transferring
to another city and they have been told that they can list their property far just under
~a,a~0.0~ more than their purchase prices The couple has since decided to stay.
Another young couple has purchased a home that has been a triplex for aver ~~ years and
has done a wonderful jab of converting the prapcrty back to a single family home.
The residential cam~nunitie outside the Downtown East area where I~FYLI was asked
to support, the problems did not return tv the same address except in one case. There was
a subsequent address with eve units that experienced drug and prostitution problems.
I~owever, once that problem was dealt with, the area has experienced quiet for the last
eight months.
while we have not conducted in depth research as to why there is a lesser degree of
recidivism in areas outside the i~nediate Downtown Fast area, in observing the
differences and understanding the contest of the cedar Dill Land Use and facial
Fnvirvnment study February 2~~}, it would seem reasonable to conclude that in a
number of residential communities outside the )~awntown Fast area, there are fewer
multiple dwellings and fewer residences awned by people who do not live there, There i
a greater distance to the praxiunity to shelters.
within the Downtown East area, it is a fact of life that problems can and da return. The
return far several reasons not the least of which is sire of a building such as a multi unit
apartment building ar the type of housing such as a rooming house. The other issue is the
vulnerability of thane people who are being housed in these properties. den loneliness
makes thane fragile people vulnerable to the attentions of thane whale only goal is to find
a place to "flap" in order to buy, sell and use drugs. In neighbourhoods that would be
seen as vulnerable it does not matter whether the housing is a private ar social dwelling.
.S
Fragile people are highly vulnerable to used by others. It is why it is vital that we as
society understand impact of planning and zoning. Mast people in the downtown
understand the need far rr~ied housing but have also learned ho~v important it is not to
create "ghettos" far the rich or conversely far the poor.
when these issues "pap" up it is imperative that ~ process be in place with sorr~eone
whose jab it is to engage partners including the landlords to find solutions as quickly as
possible in order to ensure that the problems da not escalate. barely da the reoccurring
issues came to the notice of the larger ca~nunity and often stay under the radar of the
pa ice,
It must be Hated that one roorr~ing house with 1 a rao~ns d two aparttrient has Hat been
a problem since the house was sold and purchased by people who live at the address.
It must also be Hated that another roaming house with I roams has become a partr~ier
with the commur~.ty ~n resolving issues that arse lthln. the premises. This would
include cooperation with both the owner and the superintendant,
In communicating the success of DEYLI Landlord Program to the Kitchener
Downtown Business Association, an effort to actively engage the absentee landowners in
the Downtown care hopefully will lead to similar results. The proposed changes to the
facades and lighting will greatly influence change that not only will be "felt" but seen
through upgrade of same.
There is na question that the issue of drugs and prostitution consumes the majority of
resources allocated to this project. It would be an interesting study to independently find
out the real cast of continuing to ignore the impact of the ongoing issues of addiction in
our downtown. It almost would seem to be a balancing act of mare fragile people
corning to the core on one hand and working an the other hand to mitigate the impact
through projects such as the ur~ivcrsity campuses, and the numerous new housing
projects.
hex Trade Initiative
D~C~LI worked with victim services to bring together a panel of women who have
succeeded in conquering their addictions and no longer need prostitution to pay for their
addiction. ~ictirn services wanted their volunteers to understand the impact of drugs on
women to help them become mare effective in helping o.en they would meet during
their volunteer service,
DE~I~I also coordinated and facilitated several ir~terviers with a reporter for the
.ecord to help their readers to understand the life of a drug addicted street level
prostitute. This included travelling to another city to gain access to women who have
successfully through their own initiatives put their lives back together.
D~YL~ with heir partner aterlaa Region Police has been worl~ing on an exiting
im.t~at~ve for women who are addicts and who support their habit through prastttut~an,
The language here is very deliberate as in the past initiatives have focused an the issue of
prostitution. That is oat what the problems are with the women an the street. The
prablrn ~~ drugs. The question is; how are we going to deal with the drug problem as it
tn~pact~ ~VarY]~n`~
e are trying to secure data to prove our hypothesis that it costs approximately two
million dollars per person to support women who have addictions. This would include
services to her children. The reason we feel this is ~rr~partant ~s because at present
women engaged in prostitution to support their addiction axe consumers of services
including enforcement and the court systems. when and if they access the health
carelsocial support systems, it is very expensive to support the warren. a are trying to
quantify whether it is cheaper to continue to not address these issues ar convince other
levels of government to support the women to obtain access to long term rehabilitation,
health care, social support, educa~.an~, housing, relnterattan with them families and
enlploynl~rlt.
e are working an a three gear program that would support Parole and Probation by
working one on one with women who are arrested on a criminal charge who are known
addicts and use prostltut1o11 and other cr~mtnal acts to support their habit. The program
would be a form of diversion.
This program would support women immediately upon arrest, through drug rehabilitation
and through reintegration with family, briend and into main stream society. ~t would rely
heavily on trained volunteers to mentor one an one who would commit for at least one
year. The program would also rely on a commitment from both local housing providers
and from housing providers outside the area. It would need commitment from education
facilities, medical, children and Family services, employers, churches, all community
stakeholders to farm an integrated approach to a woman's chance of survival if she
chooses to seep drug rehabilitation,
There would be na limit to the number of times a woman could access the program,
while we were working here in Kitchener on this initiative we discovered that
Cambridge through ~vaterlaa legion Police was discussing a parallel process sa we
irnrncdiately joined the group in Cambridge.
Through the combined initiative, a data base listing all known women bath active and in
danger of becoming active in street level prostitution has been created and to date, there
are approximately 1 ~a names recorded. The data base will be used to track the women
and i in response to the terrible lesson learned through the discovery of the missing
women in the Piston Farm base in British alun~bia.
1~
This summer, woman, ll~ls. Tina yule, a well l~nawn female addict was billed. Ta date
no ane has been charged with her murder.
~E~I~I and waterloo Region Police Service have approached both the Federal and
Provincial levels of government who bath certai~.y support the concept in principal and
are fully aware that if funding is sought, it cannot be based on numbers, rather an one
watnan at a tune. fast funding demands quantitative results. For women who are
addicted to drugs such as cracl~ cocaine it would be impassible to obtain numbers that
would ini~.ally justify funding based an current thinking,
The judicial system is supporting the concept of such a program and we are slowly
approaching identified potential partners who are experts in heir ~eld~
~VVe hoped to have this pragrarn unfold this spring but it became clear quite quickly that in
order far the program to have any chance of success, every piece of the pragra~n must be
in place prior to implementation.
Where is some resistance from same social agencies to support this program as it is reliant
upon women being arrested. however, we see this s simply another tool that is also part
of a harm reduction strategy.
e continue to work an this pro jest.
one surprising lesson learned while working with women who have been successful ~
cantrolting their addiction is that they have discovered that regardless of haw successful
they became, they ire not free to discuss their incredible journey far fear of
discr~minatian on levels such as hauling, employment and relationships.
Other Initiatives:
Ilo~vata~v~ t~eetscape
Downtown East was invfted to attend warl~shop on the downtown s~reetscape and was
successful in requesting further involvement when it was discavere that the area of
Downtown East was not included in the plans far an upgrade of Ding Street. Dui
concern when requesting our further lnvolvment 15 that It continues t0 "feel"lake the
dawritown east area is somehow separate from Downtown. Downtown begins at water
Street and ends at queen Street, As a result of our request, we have been involved in a
number o~'subsequent meetings regarding the streetscape project.
llowntawn ~`a~ade Im~rnvemeat
Downtown East continues to be involved in all discussions surrounding the newest
initiative regarding Downtown Facade hxipraven~ents. Again, we feel our Tale is to
it
continue to advocate far the East End a~` downtown to be included as a viable part of
downtown.
possible closure of the lat~~an Avenue path tv Cameron i~ei~hts collegiate
Meetings were organized by DE~~JLI with representatives from Carneran Heights
collegiate, waterloo Region Police, pity of Kitchener, cedar Hill and students to
ascertain the issue, then work to meliorate the problem.
Faixly early in the process, there was a decision not to close the path but to warp through
a OPTED grime ~reventian through Environmental Design} process to change the area
so that there mill be mare eyes on the pathway. Cameron Heights has changed their
policies to now include regular patrolling of the area of the Hill on Madison Avenue and
that has already resulted in a safer place for all.
The pity of Kitchener is presently engaged in infxatructure i~npravements on Madison
Avenue that includes changes to the path leading from Madison to the parr behind _
arneran Heights collegiate. Regular clearing out of underbrush has also helped to
irrtprove bath the perception a~ad the safety of the area
The pity of Kitchener in conjunction with waterloo Jaunty Eaard of Education has
alrnast completed much needed upgrades to the parking lots, park area and tennis courts
located in and around Cameron Heights collegiate. It is looking wonderful
'T~ ore Project
In January ~aa7, waterloo Region resurrected their I77 core project which is a dedicated
unit of police whose sale jab it is to deal with drugs and prostitution in the Downtown
Core.
DE~YC~LI was approached to became a partner in the praject from the beginning. The
group, consisting of police, representatives fxorn the City of Kitchener enforcement and_
l~censtng dlvlsions vlslted Durham to S~~ what Strategies that area was utlll~ing to deal
with similar issues. Durham i approximately the carne size as waterloo Region, They
discovered that while there were some differences in bylaws, essentially wRP and the
City of Kitchener are not only an track with other services but in many ways ahead of
other services and munlcrpalltres dealrng with the same issues s Downtown Kitchener.
Due of the pro jests of the 77 fore Pro jest that DELI actively supported was a Liquor
Symposium to bring Liquor licensees together to present information on responsibilities
of balding a Liquor license and passible autca.es a~' doing due diligence, The
syn~paiu was held in partnership with the pity of waterloo. Dver 84 licensees
participated in a very interesting day of learning. DEYLI obtained funding firon~
several sources for the praject and ocially reported back to same about the forum and
its results.
1
DELI has car~tinued to be involved through regular contacts with the officers nn this
project through meetings and email updates. There is an ongoing exchange of
infarnzation that has resulted in closer of crack houses and numerous arrests.
when asked recently by a former rnember of the 77 fore Pro j ect whether the work being
done ~~ the team is impacting an the con~.munity, the answer was a resounding "yes"fi ~ f
I~owever, because of the nature of the work, the larger community would not necessarily
I]otiCe.
In the last year, the work has resulted 1n ~ number of arrests including a building an
~ntaria street responsible for balding illegal "raves". They have cerinly been
responsible far decreasing the number of johns and prostitutes in the cast end. Ta date,
there has been four~ohn Schools with another planned for I~avcn~ber ~2, L1V~~+r CJually
there are a maximum 2 schools per yew. Each school would have between I7 to ~~
V i~ i~AM itr
Community Engagement Forum
DELI was active ~n the planning and in~plen~entatian of the recent forum held
October 4~' at victoria Park Pavirian. It was the first time that neighbourhood
associations frarn across the three cities in the Region were engaged in the planing of
the forum. IVIr. Jinn Diers, from Seattle washingtan who had been brought to waterloo
Region through the community Safety and Crime Prevention auncil far an initial
community discussion ors "engaging community in Development" was invited back to
talk about stage ~ of this process.
The committee was lead by a new group firan~ waterloo called `ng~ge. There were over
~aa participants resulting in many ideas about small and large pro j eets for individual
groups to pursue. A discussion about where this group is going has just begun.
As a result of this forurn, DEY~rLI has begun to research the passibility creating a venue
within our east end far community engagement in creating a mural. This discussion ~s ~n
it infancy and many hurdles must be Grassed before a decisions can be taken regarding
the viability of the project. ~Iowever, there have been a number of potential partners
already approached nth an overwhelming positive response.
speaking Engagements
There have been at least three opportunities this gear to speak about the Downtown East
Project. Mast people are quite intrigued to hear about a project that has so many facets
and is open enough to respond as issues arise.
DEY~xLI was requested to apply to present at a world conference on Leisure and
Community Development in Quebec. It was a buried presentation and our presentation
was accepted. DEYLI and a professor of an~rnunity Development from 1Vlahawk
I3
College presented in Quebec City in early October to approximately 1 a~ peap~e. The
presentation was well received,
Soccer Program
I~~YC I and Cedar Hi11 continue to offer their free soccer program every spring. The
most recent program was featured in the "Click" paper, a pictorial account of
"happenings" around I~w sponsored by the Record. This ~rograrrz has been very
successful attracting a diverse participat~an 1~rorn children aged 3 to 13 years, Parents
must attend and through that venue meet other parents and kids. Students from Cameron
Heights Collegiate are engaged to coach as well as representativesfrcm waterloo Region
Police. It really is a wonderfixl example about how a small in~restent of approximately
~aa.aa per year which goes to giving each child a T Shirt} community engagement and
develaprnent occurs. I~EY~LI only runs the program until the end of June but it is sa
successful that for the last two years the parents have Dept the program running several
weeks into the summer. There has been an average of ~ children in the program each
year.
Christmas ~inne~
A celebration of food and gaol company is held every December at Le Casbah restaurant
on Sean Street, Last year's attendance Included landlords, a vice pr~r~cipal and his wife
from Cameron Heights Collegiate and our local Community Resource O#Ticer, her
husband and a small children along with approximately 1 families from. the
neighbourhoods. It is an opportunity far people to cone together as fiends, to learn
about each other as mare than dust people who seem to spend a lot of time in meetings
aver issues.
Lessons Learned
There have been many lessons learned during this process:
Perhaps the main lesson is that vulnerable cornunitios cannot survive without supports
such as the D~YLI Landlord Program. This is not a statement of failure but reality of
what is required in order to address ~rery complex and doff cult housing related issues.
This project was a pilot. what we have discovered and will report in more detail upon in
our foal report is that a system of managed intervention warps. It will however always
be necessy in vulnerable areas. what we have discovered is that problems may always
reoccur, but with the infra-structure of the Intervention pragrarn, each new occurrence is
far easier to handle as you have an established relationship with landlord and neighbour
in place. A reoccurrence is not a failure but is to be expected aril must be nipped in the
bud as fast and as quietly as possible.
l4
what those areas are maY change with changing demographics. But what this project
shows is that intervention of this type, carefully managed is far mare cost effective than
constant reliance an enforcement agenCl~s alone.
People involved in the drug culture whether as an addict, buyer or seller create havoc.
whether it i the business, carnmercial ar residential community, drugs create chaos.
According to waterloo l~.egion Police er~rices, drugs are linked to ~~°Io of all crime
~ammltted In this I~eg10n.
communities cannot be expected to absorb people who are engaged in drug activity,
There is a prevailing attitude that "thane people have to live satnewhere". while we fully
support this staterr~ent, addicts do not lure in our communities. They "flop" there. Their
activities destabilise not only the immediate neighbourhood but the larger can unity.
Their activities axe the main reason our lo~rntown continues to struggle against negative
perceptions. Until all stakeholders are engaged in a process to reduce addiction either
through rehabilitation anal more importantly, prevention, communities cannot be expected
to and are not equipped to live with the destructive behaviours of people with addict~ans.
In an area that is chronically problematic, Landlords need to be engaged. They need to
clearly understand that they are part of a community and as part of that community they
need to manage their properties and bald their tenants to the standard of that community.
This program needs to remain in place ifwe are to continue to be successful in our efforts
to change the surrounding residential camrnunity to the I~owntowr~ core.
The community needs to be clear about what are their standards, what kind of behaviour
is expected and what will or won't be tolerated?
fur society also needs to examine their attitudes towards people who have successfully
changed their destructive lifestyles. we have learned that the prejudice i greater towards
women than men and a conclude it is because of the way many women are forced to
"feed" their habit through prostitution. we fully believe that society would like to find
solutions to the issues of drugs yet we have not fully examined our awn personal attitude
towards issues of sex s a commodity. we know this because of several incidences
where women who have been highly successful in changing their lives, must lie about
their past and in fact, are tall not to reveal where they have come from. we do not wish
to acknowledge and support the incredible mountains these women must climb to obtain
and maintain any kind of sobriety.
we feel we have also learned that decriminalizing prostitution will not help women who
are forced to prostitution either through human trafficking or through their addictions.
If a landlord chronically rents to people who are involved in the drug world, there are no
tools to help the offending tenants and nv tools to farce the landlord to take responsibility
their properties and the offending activity that occurs there. het the landlord is a
cansutner of enforcement dollars that casts thousands and thousands of dollars allocated
l
to policing and other Neves of enforcement including fire, noise ~~ property standards.
In other words, ~nfvrcement becomes the "r~nanaer" of these problem properties,
There needs to be some accot~ntin far tha real costs of continuing to use enforcement
with ria supports from ~ aver sector of our community as the only tool to help
C01~].~lunltl~s ~eal1I1 with Issues a~ drubs ~ ~lrOStl~ut~an.
I~egis~tion around property standards is outdated and does rat support some of the
overwhelming problems experienced y enforcement avers today.
There is a significant tale far the social service industry to play. ~t has great expertise
particularly ~ areas ofxnentl health. partnerships that would pace menu health
warl~ers partner with our 1oca1 police service would be a first step.
"here needs to be a clearer understanding of the impact of drugs end prostitution on
communities. social service providers need to be engaged to work iri partnership wig
neighbourhoods, police and the pity of Kitchener.
Working with and engagi~a Landlords is far more effective than using "stick"
approach,
ongoing issues with laridiards mikes residents very nervous and thus ultra sensitive to
issues that simply cannot be resolved by enfarcernent there is no evidence of
criminality. An example is a rn owner of house who befriends the women who are
~lvalved ~Vlth pr~stltutlan. ~e begins to allow the women to use his home. boon both
the pedestrian and vehicular traf fie increases bn same rather scary people into an
otherwise quiet residential carnmunity, Igo criminal activity is ~ccurririg. ghat toils
exist to remove the perceived threat from the neighbourhood?
1Vlot people hive na reason to know what constitutes a criminal act nor da they
undcrstnd other areas of r~forctr~ent. people become frustrated fairly quickly if they
perceive a threat with no sense of ~ relatively quick resolution. Therefore, it is cr~t~cal to
find ways to work a quickly as passible to help neighbours became educated as to their
rate in the solutions and the need far them to work with landlords to meiiarte issues,
prostitution is ~ precursor of problems in the community where they are plying their
trade. A11 measures must be taken to remave the women for the sake of that urger
community. It takes a long time to close dawn ~ crack house consuming tax dollars
usuai~ far out of proportion to the sire of the problem.
~.'~~~ prriStltutl~ri is n0~ an issue of prostltut10r1 but ~111ssue Df amen who ire addlcted
v~ha use prostitutiar~ to support their addiction,
~4s ~ pity, we cannot buy the adage that "this is the world's oldest profession"because
our problems in downtown Kitchener are modern phenorner~on and is centered X9,9°Io
arad the drug trade.
I~
A landlord cannot be expected to become ~ "social worker". It is an unreasonable
expectation that landlords should be expected to retain a tenant who has become involved
in the drug trade. The problems will only escalate. However the landlord needs the
support of the community and the police in order to convince the tribunal to remove a
tenant based on Cr~rr~inal Activity.
Because Cedar dill is truly a mixed neighbourhood with all kinds of housing including
many social assisted housing projects, there are a number of ex addicts who make their
borne there. It becomes drf~'icult for there to live ~n an area where there are active drug
dealers and users present. we have learned that addiction is a life long recovery,
Wherefore, if we really mean it when we say the downtown is for everybody, this would
include people who work every day simply not to xeturn to theix old life. we need to
support them by making certain that we keep people active in the drug trade out of our
downtown communities.
The bureaucracies of municipalities and police services while both do an excellent job of
reaching out and supporting communities, it is impossible to "hand hold" neighbourhoods
to the extent that sane of the mare vulnerable communities need, There are so many
small areas of help such as hnply listening to people who just need an ear or helping
people access resources such as a handyman, an electrician, and plumber particularly for
the growing number of single older women who are locating or located in the downtown
that a bureaucracy cannot do. ~t is not efficient use of tine or resources for the
bureaucracies to do and is not ~n their mandate. There really is a need for a person who
lives i~ the neighbourhoods, is well versed and connected to resources and is fairly open
to sirrxply supporting,
~~e Final Lessor:
e axe very blessed here in Waterloo ~.egion to have so many people willing to bring
their expertise to the table to address issues. There is no one way to resolve these
problems for they are as complicated as the people involved. Therefore, we must work to
make sure that e allow many "tools" Into the "Fool Chest" in order to take all the steps
needed to change.
Where we are gong from here?
DEY~~I is planning a foam in the early New Year to help educate people on issues of
Property tandard~ fire crirr~inal law, drugs, prostitutions and community engagement.
I]EY~~ has just begun working with another community group outside the downtown
dealing with an ongoing drug issue and we will be following through with that
involvement.
DBY~~~ has received a request to work in a neighbourhood in a non profit housing
pro j ect outside the downtown to help the community deal with a behaviour issue around
drugs and alcohol and will begin that process by the end afNovember,
l?
D~YL~ eantiues to ir~~estigate the possibility of a mural o e retaining v~all of
1Vladison ~~e. on haries Street.
~E~~L~ rnust have the final report along with the ~~aluatian to Trillium by June sa eve
will be spending the majority o our tune ensuring that bath the report and the e~aluatton
is done in a timely and effeeti~e fashion. The f~nai report to ouneii v~iil be ready for
Community Services after June ~QD9.
n behalf o DEYLI a ash to ~ the lty of tchene~r for their ongoing support
of our project.
1
Douvntouvn fast Prc~ec~
statement of ~~cpenditufe and Receipt
April ~ ~, ~00~ tc October ~1, ~Og8
Carry#orvvard Unspent Balance
Revenue:
City of Kitchener grant
Trillium grant
Tote! carryforward and receipts
$ ~ 2,58. ~9
~~,D~~.O~ 47,44g~~g
~x endi~ure:
Oontract payment
~~ren~
Printing
~#icelutilitie
Phone~ax
Bank charges
22,48~.g~
4~4.~D
~~8.0~
17~.~~
1 ~~.37
Unspent balance at October 31, 2pQ8 X36.480.66
Douvntow~ East Project
Budget
November ~, ~ooS • dune ~, X009
arryforward Balance November 1, 2~D~ ~}4g5.~1
Reven ~e:
nil
E~ end~tures:
~~ months X3459}
Project erreluat~on casts
Even#
Printinglt~pplies
~f~celutilit~es
Phor~e~fax
Administration
intrr~et
Miscellaneous
~4,13.~0
50D,~o
450.0
0~, 4D
400.00
600.00
3D0.00
~50.OO 3,490.40
Budget for
Projected deficit June ~, 2008 - 994.89