Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Project - City of Prince George

STAFF REPORT TO COUNCILTO: MAYOR AND COUNCILDATE: March 23, 2010TO:FROM:SUBJECT:Mayor and CouncilChris Bone, Social Policy FacilitatorCarney Hill Neighbourhood Centre ProjectATTACHMENT: March 2010 Carney Hill Neighborhood Centre Project UpdateRECOMMENDATION:1. That the staff report and March 2010 Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Project Update(attached) be received.PURPOSE:The purpose of this information report is to update Council concerning administrative discussionwhich is occurring between the City and the Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Society(CHNCS) and describe the next steps in that process.Council has previously received various administrative reports and a Neighborhood CentreFeasibility Study by Yates, Thorn and Associates.CHNCS has recently advised that they consider the feasibility study recommendations to beunrealistic and would prefer instead, to approach the matter differently.Administration will be working with the CHNCS to identify and evaluate siting options concerningthe proposed neighbourhood centre and return that information to Council for consideration.STRATEGIC PRIORITES:This matter relates to several focus areas identified in the City’s Strategic Plan including:• building stronger neighborhoods;• improving our health and safety; and• an inclusive community.

POLICY / REGULATORY ANALYSIS:No policies or regulations are affected at this time.The siting evaluation work will consider Official Community Plan, zoning and environmentalpolicies of the City. Results will be reported to Council at future meeting.FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:This project is not included in the City’s current financial plan.Capital and operating funds for the proposed neighbourhood centre would be raised from noncitysources under the CHNCS concept.SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:It is well known by social service providers, government agencies and departments, the RCMPand by the neighbourhood residents themselves that this area experiences high rates ofnegative social outcomes. The CHNS has been working for the past 16 years to meet the socialneeds of residents living in the neighbourhood and has established the creation of aneighbourhood centre as a key goal.We are advised that the Society is of the view that the 2008 Carney Hill Neighbourhood CentreFeasibility Study which addressed the feasibility of the City taking on the development,implementation and operation of a neighbourhood centre, to be unrealistic. Instead, they haveproposed that the CHNCS take responsibility for the development, implementation andoperation of a proposed neighbourhood centre and Administration will be assisting the Societyto evaluate siting options.Respectfully submitted,Chris BoneSocial Policy Facilitator2

March 2010MARCH 2010 CARNEY HILL NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE PROJECT UPDATEProvided by: Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre SocietyThe Carney Hill Neighbourhood includes about 2000 residences and has a population of approximately4000. This area has a very high percentage of young First Nations families (under the age of 25).Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Society has been working for the past 16 years (see Appendix A) tomeet the social needs of residents living in the neighbourhood previously known as the VLA (VeteransLand Act). A key component of the CHNCS vision has been to create a neighbourhood centre for localresidents. This document summarizes background data in support of this vision.Carney Hill Neighbourhood Socio‐Economic RealityIt is well known by social service providers, government agencies and departments, the RCMP and bythe neighbourhood residents themselves that this area experiences high rates of negative socialoutcomes. For example:‣ The neighbourhood is one of the poorest in Prince George. Parent average income wasreported to be $25900 annually 1 . This is the lowest parent income for any school catchmentarea in Prince George, where only two other schools have average parent incomes of under$50,000.‣ This neighbourhood has more children in care that any other neighbourhood in Prince George.‣ The neighbourhood is ranked as the highest risk neighbourhood in the Province of British Columbia forhealthy child development. Up to 45% of the neighbourhood children were not meeting physical healthand well‐being needs, up to 25% of children scored in the significant range for language and socialcompetency vulnerability and up to 36% of children were vulnerable in communication skills 2‣ School performance was ranked last (876th out of 876) according to the Fraser Institute Reportfor 2009. Furthermore, this report notes that 17% of the students are designated special needs.This is the highest percentage of special needs children of any school in Prince George and issignificantly greater than most other schools (where rates of roughly 2% ‐ 6% are more likely tobe found).‣ It has the highest crime rate of any other neighbourhood in Prince George‣ The residents of this neighbourhood have significant health issues including a high population ofindividuals with mental health issues such as FASD, PTSD, generational traumas, “at risk”behaviors, addictions, acquired brain injuries and so on.The issues are clear; poverty, high unemployment, children at risk, children with disabilities, high crimerates, and significant health/mental health issues exist across the population.Carney Hill Socio‐Economic Issues and the Broader Prince George CommunityOver 1000 male and female parolees are served every year through provincial bail and probationservices in Prince George. Over half of these people transition from jail into the Carney Hillneighbourhood. Back‐to‐the‐community transition services are very limited everywhere, including inCarney Hill. The result is that a large, high risk (risk of re‐offending) population exists in Carney Hill andit is putting both the neighbourhood (as evidenced by the high crime rate) and the broader communityof Prince George at risk of further criminal victimization. Many of the downtown social problems canbe directly linked to this aspect of the Carney Hill neighbourhood.1 Fraser Institute 2008/09 report2 (Hertzman et al., 2002, p.10)1

March 2010 A building will facilitate the provision of focused back‐to‐the‐community transition supports forparolees. A meaningful, neighbourhood‐based approach to healthy lifestyle choices can be developed. It will provide opportunities for education and learning and will provide capacity for thedevelopment and delivery of employment and life skills training programs. It will provide a non‐institutional healing space for positive and meaningful social, cultural andrecreational activities.The neighbourhood centre will:‣ Enable local collaboration of, and for, the provision of needed social services‣ Facilitate greater ownership by the residents for the development and implementation of localsolutions to their social‐ and economic‐based problems.‣ Create resident‐driven and accessible cultural, recreational, social, educational andemployment‐ related opportunitiesThe Neighbourhood Centre will impact socio‐economic indicators by acting as a stepping stone forresidents who will use it to take the first steps needed to make the changes they desire in their lives. Byincreasing the ease with which services can be accessed and by increasing the capacity of service to beprovided within the neighbourhood culture residents will find success is more readily achieved andexperienced. And it is from these small successes that the bigger successes are ultimately built upon.Support for a Neighbourhood CentreDozens of social service providers as well as government departments and agencies are mandated toaddress the social issues that exist in the Carney Hill neighbourhood. In 2009, the CHNCS CommunityDevelopment Coordinator connected with thirty‐eight of these (See Appendix B). Many have indicatedthat they recognize both the significant challenges their clients experience, and the challenges theyexperience trying to connect with and serve their clients. They acknowledge that providing services totheir respective clients ‘where they live’ would result in improved service delivery and moreimportantly, improved outcomes. They have indicated support for working collaborative to do this.Expected Impact of a Neighbourhood Centre on Socio‐Economic OutcomesIt is anticipated that by reducing barriers and increasing accessibility, residents will access the servicesthey need to make the positive changes they desire. Such changes will include, for example: Feelings of security when basic needs are met by providing streamlined service provision todirectly address food, clothing, and housing needs; Stronger family units when increased access to childcare/after school care with moreparent/child supports are in place to help address family based issues; Enhanced life skills when increased programming and assistance is readily available to improvethe health and well being of individuals and families; Improved health when more access is provided for addictions and/or mental health counseling; Increase public safety and reduced criminal activity not only in the immediate area but also inthe wider community as a result of these changes; Positive feelings of connection with others when the neighbourhood is safe and a local commonspace and environment is available for relaxing, fun and stimulating activities; Employment or more self‐sustained supported living situations when supports are pro‐activelyaccessed, upgrading is pursued or other education opportunities are accessed, and whenvolunteer and employment opportunities are generated through the Centre itself;3

March 2010 Increased positive engagements with the broader community of Prince George as a result ofresidents being supported to make these changes; Reduced costs as indirect revenues will be recovered with decreased health care costs; fewercalls for emergency response resources i.e. RCMP, Fire Department, and Ambulance and adecrease in outreach service provider burnout. Increased economic value to the neighbourhood as these longer‐term changes will reduce thedrain that negative social behavior has on the neighbourhood community as a whole and willgenerate direct revenues as a result of increased real estate values and growth in small businessdevelopment.4

March 2010KEY DATES: 1992 TO 2010Appendix ACarney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Society History in brief: 1992 – Carney Hill community rallied to create positive change 1994 – Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre (non profit) Society incorporated 2004 ‐ Ideas for Change (UNBC School of Environmental Planning) – Business Plan Development 2004 ‐ Presentation to City Council where support was acknowledged 2006 ‐ Community Development Steering Committee formed 2007 – Community Development Coordinator position created 2007 ‐Actions for Change Workshop (SPARC, The Social Planning and Research Council of BC) 2007 – Presentation to City Council for land. Subsequently the City proposed and partiallyfunded the Feasibility Study. 2007 ‐ Feasibility Study Commissioned 2008 – Feasibility Study Completion 2008 – Feasibility Study presented to City Council 2009 – Service Needs Assessment Completion 2010 – Moving Forward5

March 2010Social Service Agencies and Government DepartmentsAppendix BSocial Service AgenciesAids Prevention ProgramAboriginal Business Development AssociationAboriginal Education Workers (School District #57)Association Advocating for Women and ChildrenActive Support Against Poverty (ASAP)Activity Centre for EmpowermentBrain Injured Group (BIG)British Columbia Housing Aboriginal HousingCarney Hill Elementary SchoolCarrier Sekani Family Services Soup BusCarrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS)CASEY (Communities Against Sexually Exploited Youth)Central Interior Native Health SocietyChild Care Resource and Referral (CCRR), operated by the YMCAChild Development Centre (CDC)Elizabeth Fry SocietyThe Fire PitFuture CentsKetso YohMilburn Community Gardens SocietyNorthern Family Health ServicesNorthern John Howard SocietyParent Support Services (PSS)Phoenix Transition House SocietyPrima Assessment CentrePrince George Community PolicingPrince George Crisis CentrePrince George Drug and Alcohol ServicesPrince George Native Friendship CentrePrince George Urban Aboriginal Justice SocietyProject Parent North (PPN)Queensway Community GardensRodicca HouseZechariah HouseGovernment DepartmentsCommunity Corrections (Adult Probation), Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor GeneralCorrectional Service of Canada, Prince George Federal ParoleMinistry of Children and Families (MCFD)Ministry of Housing and Social Development6