Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Project - City of Prince George

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