Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

Ward versus Ward in Fun City-wide Competitions

These are challenges - which ward can have the largest social distancing chain connected by hockey sticks around the perimeter of their ward or a common park like Gage Park. Have it a timed window, maybe two wards each Sunday in the Spring. Or a Ward pie competition, where the "Champion" from each Ward compete in a City-wide Pie Off.

Equitable access to political processes

Given the demographics of the Hamilton community, it should be obvious that not everyone has access to computers, cameras, and microphones to be able to participate in information gathering projects such as town halls, city council meetings, etc. Not everyone can spend hours on buses to attend in person, particularly single parents who are responsible for the care of their children. This means that the voices of those who are most vulnerable to crime and the effects of policy planning are not heard. This results in policies and services that don't adequately meet the needs of a large population of Hamilton. An equitable process should include methods of data collection that are accessible to our most marginalized communities. Safety means concerns are heard and addressed. Our least safe communities are not heard and therefore not safe.

Safe Injection Sites, Transitional Housing, Brave solutions to chronic homelessness - Particularly in hub and mobile style models.

The privileged citizenry of Hamilton are terrified of methods of harm reduction that have a long research-based history of success. The city of Hamilton continues a NIMBY campaign rather than embracing solutions that work. Suburban and privileged citizenry need to be educated about services that reduce the impact of drug use and homelessness in their communities. Well funded and managed safe injection sites reduce overdoses, keep needles out of parks, and provide immediate intervention to those who need it. Drug use will not go away by refusing to provide safe services. Nor will it disappear through gentrification. Like in other, wealthier areas, drug use will simply be diverted to parks, woodlands, alleys, and parking lots. Educate the community rather than giving in to the "pearl clutchers". Sometimes the government has to do what is good for the community rather than what makes everyone happy. This is where the Hamilton city government continues to fail. Recognize that the shelter system is not a safe place to live. It victimizes and causes trauma to those who are caught up in chronic homelessness, causing them to live in tents, doorways, alleys, etc. Get creative about solutions and look at the myriad of unique, successful solutions that have been implemented across north america and europe using modular housing, "pod" shelters, etc. Also recognize that pet ownership with the shelter population is a safety measure. Their pet is often the only safe emotional connection/companion and crucial to their wellbeing. Account for that when funding services and building policies. Provide the funding and infrastructure for non-profits to engage in Hub style service delivery so that the homeless population doesn't have to spend hours traveling all over the city for food, healthcare, and services. Being homeless and/or being reliant on city social services is exhausting and counterproductive to people getting off of social assistance programs. There is a huge body of research related to the intersection of public transportation and accessing food/community services. If we actually want to reduce tax spending on homelessness and poverty, then we need to invest upfront to prevent detrimental cycles. When people don't feel cared about or valuable in their community, they will not care about or value the community itself. Why should the care that we don't like their tent in our park, when we shun them, spit on them, and don't value them enough to provide the help they actually need, rather then the help we think they need?

...is a neighbourhood with a park that has a decent sized natural garden full of native trees and flowers -- to help fix the climate crisis.

A place where parents with young children don't need to take a firm grip of their child's hand or coat on the sidewalk when a vehicle passes

Ensure a diverse government

Our government should accurately reflect those in the community to be able to speak to inequities and hate incidents of specific groups.

The City of Hamilton should not be engaging in restricting freedom of speech. The City should fix our roads not waste money on this program

Stick to municipal issues and stay out of the censorship business

Take responsibility!

In my 5 years as a resident of Hamilton, I went from giving city council the benefit of the doubt to realizing that they blow a whole lot of smoke. The city seems to SAY a lot about the need to make changes, does things like this engagement project, and then just forgets about the whole thing and never makes any actual concrete changes. In terms of Hate, the city has not taken any responsibility on any of the recent public incidents. Pride Festival, Yellow Vest protestors etc. Council just hums and haws. If you really want to stop hate speech then STOP IT. Nothing is stopping you except your biased constituents.

Change how the police are funded

The police have become the one stop shop for every social issue which doesn't make sense. If the city and anchor institutions refuse to consider defunding the police then at least change how the money is used to better train the police on being better able to work with racialized/queer/low income/disabled people. Hire crisis workers through the police budget. Do more friendly, community policing.

Punishment for the Crime

Stricter measures to be put in place for all people in government, city, or community leadership as to what is a hate crime and what will happen if one is committed with fast and strict measures if one is committed.

Stricter Courts?? Answer isn't easy!

I was extremely upset, to put it mildly, when a week ago a Resident Dr. @ a Hamilton Hospital said that he was afraid to bring his young family to live with him in Hamilton due to the high crime rate in Hamilton! He hasn't been with them since June/20, how extremely sad is that! He thought that they were safer in USA!!! I was so shocked & that was such an emotionally upsetting thing to hear! I mentioned some areas that appear to be safer ie. Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Ancaster, Hamilton Mtn. etc.! The Hamilton I grew up in used to be such a safe place!! I don't know the solution really wish that I did!

Awareness and Resources

Better resources made available to prevent all type of violent incidences from ones including police to ones that are out of the ordinary and need more assistance. Better awareness as well to such incidences when they take place so that others that may have been affected in the community feel safe around the area still.

Better collaboration and community support to reduce recidivism

We can do better to support people coming out of correctional institutions to support them with housing, income security, employment and addictions concerns. This will reduce recidivism and give the whole community hope.

Defund and abolish the HPS

Systemic racism and terrible responses to mental health crises are just a few of the issues. They have a horrible record in this city. We need new systems

reducing income inequality (e.g. universal basic income, adequate welfare), decriminalization of drugs would decrease cycles of crime&prison

Police should not attempt a mental health related interaction without the presence of a medical professional.

Police officers are trained to ensure the public's compliance through escalating threats and application of violence. These escalation based methods often do not work well with someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect someone is undergoing a mental health crisis, the police should avoid interaction until a qualified medical professional is on the scene.

Resources

Better access to resources for all people and to awareness of where these resources are located for people to access.

A don’t judge social media/ad campaign focusing on showing everyday people that suffer, but get treatment, for their illness. Positive ads

A way to get mental health resources in current lockdown for those that have no programs available through phone or internet. The forgotten

Not penalize people on a sudden decision to hurt themselves & realize they weren't going to but the Police take away license for 3 months!

Need better Mental Health support Not Punishment!

Build designated encampment areas that provide for basic hygiene and safety needs

Outdoor handwashing stations, outhouses, feminine hygiene products, small personal shelters (cabins?), even shower and laundry facilities. Making it possible to keep dignity (hygiene, security) in tact while a person is suffering homelessness/ addiction will make it easier for people to bridge the gap back into 'society' when they are ready.

Limit amount of rentals per an owner/investment group to make home ownership a level playing field

There should a limit on the number of homes a person can own for rental purposes, and even in investment groups the number home homes should be limited to one per a house hold, ( so a both spouses in a household could only own one income property combined not one each) and (only one per house hold in an investment group eg. even if husband and wife were in two separate investment groups only one could own a rental property) this would help keep home prices affordable by flattening demand and help make home ownership attainable to more people.

Update bylaws and allow/sustain encampments

We do not have enough affordable housing in the city. Encampments are a natural outcome. We cannot keep destroying people's attempts at surviving when shelters are constantly at capacity. We need to update bylaws to allow affordable housing asap and allow and support existing encampments.

Expropriate vacant potential housing units for affordable housing

Investors leaving units empty has not reached prominence in Hamilton to the same level as Toronto and Vancouver, but it's better to address the issue before it becomes a problem. Review the leadership of Montreal and Barcelona on this matter: 1. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-claims-first-right-of-refusal-on-300-properties-for-social-housing 2. https://scoop.me/barcelona-affordable-housing-policy-apartments/

When we know the reason for the homelessness (mental health, abuse, addiction, etc) can we provide mobile supports and basic accommodations.

Most people would not choose to be homeless

Connect individuals to valuable resources - "You don't know what you don't know”

Income - regular work, part-time work, gig work, EI, social services, etc - how do we help get access to the right supports when that income is gone? It is often difficult to access financial supports when a job is lost, benefits end, families separate, or illness occurs. Just telling someone to apply for EI, OSAP, job retraining, ODSP or Ontario Works isn’t always enough. Not everyone qualifies, and sometimes we need to do more than just point, or tell someone to look at an unclear website, but instead EXPLAIN why and how. Some individuals or families are just past the cut-off threshold for support yet are struggling to pay for their home, food or transportation. Then what? What happens when individuals are unsure of WHAT questions to ask or WHO to ask to get access to a resource or service. Anyone can fall through the cracks because someone tells them NO and they don't know where to go next. This applies to youth and adults of all ages; educated or not, experienced or not - if someone tells you No, how many people just stop in their tracks? Then add in barriers. If individuals do not have family or community supports, do not feel safe, struggle with physical or mental health challenges, feel marginalized or racialized, will they push forward or feel that no one will listen? Why make individuals work so hard just to get the information they need? Most would help a friend learn about resources when they ask, so why not help our community? Create a "Resource Person" role within our city to help guide all individuals to the services they need. Make the role accessible virtually, over the phone or in person. This is not a social services worker or reception role, but a person who can actively assist individuals to learn how to access resources or services. We also need to consider how much work or how many "clicks" it takes to access a resource, and if it is accessible or clear to everyone. By providing a clearer path we can help individuals get to where they WANT to be, not where they end up.

Advocate to the Province for increased ODSP rates

Our social contract essentially dictates that people who want money must work for it. Exceptions are made for those whose doctors affirm their disability is a barrier to work. In those cases, we support them with monthly ODSP payments, but they amount to less than 2/3 the poverty line. That is an injustice. Increasing ODSP rates to the poverty line would increase the provincial budget by around $2b annually but that's a challenge we must embrace. Advocate for new tax brackets at the top level of incomes if necessary.

UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

The research was being done and everything points to UBI being beneficial for society as whole. Implement it and it will help a lot of the issues that you're trying to address with this engagement.

Sidewalks to Be Plowed

It is time for sidewalks to be plowed. The elderly especially need access for than most. This issue has been batted around on council forever. Despite that Ancaster residents pay for sidewalk clearing, this option should also be available to other areas. It is especially important that sidewalk routes to schools be cleared. It is time to act on this, it is a access and a safety issue for all.

The basic income pilot showed success and should be implemented locally. A person’s well-being can be positively influenced in this way.

Re-instate the Basic Income Pilot