Community Safety and Well-Being Plan

Safer, slower rural roads

Speed and volume is an issue on many of our rural roads. Pedestrians, cyclists and others feel unsafe to use.

A safe community is litter and graffiti free.

Litter makes our City dirty and graffiti isn't art.

More local events provided for local residents- look within instead of outside

Safety means housing, food, services. Policing means evictions, abuse, denial, abandoned victims. Defund the police, support the poor.

Policy and city planning based on social determinants of health and recidivism reduction research.

It is not a secret that crime manifests in environments where resources are not accessible to all citizens. When individuals and families have access to a livable and stable income, food security, adequate housing, proximal services, proximal and affordable health care, equitable education services/supports, accessible/affordable recreation, etc. they thrive. When individuals live in substandard housing, travel hours to food banks, don't have access to health care, sit on waitlists for services, and don't receive the educational supports they need, they don't thrive. Crime is higher in areas where people don't have the basic social determinants of health. This is not new research, yet Hamilton is so far behind other communities in the delivery of equitable services. Further, safe doesn't just mean free of crime. For some, safe means having a parent home at night rather than working several jobs, having nutritious food that meets their health needs, living in a home free of mold, living in a home where they are not being preyed upon by their landlord, or having access to the medications they need to manage severe mental health. Every citizen in Hamilton should be able to live with dignity and future oriented thinking.

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.

Messaging from the top down and funding from the bottom up.

Researchers across North America and Europe recommend that messaging and behaviour president must come from those in government and law enforcement. Those in places of power must condemn acts of hate and more importantly hate motivated thinking processes and attitudes. Less than one third of all hate incidents are reported to police, which means the numbers reported each year represent a fraction of victims. Fear of retaliation, fear of further victimization by police, language barriers, and a lack of understanding are the top reasons why people don't report. People in power need to live the message and hand the power to grassroots movements and non-profit organization to mobilize and collaborate to ensure services are in place to support victims and intervene with perpetrators. Governments and law enforcement agencies need to be prepared to recognize that their policies and practice are directly prohibiting victims from reporting and be ready to make difficult and sweeping changes. Tokenism and messages of "togetherness" are not enough to solve hate crime. It is no secret in Hamilton that bias, racist, and oppressive practices are rampant in city council and police services; why would a victim report victimization to their abuser? A prime example of this is the current issue with HWDSB Trustees. It is clear from a victim perspective that racism is okay in hamilton and in hamilton schools. Studies are clear that this type of power hoarding and intentional disregard will perpetuate hate motivated thinking and behaviours among perpetrators. Further, hate crime will not be impacted in any meaningful way until there are sweeping changes in the police service. Year after year we see the treatment of marginalized citizens by police and rail against the overconfidence, power hungry, and militant practices. Yet, nothing changes and the city continues to cling to old ideas of law enforcement. Every time there is an incident such as the recent video of police lunging at a trans woman who was simply trying to explain her side of a story, there is a baffled response by government and police. That officer victimized an individual that is in a demographic that experiences the most violent forms of hate crime. Why would she report to police? Our police service and their practices perpetuate violence in our city and are nowhere near being able to address hate crime in any meaningful way. Such behaviour by officers is clearly acceptable and encouraged, otherwise it wouldn't happen, particularly when the officer knows they are on camera. It is important to note that hate crime has a reverberation effect that can be global in nature. This means that every victim who saw that video is now less likely to report to police and more likely to be victimized again. They are more likely to experience trauma and not recieve supports. When we call for defunding police, we don't mean get rid of the police. We mean redirect the overabundance of funding that allows for the purchasing of militarizing equipment and capital purchases to projects such as this that require significant, long term, sustainable funding of non-profits and grassroots groups to prevent incidents, support victims, educate the public, and intervene with perpetrators. Police would have to be involved less if the Hamilton City government adopted funding policies that were based on research and not fear.

Defund the HPS

The HPS (Hamilton police) have been shown to be guilty of targeting vulnerable populations and minorities in Hamilton. We need to start defunding them and re allocating the funds to help our community. They only act as bullies protecting private property. They do not help our community. The force has a huge systemic racism and sexism problem that cannot be solved with more money. It is deep rooted. We need new systems to address our community's issues.

hate needs to be taken seriously in all forms. mandatory equity and anti-oppression training for all city employees (especially police)

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.

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.

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

Offer City resources to support the growth of Restorative Justice programs in Hamilton

Offer start-up grants, office space or whatever is needed by those who would offer RJ programs. Review the leadership of Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council and Community Justice Initiatives and seek their guidance on emulating their work in Hamilton.

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

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.

Resources

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

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

Police should not be left alone with persons in crisis. Mentally ill people may have difficulty reporting abuse and need an advocate present

Police are currently allowed to physically and emotionally abuse prisoners before they transfer them to medical care, with the only witness being the victim. It's often difficult for a victim to revisit this trauma, and they may not have complaints taken as seriously as someone without a mental illness, making this system dangerous and unfair. A medical professional acting as patient advocate should be present to witness and report on abuse.

A more robust program to address mental health crises

The police force is constantly being sent in to deal aggressively and violently with mental health issues. They are not properly trained and do not know how to de escalate these scenarios. We need multiple teams of mental health experts that can be sent in to de escalate and provide specialized care to our community members with mental health challenges.

Advocation and Awareness

More awareness about the types of mental health disorders that people can have and where they are able to get help. Awareness to end the stigma around all types of mental health disorders and to encourage people who may need help to seek it.

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/

Make it possible to live without a car

Owning a car carries costs to the city, and individual. Make it possible to live without one by investing in transit and active transportation and eliminate minimum parking requirements for multi-tenant housing.

build affordable & supportive housing ASAP - change bylaws to permit modular housing

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.

Accessibility

Jobs are in Hamilton and there are a lot of jobs that are to be had however people's way of getting there may not be so good. if there was better access to public transportation and/or other ways to get to places in the city, more jobs may be had creating more stimulating in the Hamilton economy and more money for everyone.

Support for a Universal Basic Income and equitable access to post secondary education

Access to adequate income is a symptom of a much larger systemic problem. The City needs to actively join the voices of social services and citizens calling for the Provincial and Federal Government to step up and provide a universal basic income. Families works several jobs and still can't make ends meet. "Pulling up the boot straps" and working more is not a solution to earning more. Whether an individual is supported by Ontario Works or multiple jobs, they do not have the supports they need to meet their needs. OW perpetuates a cycle that is nearly impossible to get out of permanently. The City must champion our low-socioeconomic status citizens to our provincial and federal government for a Universal Basic Income. The Federal Government determined that people need a minimum of $2000 per month to pay basic expenses. This still falls short considering the cost of rent and food in our city. It is impossible in this forum to go into all of the nuances of how the current social support system is oppressive and prohibits people from getting out but here are a few points; - Being forced to take out enormous loans to attend post secondary school is prohibitive. The cost of school is not the only barrier facing those who cannot afford tuition. Equitable solutions that ensure people have a safe place to live, reliable transportation to campus, food, and mental health supports is just the beginning. However the income gap between those who have post secondary and those who do not is enormous and telling. - When leaving the OW system for employment, people are forced to take jobs that do not provide medical benefits, sick time, or vacation. These "privileges" are necessary for success for those suffering from mental health and addiction. Eventually, low income jobs cause loss of home, lack of adequate food to keep working, and stopping expensive medications that manage mental health conditions. They are also exploited by employers who threaten to fire them if they take sick time due to mental health. - The traveling necessary to find and maintain work in the city is prohibitive. Spending hours on buses to get to interviews or to get to work shifts on time is expensive and leaves no time for the other supports necessary to their wellbeing such as counselling appointments, methadone clinics, A.A. meetings, psychiatrist appointments, doctors appointments, etc. -Accessing subsidised or affordable child care is nearly impossible and often results in traveling an hour in one direction to drop a child off, then travelling an hour in another direction to get to work. Then parents feel stressed about getting to pick up their child on time and punished when they can't because of transit. - Those who have multiple jobs spend time traveling between jobs, balancing the demands of multiple exploitive bosses, and experience significant health issues resulting from long term stress and neglect of health/mental health. People generally want to work and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. Ensuring they can work and earn enough to support themselves, increases their capacity to contribute and reduces their reliance on emergency rooms, social services, etc. Again, the research is there. We just choose to ignore it. Canada is not the only country that studied this project.

Interim support for those who ‘fall through the cracks.’

Many people cannot access existing income supports at federal and provincial levels because they do not qualify, have used up their entitlements, are waiting long timeframes for decisions to be reached, or do not have the tools to navigate complex processes. The city needs to make interim income and social support available so people do not fall through the cracks and have to face eviction, hunger, family separation or unnecessary hardships.

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.

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