Keeping people safe & well

 

Heatherington 1455 in Year 2006

 

Result of Gender

Result of Age     Knowledge of the community 47 percent of the respondents have lived in the community for more than 6 years. 18  percent of the respondents have lived in the community for more than three years. Together they form 66 percent of the respondents respondents who have a good knowledge of present and past community life.   Perception of Safety Assessing the feeling of safety was given priority in the survey. An attempt was made right from the fourth question in the questionnaire asking them how safe do the respondents feel in the community. According to our findings, 32 percent of respondents feel safe in the community as compared to 53 percent who feel unsafe. We find almost the same proportions among those who feel very safe (8 percent) and very unsafe (8 percent). However, in response to the next question, asking  if the respondents felt  safer now than two years ago, 71 percent responded ´No.´ This indicates a shift in perception when community members are asked to consider their beliefs about safety over a specific period of time. Community members felt safer than 2 years ago because they think: October 04, 2006 ·   “There seems to be less noise and young people entering the building.” October 04, 2006 ·   “Now I am meeting new people.” October 04, 2006 ·   “There must be a strong law enforcement than before.” October 03, 2006 ·   “No problem.” October 03, 2006 ·   “It is safe.” October 03, 2006 ·   “I know more people” October 03, 2006 ·   “it is safe.” October 03, 2006 ·   “I mind my own business” October 03, 2006 ·   “I stay to myself. I don't bother anyone. They don't bother me.” October 03, 2006 ·   “I am getting out of my apartment more and meeting people so there are some I can feel I can call on now.” October 03, 2006 ·   “Because it was a seniors bldg when I moved in 1900.”   Violent Crimes Residents were asked to select their top three concerns from a list that ranged form violent crime to graffiti. Table 2 below discloses the results to Question 6 on the survey: Please pick the top three concerns that you have about your community, if there are any. 55 percent consider drug dealing in their community as their prime concern following by gang activity (45 percent) and graffiti (34 percent). Violent crimes of most concern The community members took the liberty to add the following the to choices provided about crime-related concerns: October 04, 2006 ·   “Harassment on buses.” October 04, 2006 ·   “Not enough security. Need 24 hour security guard at front door. Confronted 2 children 5-6 year boys with no adult. They were told to wait in lobby. Escorted out.” October 04, 2006 ·   “Lack of response to urgent requests for personal safety crises when they arise.” October 03, 2006 ·   “Loud talk on balcony at night. smoke cigeratte on balcony.” October 03, 2006 ·   “n/a” October 03, 2006 ·   “Overcrowding” October 03, 2006 ·   “Always talk about Somalis.” October 03, 2006 ·   “Young people are not made to feel welcome. Most conversations are about want to accept the change.” October 03, 2006 ·   “n/a” October 03, 2006 ·   “This scares me because I feel like there are bad people around.” October 03, 2006 ·   “I have had no problems living here but can see these things which spell trouble brewing.” October 03, 2006 ·   “Lots of graffiti, it drives me nuts. The Attitude they have, the right to deface my lineage. It is embarassing to my relatives.”   Gangs  Participants who felt gangs were a problem were asked to choose their top three concerns. Responses varied from a majority of them (45 percent) saying due to gang activity there is an increased fear for safety, to 42 percent saying it leads to increase in drug crimes, to 32 percent considering it a source of public nuisance. Problems Associated with Gangs   The respondents added the following to the list of problems which gangs pose to the community: October 04, 2006 ·  “If there are any gangs, it would be because of the reasons pointed out in question 8.” October 04, 2006 ·  “Constantly requesting door opening” October 03, 2006 ·  “N/A” October 03, 2006 ·  “I haven't seen any gangs.” October 03, 2006 ·  “I haven't noticed any.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Loud yelling” October 03, 2006 ·  “I haven't seen any gangs” October 03, 2006 ·  “Lack of respect for property”   Why Gangs The next question (#8) further probed the respondents to find out  the possible reasons for gang related activity. The participants were asked to pick three reasons why they believe gang activity exists in their community. The response was amazing, as we can see from the following graph. 37 percent believed it is due to poverty, where as 42 percent believed it is due to lack of activities for youth. 32 percent selected family problems and 13 percent of the respondents indicated that the involvement of family or friends in gangs was a factor. 18 percent indicated that the need for protection was a factor in the existence of gang activity in their neighborhood. Reasons of Gang Existance   The respondents added the following to the list: October 04, 2006 ·  “As a society, we have institutionalzed the neglect” October 04, 2006 ·  “n/a” October 03, 2006 ·  “n/a” October 03, 2006 ·  “If ther is any” October 03, 2006 ·  “n/a no gangs” October 03, 2006 ·  “No gangs.”   Violent Crime Types Participants were asked to identify the type of violent crime about which they are most concerned. 37 said Rape is the violent crime about which they are most concerned. 2 said Murder is the violent crime about which they are most concerned. 4 said Gang Related is the violent crime about which they are most concerned.     Crime Types Participants were asked to identify the types of crime about which they are most concerned. 38 said Prostitution is the crime about which they are most concerned. 2 said Burglary is the crime about which they are most concerned. 3 said Loitering is the crime about which they are most concerned.   The respondents added the following to the list: October 03, 2006 ·  “Loitering, Public drunkenness” October 03, 2006 ·  “Public Drunkenness. I don't like when guys insist on talking to me even though I try to avoid them.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Loitering, public drunkenness, noise.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Loitering, assault” October 03, 2006 ·  “Public drunkenness. I don't feel comfortable getting on the elevators when people are drunk and when there is pee in the elevators.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Public drunkenness, vandalism” October 03, 2006 ·  “Public drunkenness.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Loitering, Noise.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Burglary, loitering.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Assault, rape, robbery, burglary, car theft.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Assault, car jacking, vandalism, loitering.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Robbery, burglary, loitering.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Car theft.” October 03, 2006 ·  “Gang related” October 03, 2006 ·  “Loitring” October 03, 2006 ·  “Assault, murder, prostitution, burglary” October 03, 2006 ·  “Assault, prostitution, public drunkness, noise, vandalism” October 03, 2006 ·  “Roberry, car-jacking, noise” October 03, 2006 ·  “drugs, robbery, gang-related.” October 04, 2006 ·  “I don't know why it is not a crime to be locked out at night (fob) and why OCH can't be held responsible.”   Risk of getting involved in a gang In question 13, respondents were asked if they believed that their children were in a gang, at risk of being in a gang or not involved. 84 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. 5 percent believed that their child(ren) is at risk of getting involved. 3 respondents (8 percent) did not respond to this question.     Times When Residents Are Most Concerned About Crime Participants were asked to identify the time of the day when they are most concerned about crime. Later night was identified as the time when people most fear violent crime in the study area, garnering a 24 percent score. However, 24 percent of respondents selected day time/working hours, substantiating anecdotal accounts of drug activity occurring in broad daylight. Table 2. Time Residents Are Most Concerned with Crime   Corinthian   Total Percent Morning 9 24% Working Hour 4 11% Evening 9 24% Late night 2 5%   Victim of Crime Resdidents were asked that have they been the victim of crime. According to our findings, 26 percent of respondents answered 'YES' while 74 percent answered 'NO' .     Tenant Association Resdidents were asked that are they involved in tenant association. According to our findings, 21 percent of respondents answered 'YES' while 79 percent answered 'NO' . Like to be involved in Tenant Assosciation       Feedbacks Q. Is there a particular street or block you prefer to avoid when traveling to and from the community? The stores where people always hang around. ---------- Fron the store, because along eh street they are all backyards. If I needed help, there is no door to run and knock on. ---------- Not sure. ---------- Between Bank/Walkly and Russell Road ---------- I don't travel alone anywhere. ---------- No. ---------- No. ---------- Prosect and Park area - long strethch - if you needed help, couldn't get any. ---------- Heatherington St. ---------- The Street of Heatherington ---------- No ---------- No ---------- All the same. ---------- Kitchener street. Incident-relating. ---------- No, but people are in our stairwells. ----------   Q. Have you ever been the victim of a crime in this neighborhood? What type of crime were you the victim of? Are you comfortable with describing what happened? Where did this crime occur? I asked a man to pick up his garbage that he threw down. He started yelling and swearing at me - I was scared. - ---------- The person was aware of his problem but presisted on being an ignorant abusive threatening. - Heatherington Road. ---------- Not really. - My home. ---------- Someone enter my apartment and steel food, cigerettes every time I leave. - ---------- Well, I just moved here and getting to know people well. I was talking to this person for a while. Seems nice. He had invited me for coffee. Just that, I never seen that coffee. - Here in the building ---------- Assault and it was because of OCH lack of fixing my key problem. They knew and they don't care. - Several times alone between the doors and the inside door. ---------- While walking Kitchener street in day light, a purse snatching. - ---------- Gangs stocing me and trying to jump on me when there are more than 2 or 3 of them. - Night or day time. ---------- No. - 1999 ----------   Q. If you think there are dangerous areas in your community, where are they? Why dangerous? See above - ---------- Stairwells and side doors - People hanging out there. ---------- Children's playground on Heatherington crescent - Teenagers hang out there. ---------- yes, all. - ---------- Heatherington/Gore Private/Fairlea Crescent - Because of their lack of feeling. ---------- In the backside of the building there is no good light. - ---------- Heatherington and Kilborn/Clayfau area - Crimes and noise. Fighting. ---------- Heatherington/Albion - Drugs and gangs ---------- Kitchener Stree to al the way to Fairlea Street. - Because there were a couple of attacks in the area. ---------- Pretty much every kwhere. But here is one of them across in the project. - Due to gangs. ---------- Everywhere. - Criminals know I cann't get help when I need it. ---------- Lounge, laundry room, all stairwells and 15th floor. - ---------- The store and park. - That's where the gangs are. ---------- Heatherington Park - ----------   Q. What types of recreation programs, family-oriented activities, or other activities would you like to see in the community? Picnics, BBQs, Talent Nights ---------- Multi-cultural activities - we need to learn to interact with each other and make all cultures feel welcome. ---------- I don't know ---------- I don't know. ---------- don't know ---------- BBQs, Crafts, communtiy suppers. ---------- Dancing, movies. ---------- Talent night. ---------- Don't like crowds. ---------- Fall and winter dances once a month on a Saturday. ---------- BBQs. Potluck dinners. ---------- Dances ---------- Movie night. Chat time, Dances. ---------- Street dances, garage sales, festivals. ---------- - Guitar. - Checkers. - Togetherness and friendliness. ---------- Bingo, Cards, potluck dinners. ---------- Everything something is started by the TA, no one joins. ---------- Multi-cultural dinner/parties ---------- BBQ, Sport teams, games. ---------- Once a month, there should be an activity that people put their ideas in a box and we pcik one and do it. Could be as simple as going to a nice park somewhere to have a picnic to going to a place that we all could have fund. ---------- I owuld like to see more personal assistance given to those who are not fully functional to care for themselves i.e., shopping, cooking, emotional support. ---------- exercise program ---------- BBQ ---------- Community centre for kids. ----------   Q. What type of activity do you think will be suitable for bringing the community out for meeting on weekly basis? Games where all ages can play. ---------- We have coffee and tea hours. May be have something from other cultures to eat or drink at the same time. ---------- I don't know. ---------- don't know ---------- Cofee hour. More than once a week. ---------- Game night (bingo). Coffee Time. Breakfast gatherings. BBSs. ---------- Breakfast Hour. Tea (weekly) Crafts, etc. ---------- Potluck dinners. BBQ dinners. Dances. ---------- Potlucks, street dances, talk, BBQ., cleaning Day. ---------- Unfortunately alcohol and drugs would work because of the "people" that live here. ---------- Baking sessions. ---------- Same answer as for 18. ---------- Going to a place for coffee. BBQs. Games. Watch movies. Make a dance party. There are somethings, I owuld like ot have such as a professional person showing peopme how to relieve themselves of stress. ---------- exercise program, music Dance. ---------- Free Food ----------

2005-07 South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community
Centre du sud-est dOttawa pour une communaut en sant

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