Keeping people safe & well

 

Hetherington Community Houses in Year 2007

 

Result of Gender

Result of Age     Knowledge of the community 33 percent of the respondents have lived in the community for more than 6 years. 31  percent of the respondents have lived in the community for more than three years. Together they form 63 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, 49 percent of respondents feel safe in the community as compared to 41 percent who feel unsafe. We find almost the same proportions among those who feel very safe (10 percent) and very unsafe (0 percent). However, in response to the next question, asking  if the respondents felt  safer now than two years ago, 57 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: August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “Its the same. No reason to worry about personal safety other than theft.” August 06, 2007 ·   “Not a big, but some improvement compared to 2 years ago.” August 06, 2007 ·   “Security somewhat improved.” August 06, 2007 ·   “not feeling safe, but is better than before.” August 06, 2007 ·   “relatively better than before.” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 06, 2007 ·   “No specific reason, but is quieter.” August 06, 2007 ·   “n/a” August 02, 2007 ·   “more patrolling” August 02, 2007 ·   “earned the respect of neighbours” July 19, 2007 ·   “in 2005, police cops is always in the area in which i dont know, what is going on in the area but during night some people get disturbed” July 19, 2007 ·   “there is more watching”   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. 86 percent consider drug dealing in their community as their prime concern following by gang activity (22 percent) and graffiti (4 percent). Violent crimes of most concern The community members took the liberty to add the following the to choices provided about crime-related concerns: August 02, 2007 ·   “Neglected children” August 02, 2007 ·   “none” August 02, 2007 ·   “none” August 02, 2007 ·   “mini motor bikes, broken glass scatterd everywhere” July 19, 2007 ·   “the children are at risk of beeing targetted”   Gangs  Participants who felt gangs were a problem were asked to choose their top three concerns. Responses varied from a majority of them (63 percent) saying due to gang activity there is an increased fear for safety, to 65 percent saying it leads to increase in drug crimes, to 12 percent considering it a source of public nuisance. Problems Associated with Gangs     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. 22 percent believed it is due to poverty, where as 51 percent believed it is due to lack of activities for youth. 53 percent selected family problems and 43 percent of the respondents indicated that the involvement of family or friends in gangs was a factor. 6 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: August 02, 2007 ·  “none” August 02, 2007 ·  “none” July 19, 2007 ·  “none around my house”   Violent Crime Types Participants were asked to identify the type of violent crime about which they are most concerned. 5 said Rape is the violent crime about which they are most concerned. 7 said Murder is the violent crime about which they are most concerned. 13 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. 11 said Prostitution is the crime about which they are most concerned. 34 said Burglary is the crime about which they are most concerned. 15 said Loitering is the crime about which they are most concerned.     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. 88 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. 10 percent believed that their child(ren) is at risk of getting involved. 0 respondents (0 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 76 percent score. However, 8 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 4 8% Working Hour 16 33% Evening 37 76% Late night 1 2%   Victim of Crime Resdidents were asked that have they been the victim of crime. According to our findings, 33 percent of respondents answered 'YES' while 67 percent answered 'NO' .     Tenant Association Resdidents were asked that are they involved in tenant association. According to our findings, 2 percent of respondents answered 'YES' while 98 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? all of heatherington, Fairlea South end ---------- all over after dark ---------- no ---------- All of heatherington as well as south end fairlea ---------- All areas after dark ---------- No ---------- none ---------- No ---------- No ---------- Corner f 1440 Heatherington, going to strip mall ---------- No ---------- Ledbury ----------   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? No - Within our home ---------- No - ---------- no - ----------   Q. If you think there are dangerous areas in your community, where are they? Why dangerous? every where - ---------- none to my knowledge - ---------- coming home late at night you see the problems strange people asking do you have cigarettes which could brink to stealing, assault, and possible death running up behind you. - uncertain what will happen ---------- i think this community is dancgerous because of racial slurs and to much noise from drunkeness. I could say the whole area is little safe for tenants - lack of consant community involvement is the prection of the area. ---------- Fairlea - children playing and socialising in parking lots as well as infront of my house ---------- everywhere - drugs ---------- Fairlea - To many gangs arriving ---------- border between ottawa-carleton wnpo corporation and public housing - kids loitering for hours ---------- none to my knowledge - ---------- enter neighborhood late night you spot strange people - uncertain what will happen ---------- i believe this community is dangerous due to the racial slurs and plenty of noise from drunkenness - Lack of constant community involvement as well as protection ---------- Other side of heatherington - Drug trafficing and young mothers using drugs along with drug abusing boyfriends ---------- Strip mall area - Selling of drugs ----------   Q. What types of recreation programs, family-oriented activities, or other activities would you like to see in the community? -arcades -skating rinks -more community involvement ---------- -music/dances -arts ---------- CPR courses, discussion groups ---------- Community counseling and other motivating activities for childrien during summer. That is to make them busy. ---------- Youth groups, homework clubs, book clubs, sports facilities for youth and children, eg. basketball, football teams, coached by an induvidual with experience and youth skills. ---------- Arcades , skating rinks, more community involvment ---------- Programs for youth (eg. sports teams) festivals ---------- music , dance , arts club ---------- community counseling and other motivating activities for children during the summer to keep them busy ---------- More activities for adolecents such sports, for example basketball and hockey teams, in order to keep them busy and also healthy. ---------- Bingo nights Open gym Game nights ---------- Family picnics with games (eg. tug of war) Eating contests, Bake-offs Winter carnivals Live music band ---------- Barbeques concerts family oriented activies more community involvment ---------- More activities for youth. ----------   Q. What type of activity do you think will be suitable for bringing the community out for meeting on weekly basis? i love the size of my house! ---------- Youth need to be encouraged to play at parks and basketball courts, rather than parking lots. There is to much idle behavior ---------- family oriented. ----------

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

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