Community Capacity Building

Tenant Outreach and Education Initiative (TOEI)

Research | Public Consultation | Strategic Planning | Communication

Efforts to ensure that Hamilton residents have access to safe, secure and permanent housing has become increasingly important in the last few decades. One central effort to improve the conditions of housing in the city has been lead by the Hamilton Tenant Education Project (HTEP) and their Tenant Outreach and Education Initiative (TOEI). The primary objective of the Initiative is to build community capacity to prevent homelessness by developing a more informed and involved tenant population in the Hamilton region. After a number of years working to improving housing issues, the members of the Initiative commissioned the CCS to prepare an evaluation report of the functions of the organization, with suggestions for future growth and development. Additionally, the CCS has assisted the TOEI Steering Committee develop a vision, strategic objectives and a communication plan for the project.

Campus Town Association

Research | Public Consultation | Strategic Planning | Community Revitalization

West Hamilton features two of the city’s most distinctive and attractive areas: the McMaster University campus and the Ainslie Wood/Westdale commercial and residential neighbourhoods. These two areas form one community with common concerns, issues, challenges and opportunities. A number of leaders within this community have come together with a vision of fostering and building one of Canada’s great campus neighbourhoods. Campus Town Association (CTA) is made up of McMaster University, the Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners (AWWCA) and the Westdale Village Business Improvement Association (BIA). The CCS worked with the CTA to gather community input on neighbourhood priorities and to help strategize the implementation of their vision, mission and objectives.

Hamilton Trees and Parks Foundation

Research | Policy Analysis | Strategic Planning

There is growing interest in Hamilton to protect, enhance and promote the health of the urban forest and to renew and improve the local system of municipal parks, natural areas and related facilities. Building on this momentum, a stakeholder group was formed to facilitate the development of a Hamilton Trees and Park Foundation. Members of this group include the City of Hamilton, Environment Hamilton, the Mountainview Residents’ Association, Green Venture, and the Hamilton Community Foundation. The CCS was contracted by this stakeholder group to assemble a discussion paper on the opportunities for a Hamilton foundation.

YWCA

Research | Strategic Planning | Data Analysis | Spatial Analysis

The YWCA of Hamilton plans to establish a new facility in the West Mountain area of Hamilton. In order to better understand the community that this facility will serve, the CCS designed and developed a community profile of the area based on 2006 Census Canada data. The profile highlighted the particular demographic characteristics of the community and was designed to assist the YWCA with their financial and organizational planning.