SAFETY AUDIT REPORT CARD SUMMARY

Transcription

1 SAFETY AUDIT REPORT CARD SUMMARY AUDIT DATE: June 29, 2011 AUDIT GROUP: TCHC residents 460 Jarvis St. AUDIT AREA: 460 Jarvis St. (interior of building; P1, lobby, 4 th floor, and outside 460 Jarvis St. Ward 27 Toronto Centre Rosedale Neighbourhood 75 Church Yonge Corridor EXECUTIVE SUMMARY METRAC s Safety Audit looks at how social and physical environments can make an area safe or unsafe. METRAC defines safety as freedom from the threat, fear, and experience of all kinds of violence, oppression, and discrimination. The Community Safety Audit was organized by residents of 460 Jarvis Street and TCHC staff. The audit was conducted by residents who live in the building who are concerned about their safety both within and outside of the building. The safety audit was conducted on the evening of June 29 th, 2011 and 13 residents participated. The area audited was the TCHC building at 460 Jarvis. The areas audited included the first parking level (P1), the lobby, the 4 th floor, the exterior of the building, and all of the floors of the apartment building. A representative from the City Councillors office, two staff members from TCHC and one staff member from Tobias House were also present. This neighbourhood has a higher population of youth (15 24) in comparison to the rest of the City and over half the population (72.5%) are of working age (25 64). 1 A majority of residents, 71%, live in rented units while 29% live in privately owned dwellings. 2 The top four safety priorities identified by participants were as follows: Drugs dealing in the building Poor lighting both inside and outside of the building Security features need to be improved Better maintenance of the building

2 WALKABOUT PHOTO SUMMARY

3 WALKABOUT PHOTO SUMMARY Need Mirror Need Mirror Label parking garage door to social services building Label intercom in garage to identify who will answer Remove garbage and bricks behind parking space #10 Need Mirror Jarvis Entrance Lights not working on wall Need larger window on door leading to parking garage Fence at Jarvis to prevent cars from going to back of building Light above garage door doesn t work No light on southside of garage door Hiding space Need Mirror Hincks Dellcrest damaged fence at rear by garbage bins Improve lighting on sides of both buildings Thin out branches at front Lock bricks from roof repairs Southside Fence barring access to back Remove handle on door on southside Fix lighting Outside lights on north and west side are not working Outside rear (west north), 2 side doors not labelled and hiding spot Lights not working

4 Need Mirror South space between two buildings does not have lights Remove handle No cameras People hang out here

5 Needs to be locked by 4 th floor security guard Fire exit not clear Door not locked Need Camera Need Mirror Sleeping spot Need Camera Need sign for hours Door Broken

6 Need lights Need to fix lights Need Lights Need to build fence between buildings Need lights Need lights

7 SAFETY PRIORITIES AREA PRIORITIES RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Drugs Dealing in Building Drug dealing in the building is negatively affecting residents and making people who live in the building feel very unsafe. Residents feel threatened by drug dealers and drug users. Drug users often use staircases and pull fire alarm to exit fire doors. 460 Jarvis St. Work with community members and organizations, City staff, TCHC staff and police to address drug dealing in the building. Organize meeting with tenants, local councillor, property manager, police and community organizations to discuss safety concerns and find solutions to address drug dealing in building. 2. Lighting Increase and fix lighting both inside and outside building, especially exterior lights, lights in P1 garage, and area between 460 Javis and Hincks Dellcrest building. 3. Security Increase and improve security measures, including installing security mirrors in corners of hallways, fixing hatch to roof, locks on doors, and hiring more security officers. 4. Maintenance Building needs repairs to be done, including fixing linoleum floors on floors 7 13, steel on 7 th floor, and fire hose compartments. Contact property manager to fix broken lights and install more lighting on property. Call the City at 311, and the Councillor about increasing lights that need to be fixed or added on City property near building. Contact TCHC to increase number of security officers on patrol. Contact property manager to install security mirrors, and fix hatch to roof and all locks on doors. Contact property manager to ensure regular maintenance and repairs are done, including fixing floors and that fire equipment is secure.

8 OVERVIEW OF SAFETY AUDIT RESULTS The information below is based on the results of the survey and comments made during the safety audit walkabout. Recommendations for action were both stated from participants and based on participants concerns. General Impressions D A majority of the participants felt very unsafe in the area and had many safety concerns. A Very Good B Good C Ok D Substandard F Poor SAFETY GRADE SAFETY CONCERNS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION CONTACT FEATURES LIGHTING D Participants stated that the general lighting in the area is very poor and that there are lights in the area that Increased and brighter lighting is needed throughout the interior and exterior of building, particularly at: Contact TCHC about installing more lighting throughout are broken. Exterior of building building. Many people said they are not able to see people from a distance and cannot clearly see signs, maps and walking paths in the area. Between 460 Jarvis and the Hincks Dellcrest building Contact Councillor about lights between 460 Jarvis and Hincks Dellcrest building. SIGNS and MAPS C Most participants said there are enough signs in the area and these are easy to understand. However people stated that signs and maps are not easy to find. Most participants stated that there are signs to show where to go for help in emergencies. Signs need to be placed in areas where all people can see them. Contact property manager about moving signs where people can see them.

9 ISOLATION D Some participants felt that the area felt isolated when they conducted the audit while others did not agree. Some people felt the area is full of people during the day. However, most participants stated the area is empty in the night. Half of the participants stated they did not think people would be able to hear them if they were screaming for help. Some participants stated there are not enough working payphones in area. All of the participants believed there are places where they could get trapped. Participants stated that the P1 garage level is not well used and is unsafe. Install emergency phones throughout the building Start a building watch group in the community so there are places people can go/call if they are in an emergency. Look at areas where people can get trapped and look at how to block off those areas. Resident suggested that parking spaces on P1 closest to the elevator should be reserved for women and tenants. Contact TCHC and property manager about installing emergency phones within the building. Contact Crime Prevention Association of Toronto (CPAT) and community members about starting a community watch group. Contact property manager about blocking off areas where people could get trapped and reserving parking spaces closest to the elevators. VISIBILITY D All of the participants stated that sharp corners, blind spots, walls, trees and bushes block their view. Many participants stated that cars and vehicles block their view. Add mirrors to areas where there are sharp corners and blind spots. Trim trees and bushes that block people s views Contact property manager to install security mirrors throughout building. Contact property manager to trim trees and bushes around building.

10 MAINTENANCE C The majority of participants stated that the area is clean and maintained. However, some participants stated that there is a lot of garbage and litter in the area. Many participants stated there is a lot of vandalism and/or graffiti in the area. One participant said there was hate slogans in the area. Most participants stated that there are signs showing who to call for maintenance issues. ACCESSIBILITY B Most participants felt that the area is accessible for individuals using wheelchairs and strollers. However a few participants stated there are not enough parking spaces for people with disabilities and not all doors in the building are automatic. SECURITY D Most of the participants felt there are working fire alarms and security features such as cameras in the area. However, all of the participants felt that there is a lack of security guards and many felt that the security guards Organize a community clean up to fix areas that have been vandalized or have graffiti. Compartments that store fire hoses need to have new locks installed. Repair doors on the electrical compartments on floors Lock the hatch to the roof on 15 th floor. Repair the wire screening on 15 th floor. Repair linoleum flooring on the 7 13 floors as it is buckling. Fix steel on 7 th floor. Clean area between 460 Jarvis and Hincks Dellcrest. Residents suggest erecting a fence to keep people out of that area. Ensure all doors to the building are accessible and have automatic doors that are working. Ensure there are enough parking spaces for people with disabilities in the parking lot. Install security mirrors in corners of hallways. Increase security guard presence and also possibly community police officers. Contact community members to organize community clean up. Contact property manager about building maintenance and repairs. Contact property manager to ensure all entrances are accessible and that there are enough accessible parking spaces. Contact property manager to install security mirrors in the hallways. Contact TCHC and local police unit to

11 were not helpful. Participants also stated that drug users use the staircases and sometimes pull the fire alarm to open the fire exit doors. have more security and community police in the building. COMMUNITY and PERSONAL SAFETY F All the participants stated they had experienced discrimination in the neighbourhood. This was due to gender identity, being transgendered and/or transsexual (66.7%), race/ethnicity (66.7%), speaking with an accent (33.3%), gender/sex (33.3%), immigration status (33.3%), religious beliefs (33.3%), sexual orientation (33.3%), and economic status (33.3%). The discrimination occurred through threats of physical violence (66.7%), verbal comments (66.7%), physical assault or injury (33.3%), phone calls (33.3%), glances or staring (33.3%), written comments (33.3%), being chased or followed (33.3%), discrimination at a job, housing, or accessing services (33.3%). The discrimination occurred at home (100%), on the street (50%), in the park (50%), on public transit (50%), at work (50%), at school (50%), at a store Organize anti discrimination workshops in the community Have a community forum where people can discuss safety concerns/needs in the community, such as the issue with drug dealers in the building. Invite community services providers, community leaders and the police to the forum. Meet with the local police department and TCHC to discuss the support needed to address the drug dealing that is occurring in the building. Contact municipal, provincial and federal elected representatives regarding the lack of community services in the area. Work with property manager and TCHC staff to beautify building and increase social activities for residents. Contact community members about holding community meeting about addressing discrimination issues. Contact the police, TCHC and your Councillor to work together to address the drug problem in the building. Contact all levels of government regarding an increase in community services and commitment to affordable housing, etc.

12 (50%), at a restaurant (50%), at a nightclub or bar (50%). One participant stated the discrimination happened at apartment unit 908. Of the participants who faced discrimination 66.7% told someone about the incident, including; family (100%), community worker (100%), friends (50%), police (50%), teacher (50%), employer (50%), colleague (50%), and neighbour (50%). Including other residents in the building. Half of all participants have heard/seen people discriminated against in the area. The reasons for discrimination were; disability, speaking with an accent, gender identity; being transgendered and/or transsexual, gender/sex, immigration status, race/ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and economic status. All of the participants stated that people make them feel unsafe in the neighbourhood. Participants specifically identified drug dealers as

13 people that make them feel unsafe. One participant specifically stated units 903, 1013 and Another participant also stated Drug dealers use the building at night, very weird scary people go into and out of the building. They just wait for somebody to open the entrance door and they come in and I don t dare tell them they are not allowed. One participant reported feeling unsafe in parks and another participant stated they felt unsafe in the lobby of 460 Jarvis. Participants stated the area needs more police (100%), food bank (66.7%), housing (33.3%), health care centres (33.3%), recreation centres (33.3%), youth services (33.3%), schools (33.3%), and libraries (33.3%). One participant noted that If we eliminate drug dealers the building will thrive. They noted that there should be more plants, trees and flowers in the building, more activities in the lobby and more information bulletins available to tenants, so that tenants can take their building back.

14 CONTACT INFORMATION CITY CONTACTS City Councillor: Kristyn Wong Tam Ward: 27 Address: 100 Queen Street West, Suite A5 Phone: Fax: Toronto Police Services Division 51 Division Address: 51 Parliament St. Phone: Fax: Website: Community Response Unit Manager: Staff Sergeant Rudy Pasini Phone: (416) Toronto (formerly Access Toronto) Phone: 311 TTY customers: @toronto.ca Website: Toronto (database of community services and organizations in Toronto) Phone: 211 TTY customers: Website: City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Website: City of Toronto Transportation Services Website: City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Website: Municipal Licensing & Standards (ML&S) Division Website: City of Toronto Apartment Standards Website:

15 Toronto Hydro Electric System (Streetlights) Phone: Website: Note: Contact about lights that are out and also that are blocked by trees/shrubs. Also try to have exact location of light (ie. poll # or area/road description. LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES 416 Community Support for Women Address: 416 Dundas St. E. Phone: Website: Council Fire Native Cultural Centre Address: 439 Dundas St. E. Phone: Website: COUNTERfit Harm Reduction Program South Riverdale Community Health Centre Address: 955 Queen St. E. Phone: Website: www. srchc.com Good Shepherd Ministries Address: 412 Queen St. E. Phone: Website: Health Bus Sherbourne Health Centre Address: 333 Sherbourne St. Phone: Website: Regent Park Community Health Centre Address: 465 Dundas St. E. Phone: Website: Salvation Army Maxwell Meighen Centre Address: 135 Sherbourne St. Phone: Website:

16 Street Health Address: 338 Dundas St. E. Phone: Website: St. John the Compassionate Mission Out of the Cold Meal Program Address: 155 Broadview Ave. Phone: Website: Woodgreen Community Services, Homelessness & Housing Help Services Address: 650 Queen St. E. Phone: Website: Native Women s Resource Centre Address: 191 Gerrard St. East, Toronto, ON, M5A 2E5 Phone: (416) Fax: (416) E Mail: jtaylor@nativewomenscentre.org Website: Sherbourne Health Centre Address: 333 Sherbourne St, Toronto, ON, M5A 2S5 Phone: amele@sherbourne.on.ca Website: Street Health Community Nursing Foundation AIDS Prevention and Harm Reduction Outreach Program Address: 338 Dundas St E. Toronto ON M5A 2A1 Phone: Fax: Website: Community Support Program for Women Address: 416 Dundas St, East, Toronto ON, M5A 2A8 Phone: Fax: Website: info@bellnet.ca

17 Toronto Council Native Fire Cultural Centre Address: 439 Dundas St, East, Toronto ON, M5A 2B1 Phone: Website: Neighborhood Information Post Parliament Street Public Library Address: 269 Gerrard St E, 2nd Fl, Toronto, ON, M5A 2G3 Phone: Website: Anishnawbe Health Toronto Gerrard Site Address: 179 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON, M5A 2E5 Phone: Website: Street Haven at the Crossroads Drop In Address: 87 Pembroke St, Toronto, ON, M5A 2N9 Phone: Website: All Saints Church Community Centre Drop In Address: 315 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON, M5A 2A2 Phone: Website: