A Safe Place to Land
Developing Resiliency in "the Bull Shit Free Zone"
Today’s Agenda Introductions Fyfe Avenue Our Goals Our Program (OHC CI Tool) Tenant Story What We’ve Seen What We’ve Heard What Next?
Feel free to ask questions at any time during the presentation.
The Fyfe Tenants •56 unit apartment building •Owned by the County of Oxford •Male and female tenants, living on fixed incomes ranging in age from youth to seniors •Many have been categorized into stigmatizing groups: low-income, poor, addicted, mentally ill, unemployed, disabled, “welfare” recipients
For several years, tenants had open access to the lounge; unfortunately the County of Oxford was forced to lock the doors due to repetitive issues with interpersonal conflicts and property damage.
The Fyfe Project •Began as a shared vision to enhance community capacity building while decreasing conflict at the geared-to-income apartment, commonly known as “Fyfe” •The lounge aka “The Bullshit Free Zone”‘s hope is to be a safe place for tenants to visit each week for social time and for personal growth experiences •Tenants are encouraged to share their concerns, hopes, and dreams for their community; providing input towards all programming
WACHC Strategic Plan: •Decrease stigma •Work with a neighbourhood in Woodstock to address one risk factor identified by that community
Fyfe Avenue: Our Goals a)
To build trusting relationships with the tenants
b) To identify and foster strength and leadership capacity within the community c)
To promote and provide activities that support a positive social/emotional climate amongst tenants
d) To work in partnership with the County of Oxford Human Services (aka Social Services and Housing)
We’re Going to A.O.H.C. •(make sure they know) the lounge is awesome •I think we’ve all come a long way in a short while •Great improvement in how people get along •Yay! Say good things about us! •It’s cool that you get to talk about this
Fyfe Avenue: Our Program Creating a safe space Weekly Events Tenant Initiatives; in lounge and out Therapeutic Listening Mediation Resources, Referrals, Advocacy Formal and informal supports
Fyfe Avenue: Our Program The OHC Community Initiatives Tool
Fostering Community Identity •Many tenants have been categorized into stigmatizing groups such as low-income, poor, addicted, mentally ill, unemployed, disabled, “welfare” recipients •Their community identity seems to be characterized through language that not only marginalizes, but sustains oppression •They were losing their sense of community and were becoming a group of individuals, not a community sharing a space
A once “harmonious” group is now described as “troubled” Our goal is to identify and foster strength and leadership capacity within this community, and to help the tenants redefine themselves
Fyfe Avenue: Our Program The OHC Community Initiatives Tool
Enabling Community Leadership •The community has experienced significant changes over several years •Tenants bring skills and resources to their community •Our role is to help unearth the strengths that already exist and help build capacity •Capacity includes: the existence of resources, network and/or relationships, leadership, and support for collective action and problem solving (Lafreniere, 2012)
We want to shift the focus of attention away from needs onto the assumption that all communities possess some degree of strengths and that these strengths are essential for effective interventions Smith, et al., 2001
Fyfe Avenue: Our Program The OHC Community Initiatives Tool
Building and Utilizing Structures and Relationships •We are committed to building trusting relationships while remaining cognizant of our “visitor status” at Fyfe •Using an empowerment framework •Clarity, engagement and transparency are key •Through WACHC’s presence at the lounge, increased visits, first quarter 279 contacts, second quarter increased by 25; and tenants started to stay longer, from 17 minutes in the first quarter to nearly double the time, 30 minutes, by the third quarter
The process is as important as the product. One might say the process is the product Devol, 2004
The process at Fyfe is about building relationships
Fyfe Avenue: Our Program The OHC Community Initiatives Tool
Addressing Resilience and Healing • Collectively, tenants have experienced many changes •“People coming and going all the time” •Four neighbours have died this past year •Providing a safe place for tenants to use their voice is a pivotal step in healing, individually and as a community •“I love coming here on Thursday’s because nothing matters, but it does. Things are important but coming in this room, I can just be me.” ~Fyfe Tenant
These qualitative types of results, the reopening of the lounge and WACHC’s role in that, may be difficult to quantify, but certainly reinforce the benefits to those living at Fyfe
Fyfe Avenue: Our Program “hanging out and creating a nonthreatening, trusting role” is central “It takes time to develop relationships and trust. It takes a lot of cups of tea” A Milosevic, Centretown CHC
Introductions.
Tenant Story Meet Joan and John
161 Fyfe Our Goals Our Program Tenant Story What We’ve Seen What We’ve Heard What Next?
Fyfe Avenue: What We’ve Seen •Leaders emerge •Relationships begin, strengthen, and end •Saying things out loud •Coffee club growing •Tensions relieved, flair ups occur, and tensions relieved again •Using internal resources •Understanding and empathy •Congratulations and celebrations
Fyfe Avenue: What We’ve Heard •….the staff made me feel like I matter and I am a somebody •I look forward to going into the BS free room because I can laugh, cry, or just sit quietly, and it is okay •…I was given a lot of good, useful information •…I can yell, scream, cry, have a good time, do whatever and it’s okay
•I feel like people are trying to work things out; there’s less yelling and screaming and more putting it out on the table
What We’ve Heard – The Good “What We Like”
•Bingo, baking, coffee, and fresh fruit •The Staff (WACHC) •“Pet Talk”, when guests come in •Good Conversation •“the people, we have a good time” •“I’ve only been once but have heard laughter, companionship, and stories” •Good place to get information-about anything!
What We’ve Heard – The Bad “What We Don’t Like”
•Keep the lounge closed •Only the “coffee club” goes to the lounge (elite group) •Some people only go for the food and “it’s the same people”
What We’ve Heard – The Ugly “What We Want to Change”
•Get more people involved, attending the lounge •More advertising of events • Word of mouth is good but not enough •….I don’t think we’re there yet (opening the lounge full time). I think every person in here has more growing to do. •You should stay open later
What We’ve Heard – The Future “What We Want Would Like to See”
•Open more than once a week •Garden Balcony Awards again •Hope the lounge remains open and some of the (survey) suggestions are acted on •No more gossiping and talking behind people’s backs •More potlucks and group events
Fyfe Avenue: What’s Next? Tenant Survey-completed in May 2013 Partnership Committee and Tenant Conversation Group Continue to strengthen relationships/partnerships and encourage transparency across the board Continue to define roles of WACHC, County of Oxford And Fyfe tenants as change agents for the Fyfe Project
Next Steps Foster community identity Enable community leadership Develop skills and resources Build and utilize structure and relationships Address resilience and healing Share experiences by supporting a safe space
Final Thoughts… •Often we look to traditional methods to work together to solve problems and build capacity and agency. We need to encourage alternative methods by co-creating and encouraging “safe spaces” by creating opportunities to share a voice, not just through the spoken word. This is an important consideration in working with those that have been silenced through oppression. •Fyfe has provided a rich learning opportunity for everyone involved. The project created tangible and intangible solutions to a complex problem. What is abundantly clear is that this fragile marginalized community has begun the journey of healing with the support of many players, most importantly themselves.
Questions? Comments? Ideas!
References
DeVol, Philip E. (2004). Using the Hidden Rules of Class to Create Sustainable Communities. Aha! Process Inc Lafreniere, G. (2012, April 30). Capacity Building, community readiness, critical theory, and macro intervention [lecture] SK501. Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener, Ontario. Smith, N. & Littlejohns, B.L. & Thompson, D. (2001). Shaking out the cobwebs: Insights into community capacity and its relation to health outcomes. Community Development Journal 36 (1), 30-41.