Documents & Publications

Description of CRUNCH

Along with various partners and collaborators, CRUNCH is interested in outcomes related to neighbourhood-level action to improve vulnerable groups in communities, training of practitioners in neighbourhood intervention research, and improving knowledge translation for decision-makers and the community. Current projects are Regent Park Redevelopment, GTA West Social Housing & Health, Hamilton Neighbourhoods, Income Inequality & Population Health, and Built Environment & Health.

"Poverty By Postal Code" Presentation

This Power Point presentation accompanies audio files. Hamilton has large neighbourhood disparities with concentrated areas of marginalized people, which often leads to a self-perpetuating “deprivation amplification”. Place-based policy has great potential to target concerns in defined areas by specifically addressing social problems, individual disadvantages, and neighbourhood disparities. While there are rationales both for and against place-based policy, Canada should learn from early-adopters (e.g. UK) to reduce the gap between deprived communities and the national average.

Poverty By Postal Code Audio 10 MB

This 56-minute MP3 file accompanies the Power Point presentation. Hamilton has large neighbourhood disparities with concentrated areas of marginalized people, which often leads to a self-perpetuating “deprivation amplification”. Place-based policy has great potential to target concerns in defined areas by specifically addressing social problems, individual disadvantages, and neighbourhood disparities. While there are rationales both for and against place-based policy, Canada should learn from early-adopters (e.g. UK) to reduce the gap between deprived communities and the national average.

Poverty By Postal Code Audio 23 MB

This high quality 56-minute MP3 file accompanies the Power Point presentation. Hamilton has large neighbourhood disparities with concentrated areas of marginalized people, which often leads to a self-perpetuating “deprivation amplification”. Place-based policy has great potential to target concerns in defined areas by specifically addressing social problems, individual disadvantages, and neighbourhood disparities. While there are rationales both for and against place-based policy, Canada should learn from early-adopters (e.g. UK) to reduce the gap between deprived communities and the national average.

"Urban Development Agreements" Presentation

Neil Bradford from the Department of Political Science at University of Western Ontario discusses the benefits of Urban Development Agreements. New Urban Poverty is spatially concentrated, complex with multiple stressors, and requires holistic solutions. While there has been much study and discussion, short-term pilot projects by the federal government, and front line work by municipalities and communities, Canada is lacking in follow-up, strategic action and a collaborative approach. Urban Development Agreements uses “multi-level governance” to work on place-based policies along with community organizations and local residents for solutions. Core features are discussed in further detail, as well as internationally recognized models in Vancouver and Winnipeg. There is great potential for a Canada-Ontario-Hamilton UDA and many opportunities and challenges. The values of UDA include improved inter-governmental relationships with the relevant support, stability for long-term planning, and funding used strategically to maximize impact.

Urban Development Agreements Audio 9 MB

This 47-minute MP3 file accompanies the presentation given by Neil Bradford.

Urban Development Agreement in Vancouver

Nathan Edelson, having worked as a planner talks in detail the internationally recognized model of the Urban Development Agreement in Vancouver, with a particular focus in the Downtown Eastside. He discusses the ways in which revitalization can occur without displacement. This audio file is 1:35:45 (hh:mm:ss) in duration.

Code Red: One Year Later

Dr. Michael Hayes from the University of Victoria recounts growing up in the neighbourhoods of Hamilton, dropping out of school, and how extraordinary mentors provided him opportunities to lead him back to the right direction. He relates his story to socioeconomic classes and income disparities, living in relative inequity, as well as the consequences on mortality and health. Dr. Hayes suggests that the best prescription for health for individuals in Code Red neighbourhoods is perhaps a caring community.

Canadian Marginalization Index User Guide

The user guide of a census- and geographically-based index which explores dimensions of marginalization in urban and rural Canada, and may be used for purposes of planning and needs assessment, resource allocation, monitoring of inequities and research.

Ontario Marginalization Index User Guide

The user guide of the Ontario-specific version of the Canadian Marginalization Index, which is a census- and geographically-based index which explores dimensions of marginalization in urban and rural Canada, and may be used for purposes of planning and needs assessment, resource allocation, monitoring of inequities and research.

Toronto Social Housing and Health Study Phase 1 results. Community Report

This project aims to revitalize the social housing community known as Regent Park into a mixed-income, mixed-use neighbourhood to build healthy communities to improve the health and well-being of tenants. At the first interview, all participants were living in their relocation unit, and at the second interview, all participants had been living in their new unit for at least one year. Results from Phase 1 demonstrated that participants experienced positive changes in areas related to housing and neighbourhood improvements, such as housing and neighbourhood satisfaction, personal safety and fear of crime.