Programs & Services > Social Reform > The Role of Community Infrastructure in Building Strong Neighbourhoods
The Role of Community Infrastructure in Building Strong Neighbourhoods
The Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force (SNTF) has released Family Service Toronto's report on the Role of Community Infrastructure in Building Strong Neighbourhoods. This report is one of six research products produced by SNTF.
SNTF, established in May 2004 with support from the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, is a joint initiative of the United Way of Toronto and the City of Toronto. The Task Force brings together private, labour and community sector leaders as well as representatives from the City of Toronto and the Governments of Ontario and Canada. Through current research SNTF aims to determine:
- the key socio-economic factors that determine a community's strength and challenges and how they can be influenced to achieve stronger communities
- the best practices to engage neighbourhoods in addressing their challenges while building on their strengths
- the characteristics of an effective neighbourhood investment plan
- the mechanism for government to coordinate investments to improve neighbourhoods and quality of life
The Social Reform Unit of Family Service Toronto, as a leader in the community and social service sector of the city, was one of the key contributors to six reports commissioned by the Task Force. Through conducting a review of the literature, one-on-one case studies, interviews and consultations with various stakeholders, FST's Social Reform produced its final report in February, 2005, with a focus on The Role of Community Infrastructure in Building Strong Neighbourhoods.
Divided into five sections, the report defines and explains the role of community infrastructure and its structural components; analyzes three different organizations in Toronto (the Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Community Centre, Tropicana Community Services and Family Service Toronto); gives three examples of success (from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada); and concludes with a review of main factors that make community infrastructure effective.
According to the report findings, the key factors that make community infrastructure more effective are:
- The clusters of community infrastructure are most effective when there is a resilient social safety net, situated in inclusive social policies that provide the basic necessities (such as food and emergency shelter)
- The challenge of securing sufficient, predictable and flexible funding is central to the effectiveness of community infrastructure
- Effective community infrastructure requires suitable, secure physical plant and outdoor space in neighbourhoods across the city to foster the development of inclusive communities
- Effective, sustained and explicit involvement of the community (groups and individuals) is needed at all levels of community infrastructure organizations.
- Effective community infrastructure has the capacity to document and assess its successes and shortcomings
To discuss our report on the role of community infrastructure, please give us a call at 416-595-9230, ext. 228. Or Read full report (HTML, printer friendly format)
The Task Force works to understand the conditions that both strengthen and weaken neighbourhoods, the indicators of community stress and the scope of community infrastructure. It will build an action plan for strong neighbourhoods in Toronto, identify community investment models that will leverage and coordinate resources from all three levels of government, and advocate for change. It will also develop tools to determine neighbourhood assets and challenges to help neighbourhoods build on strengths and enhance quality of life in the city.
Learn more about the Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force
