The Next Steps Transitional Sh=
elter
Good Neighbour Agreement
GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT
AMONGST:
Ø
Ø
Ø CITY OF
Ø VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Ø
All parties are entering into =
this
agreement as we share a common desire to:
- Create a peaceful, law abiding, safe, and beautiful neighborhoo=
d;
- Maintain the value of neighbourhood properties, both residential
and business;
- Share open and honest communication;
- Help each other address concerns and solve problems;
Introduction
The Victoria Cool Aid
1. To help clients secure an
appropriate, affordable, long-term housing situation;
2. To help clients secure an inco=
me
adequate to maintaining self and housing; and
3. To connect clients to the
appropriate supports that will allow them to live independently.
VCAS
recognizes the important role that the neighbourhood at large can play in
helping its clients achieve their goals.&n=
bsp;
Cool Aid is a responsible and accountable neighbour. As such, it has entered into the
following Good Neighbour Agreement with the
This Good Neighbour Agreement guides the Cool Aid
The Community Liaison Committe=
e
The conditions of this agreement shall be overseen by a Community Liaison Committee, which shall consist of the following members:<= o:p>
1. Victoria Cool Aid
2. Victoria Police Department<=
/b> – 1 member
3. City of
4.
The Community Liaison Committee shall meet once a month
initially, with a review at the six month period as to the frequency of ong=
oing
meetings, always mindful of their overarching objective to maintain regular
communication to discuss emergent and ongoing issues.
Committee members will share their contact information w=
ith
each other and with the captains and co-captains of the neighbourhood
Blockwatch program.
Responsibilities of the Commun=
ity
Liaison Committee
The Community Liaison Committee is responsible for
communicating proactively with each other in order to develop solutions to
issues - -that may arise as a result of shelter operations and that have the
potential to impact the community. Members of the committee are expected to=
act
in good faith and to maintain transparency and accountability with each oth=
er.
The Community Liaison Committee will also be responsible=
for
developing an evidence-based plan for measuring the success of the agreemen=
t,
and for making this information available to the neighbourhood and to other
interested parties who might benefit.
Additionally, the Community Liaison Committee will be
responsible for planning, organizing, holding, and disseminating the
information from a public community meeting held once a month – or as
determined necessary by the committee - with the neighbours of the Dowler P=
lace
and surrounding area community.
Finally, members of the Community Liaison Committee are
responsible for ensuring that the organizations that they represent are
demonstrably accountable for the commitments made in this agreement.
Areas of Focus
§
§
§
§
Commitments of Represented
Organizations
1. Victoria Cool Aid
Property (
¨
Ensure
that Graffiti is removed in a timely manner, generally within 24 hours
¨
Maintain
the building and grounds in good condition, and promptly make any repairs
needed
¨
Keep
building and grounds clean of litter, neat in appearance
¨
Ensure
that staff and visitors to the shelter comply with parking by-laws and don’=
;t
infringe on parking for other residents
Safety
¨
Ensure
that law enforcement are called promptly if required
¨
Provide
24 hour on site staff, trained in crisis response
¨
Make
any necessary modifications to the exterior of the building to discourage
loitering and sleeping (e.g. enhanced exterior lighting to building and
grounds; alley way, security cameras)
¨
In
consultation with police and immediate neighbors, and in compliance with zo=
ning
and by-law regulations, erect appropriate fencing to ensure that the proper=
ty
cannot be used as a thoroughfare into other streets or properties
Conduct and Behaviour
¨
Impose
appropriate sanctions on any client who causes disruption in the immediate
neighbourhood (e.g. banning from the facility), involving the
¨
Ensure
that the rules governing the facility are strictly, promptly, and consisten=
tly
enforced (e.g. zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol on-site, no guest polic=
y)
¨
Assist
neighbours and neighbouring businesses in addressing incidents of shelter
clients behaving inappropriately, trespassing, or committing acts of vandal=
ism
on their properties
¨
Distribute
Cool Aid’s code of conduct for residents of Next Steps to surrounding
neighbours and businesses.
¨
Not
allow drop in capacity at this site, i.e. there will be no queuing for
available spots and all screening will be completed off site
¨
As
part of the client intake process, ensure that those who are accepted into =
the
Next Steps shelter program agree to conduct themselves as good neighbours. =
Communication
¨
Invite
neighbours and neighbouring businesses to proactively address any issues th=
at
may arise and make themselves available in a regular and accessible manner =
to
neighbours and neighbouring businesses
¨
Provide
surrounding neighbours,and businessesthe Next Steps phone number.
¨
Respond
in a timely manner to any identified issues
¨
Ensure
transparent communication occurs for any significant modifications to the
property or to the operational procedures of the facility
¨
Commit
to a gradual start-up process (5 persons) whereby a reduced number of resid=
ents
are brought in to start and the facility gradually works up to its capacity=
of
15 clients
2. The
Property
¨
Maintain
their buildings and grounds in good condition and promptly make any repairs
needed
¨
Keep
buildings and grounds clean of litter, neat in appearance
Safety
¨
Implement
and maintain an active Neighbourhood Block Watch group
¨
Take
appropriate measures to ensure the safety and proper maintenance of their
private properties
¨
Ensure
that incidents of shelter clients behaving inappropriately, trespassing, or
committing acts of vandalism on their properties are reported to Next Steps
shelter staff, police, blockwatch captain and team
¨
Advocate
to the City of
Communication
¨
Encourage
communication and cooperation between residential and business neighbours a=
nd
the Next Steps Transitional Shelter
¨
Attend
and actively participate in community meetings
¨
Blockwatch
captains, co-captains (team) will report incidents to Next Steps staff, and
Cool Aid representatives
¨
Ensure
that law enforcement is called promptly if required
3. Victoria Police Department Sha=
ll:
Safety
¨
Conduct
visits to the facility on an ad hoc and as needed basis
¨
Respond
promptly to requests for assistance to deal with illegal activities or
disruptive behavior
¨
Increase
(to the best of their ability) the visible presence of police, including
drive-by and foot or bike patrols
¨
Assist
the
¨
Provide
crime prevention information and advice to any neighbour or neighbouring
business who requests it
4. The City of
Safety
¨
Ensure
an adequate level of exterior lighting in the alley to the rear of the
¨
Respond
to neighbourhood concerns regarding the phone booth located on the corner of
Dowler and Bay Streets, and investigate its removal and/or relocation
Communication
¨
Select
a member to meet onsite monthly with the Community Liaison Committee. The
member will serve as a contact point between the Community Liaison Committee
and City of
¨
Through
their committee liaison member, invite residential and business neighbours =
to
proactively address any issues that may arise and make themselves available=
in
a regular and accessible manner to neighbours.
5. The
Communication
¨
Encourage
communication and cooperation between neighbours – residential and
business - and the Next Steps Transitional Shelter
¨
Be
responsible for ensuring that questions from the community at large are
addressed to the appropriate members of the Community Liaison Committee
¨
Provide
information to the community at large in a timely manner
Safety
¨
Lobby
Telus for the removal of the phone booth located on the corner of Dowler and
Bay Streets, in order to assist with the reduction of current and potential
traffic in that location and engage the City’s assistance in this
endeavor
Modifications to this Agreemen=
t
Changes to this agreement are subject to the agreement o=
f the
Community Liaison Committee members and final approval of any changes must
occur at a public meeting.
Accountability
§
This
agreement is written on the assumption that the Next Step Transitional Shel=
ter
conforms to the summary outline of the project as detailed in the attached =
Appendix 2. Cool Aid will provide the Community
Liaison Committee with a copy of the Next Step Transitional resident’s
code of conduct, and any Cool Aid procedures and documentation relating to =
§
Cool
Aid and the Next Steps Transitional shelter will uphold the practices that =
they
have committed to and provide regular status reports.
§
Cool
Aid will report publicly on the development of Next Steps through establish=
ed
mechanisms such as their Annual Report and Balanced Scorecard.
§
The
AGREED:
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Victoria
Cool Aid
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Victoria
Police Department Representative
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APPENDIX 1
APPENDIX 2
The Victoria Cool Aid
The Ne=
xt
Steps Transitional Shelter will provide an opportunity for emergency shelter clients to access the resources and services t=
hey
need to get their lives back on track. Such services might include housing,
employment, financial, life skills, and mentorship, as well as physical and
mental health services. Our experienced staff will work closely with indivi=
dual
participants to develop personal action plans designed to help them move to=
a
better place to live their lives. These plans aim to achieve three key
ingredients that are needed for a successful transition from a state of
homelessness to stabilized housing:
1) =
an appropriate, affordable, long-term housing
situation,
2) =
an income adequate to maintain self and housing=
, and
3) =
the appropriate supports to live independently.=
Our aim, through working together, is to insure
that each participant leaves Next Steps with somewhere to be, something to =
do,
and someone to talk to. In the end it is the people who use our services who
have to change their own lives but we can be there to help support and guide
them.
The Next Steps Transitional Shelter will be loc=
ated
at
The Next Steps program will accept participants
referred from our existing emergency shelters (Streetlink and Sandy
A good neighbor agreement will be developed
involving the North Park Neighborhood Association, City of
· =
No drop-in capacity at this site.
· =
On-site 24/7 staff available to participants and
neighbors.
· =
Lower tolerance for disruptive behaviors than in
primary shelters.
An information meeting, with an opportunity for
questions was held on Tuesday July 24th at 7:30 in the Victoria
Police Department’s Community Room. An open house at
The Next Steps program is being funded by BC
Housing and the
Good Neighbour Agreement-Next Step Transitional Shelter & Dowler
Place Neighbours