Poverty, violence and vandalism

[editor]

Poverty, violence and vandalism
BY: Diane Elms
 
When will it end?  A head’s up on the waste of half a million dollars in taxpayers’ money at Hamilton City Hall.
Enough study, discussion, and hiring of consultants - poverty, violence and vandalism need to be dealt with right now!
(and this mayoral candidate has one proven solution to offer that may surprise you in its proven effectiveness, 
simplicity and cost-effectiveness…)

     It has been a year and a half since the The City of Hamilton formed its Roundtable Task Force for Poverty Reduction, and then sent it to work
with a handsome budget of $500 thousand dollars.  Despite the promising sound of that initiative, the city has achieved virtually no results in reducing
or even addressing poverty.  In any event, not until next month will the panel come forward with its first results.    What will the task force produce
to its taxpayers? A plan that will look at programs addressing school age children with the hopes of seeing results in 5 or more years down the road.   
(see:
http://www.hamiltonpoverty.ca
http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/cityandgovernment/newsandpublications/newsreleases/2005news/december/05-12-21tt.htm
   
     If I understand that plan correctly it’s not only extremely preliminary, but is simply not good enough.

     I have stated before that there are proven, cheaper, and much more expedient programs for school children that have already been studied
and utilized, that could be implemented right now.  One made-in-Canada initiative that’s showing impressive results in other cities could be set in
motion in a very short time and at an extremely low cost.  “Chill Power” (chillpower.com) is a police and school endorsed program.  It works to break
the cycle of poverty, violence and vandalism, by empowering school children in high-risk neighbourhoods to break free from negative thinking and
activity, and make positive changes for themselves.  After hearing how well the program worked in the troubled Jane and Finch neighbourhood of
Toronto, I met with its founder, a 22-veteran of the teaching profession.  Bruce Miles produced an impressive taped testimonial of street-hardened
kids who were themselves shocked by the courage they gained to get out of gangs, stop fighting with other students, walk away from peers who
encouraged vandalism, and even became leaders who stopped other students from acting in violence.  By the way, parents were also engaged in
the teaching to help nurture a consistent change in attitude.  The results are often immediate, but dramatic results are reported in the schools and
community within a year.  This program is also endorsed by the Toronto Police, Toronto District School Board John McPhee, and the RCMP Nova Scotia
to name a few.  Chill Power was the national winner of the 1995 “Non-Violence Now” contest, and was the subject of three studies showing up to a
50% reduction in violence, vandalism and increased self esteem. 
     
    As for program expenses, they are quite low.  It costs between $2,500 - $3,000 per to implement this crisis and prevention program at the middle
and high school level.  Training lasts 2 - 5 days at a cost of $100 - $200, with no charge to any teen willing to be trained and help with the program at
their school.  In addition, the program is diversified to fit all cultural sensitive issues.

     What more proof or study do we need?  It would seem to me that we need to stop discussing poverty, violence and vandalism and get this program
in place. Even if the city didn’t have a budget to deal with the poverty issue, help is available.  The Hamilton Community Foundation, which grants monies
comprised of donations, has announced it has made available a budget of a whopping $300 million toward solving poverty in our city.
http://www.hcf.on.ca/pages/grants/communityfund/communityfund.html           

     With a 20% poverty rate, Hamilton is one of Ontario’s poverty leaders.  I don’t have to tell you how sad this is especially for the vulnerable children
and elderly who fall under this category, but also for the city as a whole.  The entire tax base becomes mired under such a heavy burden.  Its economy,
image, budget and quality of life all suffer when the city spends more and more money bandaging a worsening wound, rather than treating it at its source. 

    Clearly the desire and resources are available to achieve the dream of lower poverty in our city, the question is, why isn’t it happening?

     The Hamilton Poverty Round Table has been in existence since February 2005, 18 months later we see no concrete initiatives or programs in place. 
What are we waiting for?  It’s time to stop talking; we definitely don’t need another report or study done. 
Let’s get a program in place.
 
 Candidate for Mayor
 Hamilton - built by ordinary people
 with extraordinary dreams
 
 Your vote is important!
 Vote November 13th
Diane Elms 4 Mayor
 
Email :Diane4Mayor@sympatico.ca

Home page:
http://www.diane4mayor.ca


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