The Hunt Club/Riverside Community Services Centre (HC/R CSC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 2001. It opened its doors to the community in 2002 and has provided a variety of effective programmes and services since that time. The Centre obtained charitable status in 2004.
As a member of the Ottawa Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres (CH&RCs) we are dedicated to responding to the diversity of needs within our community and in particular to those members who are most vulnerable and in need. Like the CH&RCs we serve groups that often face barriers in accessing services, such as seniors, young families, youth, new Canadians and people living on low incomes. Due to the confined working space and lack of sound proofing, only the counselling office is sound proofed, private conversations are at risk of being overheard. This puts the Centre in a vulnerable position of being unable to ensure client privacy/confidentially.
The Centre is a meeting place for community members to come together to identify and resolve community issues. It provides a broad range of activities and services including but not limited to, social services, health, arts and culture, employment preparation and child care. The Centre also provides limited recreation in conjunction with the HC-R Community Centre (Youth Zone, seniors chair exercises and a summer program for children and youth). During the recreational aspect of the program social issues are/may be identified and dealt with in the appropriate manner.
These activities and services will continue to develop and change over time in response to the needs of the community. The community will identify and build on its strengths as reflected in its motto "Community Serving Community". To continue to provide and to expand to meet the demand for accessible/culturally appropriate counselling, community development, health promotion services and its commitment to creating a community that is accepting to all, the Centre urgently needs to expand its physical space.
An expanded space would provide greater anonymity for those seeking services, especially counselling with the present legislative emphasis on 'privacy' and 'confidentially'. Like many high-density communities where there are a large number of families, HC/R CSC is faced with multiple barriers related to poverty, language and culture. Many of the Centre's clientele are new Canadians - language is often a problem and requests for assistance should not be discussed in an open area.
The Centre needs to establish a stronger visible presence in the Riverside Park Community. Increased space would allow HC/R CSC to expand the range of programmes and services.
In the final analysis the Centre must be able to respond to the ever increasing ethno-cultural diversity and demand for programmes. The HC/R CSC could meet this requirement far more effectively, if it had the physical space and more staff in which tp present and provide the opportunity for the residents to come together.
| Program | Description | Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| General Services | ||
| Counselling | Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counselling, support and referral. Phone support also available. | 102 individuals 164 sessions 87 referrals |
| Emergency Baby Supply Cupboard | For parents with young babies who need supplies (diapers, formula, etc.). | 27 families |
| Free Computer Access (Millennium Learning Centre) | Volunteers provide one-on-one support in a supportive atmosphere. | No stats |
| Good Food Box | Receive fresh fruit and vegetables at a low cost every month. | 22 families |
| Income Tax Preparation Program | Specially trained income tax volunteers help residents complete their returns. | 96 individuals |
| Multicultural Advisory Committee | Meets monthly to identify and address issues of concern pertaining to community needs. | 5 members + 1 staff |
| Babies & Young Children | ||
| Playgroups in partnership with Ontario Early Years Centre Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre | Cooperative Playgroups, 0-6 years. | 67 parents & children |
| Early Years | Drop-in Playgroup 0-6 years | 1,202 parents & children |
| First Words | Drop-in individual meetings. Staff must vacate office space for this program. | 25/30 kids |
| Children | ||
| Christie Lake Kids Star Programmes, Pottery | Ages 6 and 15 learn and build new skills through working with clay. | Junior - 7, Senior - 10 |
| Kids Homework Club. Space utilized is the reception area and boardroom. | Children Grades 1 to 8; dedicated to providing homework/literacy support by qualified tutors. Children must be registered before attending. | 28, Waiting List |
| Catch the Spirit - Summer Program for Children , | Ages 6-11 building their leadership, team work and social skills. Catch the Spirit is intended for families who demonstrate financial need. | 26-30 children |
| Youth | ||
| Youth Zone | Drop-in program for youth; focus on social skill development.
Ages 9 to 13, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Ages 13 to 18, 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. | 85 86 |
| Youth Drop-in. Registration required, can only accommodate 9 kids | Youth 13 to 18, variety of activities including cooking, computer, etc. | 9 |
| Adult | ||
| Conversational English Group, Partnership with OCISO | Opportunity for Community members to practice/improve their English fluency and increase their understanding of Canadian culture. Registration required, no cost to attend | 26 |
| Seniors | ||
| Chair Exercise Class | Assist seniors to stretch and strengthen their muscles and have fun. Registration required | 33 |
| Foot Care | Provided by a professional nurse. Appointment required. | 34 |
| Occupant | Current Space | Space Required for a Healthy Working Environment |
|---|---|---|
| Reception/Waiting Area | 107.5 sq.ft. | 400 sq.ft. |
| Administrator/Manager | 37.5 sq.ft. | 100 sq.ft. |
| Executive Director | 85 sq.ft. | 170 sq.ft. (sound proof) |
| Shared space: Community Developer, Youth Co-ordinator Univ Placement (s) and Volunteer Co-ordinator | 45.5 sq.ft. | 100 sq.ft. 100 sq.ft. 144 sq.ft. |
| Counsellor (sound proof) | 72 sq ft | 200 sq.ft. (sound proof) |
| Kitchen | 49.6 sq.ft | 50 sq.ft. |
| Bathroom(Handicap) | 61 sq.ft. | 100 sq.ft. |
| Board Room | 190 sq.ft. | 500 sq.ft. |
| Legal Aid, Service Canada, Settlement Counsellors | 225 sq.ft. (sound proof) | |
| TOTAL: | 648.1 sq.ft | 2089 sq.ft. working space |
| DIFFERENCE 1441 sq.ft. |
If reception space is to be shared with the Community Centre, it would be vital that there is a 100 sq.ft. space devoted to the Services Centre for those waiting for counselling or other private interviews. This is due to privacy/confidentiality issues.
Office size 82 sq.ft. - 20 sq.ft (wall to wall storage cabinets) = 72 sq.ft. office space.
The population demographic is changing rapidly and many of the clientele seek assistance or personal information as a family, thus rendering small offices unusable.
| Programmes requiring privacy: Healthy Babies, Mother's Support Group, etc. | 200 sq.ft. |
| Youth Room Homework club, youth drop-in, youth board meetings, youth employment programmes, etc | 400 sq.ft. |
| Programming Room Seniors Chair Exercise, Women's Groups, Tax Clinics, Seniors Foot Care, Conversational English, etc. | 325 sq.ft. |
| Community Room Seniors and other Community groups, child care during programmes, Good Food Box, etc. | 400 sq.ft. |
| Storage for Programme Supplies | 200 sq.ft. |
| Sub Total | 1525 sq.ft. |
| Total requirements | 3614 sq.ft. |