February 20, 2008
Manitoba Housing's BUILDINGFoundations Initiative Goes to Work in GIlbert Park: Mackintosh
– – –$2.2-million Strategy Includes Innovative High-risk Youth Support Program, New Lighthouse Site, Playgrounds, Security and Building Upgrades
Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh today announced the province, working with residents, will start a $2.2-million, inside and out revitalization of support services and housing at Winnipeg’s Gilbert Park community.
“We are building new futures and new communities together by transforming public housing,” said Mackintosh. “By combining important resources like Lighthouses, youth mentorship and supports for school completion with new physical upgrades at Gilbert Park, we can bring about successful transformation from the inside out.”
“We at Nor’West are pleased that the government of Manitoba through the minister of family services and housing has demonstrated their commitment to helping children in need by funding this program,” said Ivan Sabesky, chair of the Nor’West Co-op board of directors. “Through targeted intervention and mentoring, the proactive nature of Gilbert Park: Going Places will help keep youth in school. It will go a long way to ensuring that these children will become the young adults that we will all be proud of.”
The six-point initiative comprises:
· Gilbert Park: Going Places – A new, four-person team of social workers and skill-development workers is now in place through the Nor’West Co-op Community Health Centre to help youth reduce high-risk behaviours and improve school performance as well as connect families to needed services.
· Lighthouses – A new, on-site program now provides more after-school recreational activities for community youth.
· Extensive site renovations will include new exterior paint, sidewalk improvements, new landscaping and trees, new in-suite energy-efficient, front-loading washers and dryers and fences for each unit.
· New state-of-the-art playground equipment will include a special toddler play structure and further consultations with residents will be held for final consideration of a basketball court, a
mini-skateboard park and a new canopied area.
mini-skateboard park and a new canopied area.
· Strengthened security coverage will include permanent foot patrols, new lighting in the doorways of all 254 units and 22 new security lights for additional lighting in walkways and public areas.
· A new on-site office will provide better services to tenants. The office will be open five days per week and includes staff who will provide a range of property maintenance, property management and specialized tenant services.
The new initiatives complement outside-of-school recreational activities provided by the Winnipeg Boys and Girls Club, a teen clinic that opened last year and a new Positive Parenting Program offered through Nor’West Co-op.
Manitoba Housing is also putting in place a process for tenants to consider conversion of public housing projects to co-operative management which will offer residents the opportunity for enhanced control of their living environment.
With 254 units and almost 1,000 tenants, Gilbert Park, located in northwest Winnipeg, is Manitoba’s largest public housing community.
Last December, the province unveiled the 10-point, $84-million BUILDINGFoundations action plan to revitalize Manitoba Housing.
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