The United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex County is calling on community organizations to help them revitalize low income neighbourhoods.
For the last five years the United Way has been targeting four neighbourhoods in Windsor-Essex to reduce poverty and increase community engagement.
"To take it to the next level and to really be able to fundamentally improve the conditions we know that we need other people to come to the table," says CEO Lorraine Goddard.
Each year the United was has invested $1-million in the neighbourhoods of west Windsor, downtown Windsor, Ford City and the Glengarry Marentette area for after school programs, neighbourhood beautification, community gardens and other place based revitalization efforts.
Manager of Community Impact and Learning Frazier Fathers says data shows that as these programs are put in place people take more pride in their neighbourhood and crime rates go down. According to Windsor Police Service crime statistics property crimes are down 7% across the city and down 13% in the neighbourhoods where the United Way is concentrating its efforts.
"We're creating social capital, knowledge networks, and engaging citizens," says Frazier. "Now if another group wants to come in and invest whether it's a business or government or another agency in the community you'll have that audience now that is willing to engage."
The United Way is looking to work with community partners to implement initiatives like vacant registry buildings and social service based community hubs that have showed a positive effect in neighbourhood renewal in other communities.
