There was a celebration Wednesday in a Sault Ste. Marie neighbourhood that has had its challenges, but is now marking community success.
The day was full of fun and laughs for those who attended the Chapple/Albion Community Hub street party.
It is one of the social services’ community hubs that are making an impact on the lives of those who live in the area.
Residents say events like the street party, neighbourhood pot lucks, programming for children, and access to service agencies like Canadian Mental Health, Ontario Works, and others is making the neighbourhood a better place to call home.
Lynn Greco is an area resident.
"Definitely, it's made people like more of a community. So, everybody kind of sticks together and helps everybody out if anyone needs help." said Greco.
Emma Caicco is an Ontario Workscase aide.
"Having community pride and being part of something big, helping people come together, helping serve the neighbours that they live beside, it's really made a difference for people." said Caicco.
Residents of the area aren't the only ones with a difference in the attitude of those who live here. Social workers and others who work out of the Chapple/Albion Community Hub say barriers continue to be broken.
People who live near the hub say there has been a drastic improvement to the morale and atmosphere of the neighbourhood in recent years.
They credit greater accessibility to services and a willingness of people to get help when they need it.
Annemarie Borkowski is a former resident.
"People are connecting more. People are not as afraid to put their trust into establishing or asking for help, popping in and talking to your worker. Popping in to access different services that were never offered before. So with that, knowing your neighbours makes it a safer community." said Borkowski.
Amanda Guerin is an Ontario Works case manager.
“Well, when I first got here, there were you know some resistance. People thought we were here to police, to watch and see if they were doing. Some doing good or doing something bad. But once they learn that we're here to offer services that would help them, they open up." said Guerin.
Greco points to greater communication and improved trust with service agencies, police, and other community partners as a reason more people are doing well.
"CAS has a stigma, ‘oh they're going to take your kids.’ No, that's not what she's here for. She's here to, if anyone needs a hand, she helps them. It took a long time to know the social workers aren't here to harm you, they're here to help you." said Greco.
Although the trust was not immediate, service providers didn’t give up.
"No, they wouldn't come talk to us. If they saw us walking the neighbourhood, they would just put their head down and just keep walking. But the more we engage with them, the more they engaged with us." said Guerin.
The Chapple/Albion Hub is one of four across the city where community partners offer services to those in need.
