Firsthand
A resident of the Ferguson patch spoke to someone from MoveIn and mentioned that the nearby drop-in center draws a lot of bad reputation to the area, but that much of it is unmerited. The people here are wonderful, and although they struggle with much of what the drop-in centre brings to the area, they understand its importance and want to see it properly taken care of. A major destination for newly settled immigrants, this neighbourhood is home to many from the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

The Landscape
Located on Ferguson Avenue North, between Barton and Cannon, the Ferguson patch is home to a lot of immigrants and folks below the poverty line. To make things even more interesting, it’s directly adjacent to the Wesley Drop-In Center. This Centre is “Hamilton’s only 24-hour emergency services drop-in/shelter for both men and women, comprehensively meeting the basic needs of food, shelter, and safety” and provides people with “sleeping accommodations… three meals… laundry and shower facilities, free telephone, [and] a mailing address and message system.”¹ While this is, of course, a wonderful ministry and help to many, it is also the source of much strain within the community, which struggles with the drugs, alcohol, prostitution, violence, and other anti-social behaviours that this draws to the area.² This patch is a few blocks away from two of Hamilton’s most prominent mosques.

The Ferguson patch consists primarily of the following two buildings:

• 175 & 185 Ferguson Avenue North

The People
In the census strip that is most closely aligned to the Ferguson patch:³

• Population in 2006 was 3,182.
• The population density is 5,587 people per square kilometre compared with Hamilton’s 505/km2 average.
• 37% of adults are married.
• 32% of families are lone-parent families - 88% of those are led by women.
• The 2005 median income for all private households was $31,567 (this includes the middle class areas nearby), compared with a median of $71,989 for the rest of Hamilton.
• 44% of residents’ mother tongues are something other than English or French.
• Similarly, 40% of the population are immigrants.
• A mere 7% of residents over age 15 have a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.
• The 2006 unemployment rate was 10.7%, compared with 6.4% in the rest of Hamilton.
• 67% of residents work within the immediate area (within the few blocks of the census strip).
• 33% of the population are visible minorities.

The History
Called the “Steel City” by some, Hamilton is home to approximately 500,000 people who are split between the downtown core (including the Ferguson patch) and the suburbs up on the Niagara Escarpment (better known as “the mountain”).

The Challenge
The Ferguson patch presents a world of contrast. On the one side, there are two attractive and well-kept apartment buildings full of families and immigrants. On the other side, there is the drop-in and all of the homeless and impoverished people that it brings to the area. Both sides share the same root problem - they need to hear the good news about Jesus. Will you take it to them? Will you move in?

Sources
¹ From the Wesley Urban Ministries page for the shelter.
² Taken from a city council agenda item available here.
³ All statistics in the section taken from Census tract profile for 0063.00 (CT), Hamilton (CMA) and Ontario