Firsthand:
This patch is home to one of Ottawa’s largest gangs — the Ledbury-Banff Crips. In an Ottawa police report, it says that youth usually join gangs for the following reasons:

• Safety – They feel that if they are part of a gang they will be protected.
• Belonging – They may be lacking support and a sense of family at home, and turn to the gang for this type of relationship. Gang members talk about their gang as their family.
• Respect – They receive a feeling of power from imposing fear on others and confuse this with being respected.
• Criminal Activity - They acquire a sense of excitement, a reputation, and some financial gain through criminal activity as part of a gang.¹

The Landscape:
The Ledbury patch is approximately 100m x 250m. There is one high-rise apartment building on Bank St. as well as 118 community housing townhouse units. The neighbourhood is bounded by hydro lines, rail lines, and the Bank Street Overpass — all of which isolate the community from public transit, social services, and retail stores.²

The People:
Approximately 700 people from diverse cultures, religions, and language groups live in the Ledbury patch.²

In the wider neighbourhood that the Ledbury patch belongs to:³

• The population density is 3,653 people per square kilometre, compared to Ottawa’s 198 person/km² average.
• Over 36% of families are led by one parent; 92% of these families are led by women.
• Of the population, 41% have a mother tongue other than English.
• 39% of the residents are immigrants, and 75% of them came to Canada before 2000.
• Half of the residents are considered visible minorities
• Only 43% of residents over age 15 have a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.
• The 2006 unemployment rate is 11.2 % as compared with 5.7% in the rest of Ottawa.
• Low before-tax incomes are a reality for 49% of the residents, as compared with 15% in the rest of Ottawa.

Ledbury-Banff has been known as a “notoriously violent and drug-infested” neighbourhood.⁴ In recent years, there has been a resident-led turn-around in this densely populated neighbourhood that is home to many new Canadians. There has been a groundswell of support from government and social agencies - most importantly, residents have been engaged to help solve their own problems such as youth crime. After police increased their patrols in the area, sports fields and a basketball court were built, and recreation opportunities increased. As a result, youth crime has been decreasing. In 2007, 80% of Ledbury-Banff patch residents reported feeling safe in their homes as compared to 46% in 2005.⁵

The History:
The Banff Avenue Community House is one of sixteen Community Houses in the Ottawa area that were formed to meet the needs of residents living in social housing developments. The Banff Avenue Tenant Association (BATA)—which has been in operation in one form or another for the last 30 years—was instrumental in starting a Community House in the Banff/Ledbury neighbourhood 15 years ago. The centre provides a huge range of programs and services including ESL classes, emergency food cupboard, health nurse visits, and a van that residents can borrow to go shopping.²

The Challenge:
Will you help youth and adults from the Ledbury patch find Jesus — the true source of their value and identity? Will you consider moving in?

Sources:
¹ http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/opsb/2004/05-17/item2.htm
² http://www.banffcommunityhouse.com/
³ All statistics in this section were taken from 2006 census tract profile for 0001.01 (CT), Ottawa-Gatineua (CMA) and Ontario.
⁴ http://www.rapdict.org/Ledbury-Banff
⁵ “How one community empowered itself to beat crime, drugs: City of Ottawa sees Ledbury-Banff as model for change,” by Jake Rupert, The Ottawa Citizen