Taking recreation to the streets!

Recreation ... what does it have to do with the street and homelessness? The United Nations designated 1987 as the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. As many more people become visibly homeless, the time has come for society to acknowledge its silent voices, the unheard, the rejected and the shut-outs. Time to finally consider those 1Mng in despair and isolation as residents, not bums.

In an attempt to get on board with other agencies, Toronto's parks and recreation department hired Jim Ward, a local consultant on poverty-related issues, to prepare a study of recreational needs of homeless people. One of the recommendations in his report was to hire an outreach coordinator for socially isolated adults. In 1991 we hired a coordinator to help us improve our services to homeless and isolated individuals.

Historically, parks and recreation community centers house a variety of recreational programs for those who have a built-in support system. The income level of people using the parks and recreation facilities range from lower to upper. City of Toronto Parks and Recreation offers a no-fee service to all residents. The people in the city who have no fixed income or address traditionally have not used this service which is supposed to be accessible. The question is, why not?

There are a variety of reasons for people not feeling a sense of belonging in the community at large. From the personal standpoint, most isolated people lack family support. Other key factors in the lives of those who have been shut-out are low self-esteem issues attributed through one or more of the following experiences: physical, sexual and emotional abuse; mental illness; substance abuse; poverty; institutionalization; physical disabilities; unemployment; illiteracy; poor education; and immigration.

Involvement Factors Vary

Physical and social factors that disable people from getting involved in their community vary. They include a lack of proper clothing, transportation, social support, privacy and a non-smoking environment; safety; timing of programs (especially for women who will not go out alone at night); limited access to information; a feeling that one cannot keep up the pace of the program; staff not available to meet special requirements that may be needed; attitudes of the general population and lack of understanding.

John Innes Community Recreation Centre, a parks and recreation facility located in the hub of street life and social service agencies, became a model center for program development that would be more inclusive to those who are disenfranchised. Jim Smith, previous center coordinator of John Innes, and Dave Leavers, the current center coordinator, have been instrumental in carrying out the department's mandate from its inception.

Some solutions to the barrier issues include: schedule times that are good for the target group, train staff on homelessness issues and crises, provide privacy in change rooms, encourage community outreach and participation in program planning, build community partnerships, schedule programs in a manner that avoids overlapping, list on the bulletin board programs and referrals to special services, offer less structured programs, use 'special' events to draw interest in the community center, schedule more daytime programming for women, and, provide a friendly environment in which people do not feel pressured to perform.

Everyone has the right to engage in recreational activity. We believe that a person's way of life should not interfere with his or her enjoyment of this basic right. The realization that recreation takes on different meanings to different people is vital to reaching out. In 1987, John Inne's staff joined forces with a few of the local social service agencies to enhance street people's recreational opportunities. From this partnership was born The Downtown East End Softball League. It currently comprises 12 teams, consisting of 200 to 250 homeless or low-income adults who play from May to September. This league is one of the most successful community programs in existence. It is designed to accommodate people who may not have running shoes or a uniform; people are allowed to wear whatever they own. The rules are no drinking and no violence in the park during game hours. These rules are difficult to enforce and to apply consistently--we need a tough but flexible standard with a strong community support network.

New Changes Underway

The Downtown East End Softball League (DEESL) is currently run by an executive committee that consists of community members, team players, social service agency staff and parks and recreation staff. Moss Park, home to the DEESL, is adjacent to the John Innes Community Centre. Equipment, staff support, operation and upkeep of the baseball diamond is provided by the parks and recreation department. Many new changes are underway toward building a more autonomous, community-based program. Because of our increased recognition and profile in the community, we have received numerous donations, which outfitted many of the players with uniforms and running shoes this past season.

Another example of the DEESL success shows in how Moss Park is being used more frequently for recreational use than ever before, especially by the people whose only friend was a bottle and a park bench. Comments from residents in the area are such that people feel safer to be in the park. Another example of programs worth noting is the soap and towel service for people who only want or need a shower. Scheduled shower times are included in the programs for street people. At the Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre, a partnership with Parkdale Focus Coalition provides free haircutting, clothing and light snacks on Sunday afternoons, when most other services for the poor are closed.

Many of the local inner city social service agencies are using parks and recreation facilities to organize volleyball, basketball, art shows, swimming, and so forth. There is also an increasing number of isolated individuals who come into some of our centers on a regular basis to weight train or play table tennis. Women are the hardest group to reach. Having introduced an unstructured clay and pottery class and special women's weight training program, however, we are beginning to see more women using programs.

Another notable program is the street theatre pilot that was developed cooperatively between Toronto Parks and Recreation, Mixed Company, a community-based theatre group, the Fred Victor Mission and the Toronto Board of Health to create a social-recreation program for isolated adults. The finished product was a play-forum written and presented by the street and low-income people to the community at large. The theatre presentation gave the street people a chance to express themselves in a way where they were sure to be heard. They created the finished product in six days and presented it to the community on the seventh day.

To ensure the welfare and commitment of the actors, we provided lunch and dinner each day of work and gave all participants an honorarium. It was a powerful experience for not only the participants but the audience as well. The troupe has continued independently and call themselves Cobblestone Theatre Company. It is touring local schools, churches, social service agencies, drop-in centers and community centers to educate about the reality of street life.

Much of our staff's training on homelessness has been provided by the street people themselves. This has been an effective way to get people to really listen, understand and accept the needs of this diverse community. Recreation is an important and vital part of everyone's life. From sustaining a certain level of health to sustaining a pleasureable memory, recreation holds value to all. As one of the members of the isolated community put it: "Try to build up our confidence. Confidence is very important. Also remember most have had an awful childhood. Talk to people as equals."