‘It shouldn’t be so hard to get things moving, but it is’
When Laura Hammond and her partner moved into 1021 Birchmount Rd. five years ago, the community was still reeling from a fatal shooting on the main floor a few years prior and tensions were high.
Tenants weren’t accessing common spaces around the Toronto Community Housing Corp. building. Cockroaches, rats, foul smells and mould were regular fixtures. The basketball court had been shuttered after falling into disrepair.
It left Hammond feeling isolated. She knew if she wanted to heal and thrive, she would have to do something about it herself. Cue the Birchmount Community Action Council — emphasis on “action,” Hammond says — a group she co-founded to engage and empower tenants.
The Scarborough highrise has looked different ever since.
Neighbours tend lettuce, callaloo and okra in a community garden, host information sessions about everything from elections to development proposals, and organize clean-ups and barbecues with back-to-school supply giveaways for the kids.
Hammond led the projects over the course of two pregnancies and while home-schooling her three other children.
She also secured city funding in 2015 to revamp the basketball court and turn a seldom-used room in the building’s basement into a youth hub, with pro- grams aimed at boosting employment skills.
The lounge has 10 computers, couches and a foosball table — but it’s not being used. Despite having an original launch date of March 2017, the space has yet to officially open. The city, which says the room is 95 per cent complete, couldn’t say when that will happen.
Still, getting the project approved — and making sure the powers that be see it through fruition — required a little DIY. Herewith, Hammond shares how, in her own words. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. What were the biggest hurdles?
Let me tell you, the red tape in order to get things started, and even maintain — it’s not fair, it’s not fun. TCHC (has) such great intentions. ... But what we have to go through to voice ourselves, it’s too onerous. It shouldn’t be so hard to get things moving, but it is because (it seems) the different divisions in TCHC are not working in tandem, they’re not working effectively. Who were your strongest allies?
I need to big-up resident services (at TCHC) because they’re on the ground working with us residents. Do you ever feel like giving up?
Oh my God, I’m at that point like almost every day. Like, what am I doing? Am I fighting losing battles here? It feels like we’re doing someone’s paid job. We’re consulting the community, con- necting and following up with decisionmakers — and we’re unpaid, we’re living below the poverty line. And yet if we don’t push, we won’t get heard. What keeps you going?
I start thinking about the issues that will go unresolved (if I quit). Part of why we named our resident council ... the Birchmount Community Action Council (is) because we want to see action. Talk is very cheap. What’s next?
We all met and said this (delay) shouldn’t have happened. Residents are not even allowed to use this space and we’re still trying to figure out why. We’re waiting on answers and key dates. So many things we had to put on the backburner in terms of partnerships (with organizations to provide services, like Youth Employment Services) and I don’t know if we’re going to be able to explore some of them. Any advice for fellow change-seeking citizens?
To mobilize, do it with your neighbours, and when you’re mobilizing yourself, be solution-focused. I’m not really into complaining without a solution. We’re stronger together. We’re stronger as a collective. We need people to keep the wheel moving, to keep the momentum up. DIY Democracy is a weekly look at citizens of Toronto who are taking a grassroots approach to improving life in the city.