Chapter 13: Planning for Diverse and Healthy Communities

Question 1

Communicative planning:

Answer 1

approach that emphasizes dialogue when contesting views need to be resolves

Question 2

Social landscape:

Answer 2

has to do with the idea of a “topography” of social diversity, as opposed to a socially homogeneous 2D city/town

Question 3

2 building blocks in planning for seniors:

Answer 3

1) Demographic portrait of community’s elderly to show extent and diversity
2) Understanding attributes of aging and of elderly perspective on community life

Question 4

Parameters of aging:

Answer 4

Seniors independence
Diversity
Aging
Aging in place

Question 5

Diversity agenda:

Answer 5

fairness/equity in the provision of public policies, programs and services & equal access to the planning process

Question 6

Aboriginal City Neighbourhoods; 2 priority areas:

Answer 6

1) engaging Aboriginal peoples in ongoing efforts to improve their circumstances
2) foster working relationships between municipalities and Aboriginal peoples to facilitate consultation in decision-making

Question 7

Women input for transportation:

Answer 7

Women’s voices through surveys, advisory committees and safety audits need to become a basic component in planning for gender-sensitive transport systems

Question 8

Important social/physical attributes in planning for youth:

Answer 8

• freedom and safety of movement
• green spaces
• peer meeting places

Question 9

Municipal Youth Services Plans:

Answer 9

aim primarily at developing facilities and services for youth and creating programs to encourage their involvement in planning

Question 10

Planning and the Homeless: Housing First approach:

Answer 10

Approach to curing homelessness that begins by providing housing and allying it closely to health and social services

Question 11

“Hidden homeless”:

Answer 11

Refers to those who live in cars, church basements, on couches or porches, due to the general lack or affordable housing.

Question 12

Planner’s role in countering homelessness:

Answer 12

Advocate social housing

Question 13

LGBTQ communities:

Answer 13

tend to live in areas with lower-cost housing which are often targeted for gentrification

Question 14

Healthy communities:

Answer 14

1) high quality, clean and safe environment
2) sustainable ecosystem
3) meeting basic needs
4) strong mutually supportive community
5) increased participation and control among citizens in decision-making
6) access to a variety of resources and experiences
7) diverse and innovative economy
8) connectedness with the past
9) form that enhances preceding characteristics
10) optimum level of accessible health services
11) high levels of health; low levels of sickness

Question 15

Complete communities:

Answer 15

communities that support various lifestyles, providing a range of options for living (variety of housing types), working and playing, in which basic necessities are within easy reach.

Question 16

E.g. of plan for the homeless

Answer 16

Goal: end homelessness by 2015
Objective: increase supply of affordable housing
Strategy: move people into temporary shelters
Policy: enhance SRO housing

Question 17

Planning for diversity means:

Answer 17

acknowledging the social landscape, giving voices to those who lack it (e.g. women, the elderly, ethnic groups, youth, the homeless, Aboriginals), and embedding said voices into the planning process.

Question 18

What distinguishes “place” among a community’s human groups?

Answer 18

Characteristics of a place that benefit these groups individually, give them access, allow them to create memories and identify with the place

E.g. a park:

• People with disabilities: wheelchair accessible path
• Youth: a swingset
• Women: safety
• The elderly: a bench

Question 19

Why is housing a central feature of “place” for different community populations

Answer 19

Because housing diversity needs to be planning for in a community to accommodate different community populations.

E.g.:
Need wheelchair access
Affordability
Room for recreation (backyard)
Small staircases

Question 20

Why is it important for planners not to regard different community populations as homogenous?

Answer 20

Community planning cannot be effective or representative of all stakeholder needs if it doesn’t account for differences within the community, and even differences within specific community groups (e.g. some elderly are much younger, more independent, and more mobile than others; they cannot be planned for as a homogenous group)