In 2013-14 the Joint Strong Neighbourhood Initiative of the United Way of Calgary and Area and the City of Calgary Community and Neighbourhood Services  (CNS) undertook a Neighbourhood Hub pilot project focused on four priority neighbourhoods.  They released a document in February 2015 outlining their initiative to explore hub development in Calgary and the early leanings of the process of hub and partnership development.  This is a summary of that document. 

Exploring the possibilities of Neighbourhood Hubs in Calgary states that hubs build social capital that contributes to poverty reduction and stronger communities through committed and dedicated residents. Hubs enhance local capacity and partnerships while developing ideas of shared spaces and providing needed resources and services to create opportunities for collaboration between residents and service providers. The report identified the optimal location for hubs as areas with concentrated poverty where residents live below Statistics Canada’s Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), which is the threshold for when problems appear to emerge.

The Report on Community Conversations, by Ginette Lafreniere shows hubs as vehicles for community prosperity, development and inclusive service models that create a place of possibility. Lafreniere argues that successful hubs require clear leadership, governance models, coordinated and developed location plans, logistics, community engagement models and feasibility studies. The report presents the following as paths to address poverty and social issues: knowledge of, involvement in and engagement with programs improving resiliency and social inclusion; and building knowledge and skills to create healthy families based on culture and values.

The Ontario Hubs Report was developed using input gathered from an online survey, meetings with community members and stakeholders to ensure the framework addressed local needs and examined best practices in similar areas. An interactive Community Talk website was also designed to encourage public input. The goal of the report is to identify barriers to the implementation and operation of hubs in order to mitigate those barriers. The report identifies the challenges involved with initiating the hubs project as; a lack of government coordination, conflicting policies, uncoordinated funding and non-client-focused programs/services.

The Hubs Governance Report, by Public Interest Strategy and Communications Inc. describes hubs as multi-service facilities that provide a focal point for service delivery and community development. The report discusses the benefits of hubs as developing multi-service partnerships, combining co-located agencies in a dedicated space, providing a roster of agencies using space on an intermittent basis. Hubs will provide a flexible community space, where governance and engagement structures ensure accountability and responsiveness to the communities served.

The Toronto Hubs report, by the WoodGreen Community Services Planning and Research Unit highlights the many benefits of Hubs. Hubs present service provider benefits through economies of scale from shared office duties, while funders benefit from co-location of service providers and residents through improved accessibility and variety of programs. Hubs bring services to underserved neighbourhoods and enhance policy goals, funder commitment, community development goals and local vision. Hubs drive services closer to those in need, provide supports for clients, addressing multiple, intersecting needs. Hubs are emerging as effective methods for local capacity building, enabling grassroots community groups and smaller agencies to enhance their ability to engage and support local community.