The Heart of Hamilton Road
Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre (Crouch NRC) is a registered charity based in the Hamilton Road neighbourhood of London, Ontario. Crouch NRC works to build a healthy community where everyone belongs and can access resources with dignity. Residents are supported with basic needs such as emergency food and hygiene items, income stability through social assistance applications and income tax filing and recreational opportunities for adults, seniors, children and families.
Charitable # 10699 4122 RR0001
Crouch History
Significant dates and Development
1968
Crouch Librarians encountering more and more information needs that they did not know how to handle. Population of about 20,000 experiences problems familiar to the central area of any city : low income, family finance difficulties, crime, tenant problems, immigrant adjustment, family crises etc.
1969
London Public Library, Family and Children's Services, Madame Vanier Children's Services, London Board of Education and Board of Health developed a proposal for a multi service, inter-agency centre with a team of workers to be located in the Branch Library.
​1979
Ministry of Health funding for Community Mental Health Program.
1970
Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre established. Included counselling and crisis intervention, health services, information and referral services, group programs. Emphasis on area residents identifying needs and implementing solutions.
​
-
First Canadian, multi-service, inter-agency community centre housed in a branch library
-
Flexible and non-hierarchical, group decision making, responsible to the community
​2002
Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre obtains charitable status
​1993
The City of London and United way funds enable community development to hire Hamilton Road area Youth Support worker
- More Youth needs assessed. Girls self-esteem groups, sports nights at schools, Youth Service Canada projects and Summer Splash programs planned and developed for the youth.
2014
Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre teamed up with London's Salvation Army to establish one of several access points in the city, ensuring that all families can benefit from the Toys for Tots and Christmas Hamper programs.
2021
Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre partnered with Urban Roots, a non-profit organization focused on revitalizing underused land in the City of London for agriculture, to launch a weekly produce pop-up market. This initiative aims to provide the low-income community, which often faces insecure access to food due to financial constraints, with high-quality, organic vegetables and herbs.
2019​
Crouch block party was designed to enhance community connection among residents of diverse socio-economic circumstances and draw new visitors to the main street area of Hamilton Road with music, vendors, food and much more
Hiatus in 2022 and returned in 2023.
2021
The Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre launched a program to provide brand new winter coats and boots at no cost to low-income individuals and families who may struggle to afford proper winter gear. A significant portion of these items is distributed to community members experiencing homelessness.