Item - 2013.CD19.1

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to:

a.         On an interim and emergency basis, activate all of the 172 flex beds available throughout the shelter system with the aim of achieving an occupancy rate closer to 90% occupancy in the short term;

b.         Track appropriate data on clients who come to any city-funded shelter and are re-directed to another shelter.

2.         City Council request the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to:

a.         As a complement to the third party quality assurance review of emergency shelter access systems, and as part of the process to develop a client centred, outcome focused housing stability service plan, conduct a client services survey that investigates:

i.          client experiences in accessing the emergency shelter system;

ii.         client experiences with the physical conditions in the emergency shelter system; and

iii.        client satisfaction with the supports provided in the emergency shelter system, including supports provided to access permanent housing.

b.         Use the Street Outreach Steering Committee as a regular reference group on the design of the quality assurance review and client services survey and interpretation of the results, and review the membership of the committee to ensure that it includes community and not-for-profit organizations and can function as an ongoing advisory body to work with staff on shelter, support and transitional housing issues;

c.         As part of the quality assurance review of emergency shelter access and client services review, consult with the Ombudsman on customer service and equitable access to services provided by the City.

d.         Review the current occupancy rate of 96% and make recommendations for an occupancy rate policy that ensures that all homeless persons seeking a bed can be accommodated.

3.         City Council request the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and the Director, Affordable Housing Office to:

a.         As part of the process to develop a client centred, outcome focused housing stability service plan, include consideration of:

i.          The resources required to support the capacity of housing providers to graduate clients out of the emergency shelter system into supportive housing, transitional housing or long term care, as appropriate, thereby freeing expensive emergency shelter resources and providing better care for the homeless and hard to house;

ii.         the resources required to open new transitional and supportive housing apartments and units, with a view to providing this housing option to shelter clients; and

iii.        the City and provincial resources required to support a robust homelessness prevention system, noting that early intervention and support may be the cheapest way to reduce pressure on the emergency shelter system.

b.         Report back to the Community Development and Recreation Committee in the Fall of 2013 in order to feed into the 2014 Budget process.

c.         Also send the report to the Affordable Housing Committee.

4.         City Council, noting that the province is not adequately providing shelter for women suffering from domestic violence, a mandate that is clearly their responsibility; and noting that several of the city shelters are in effect being used to cover their shortfall, request the Mayor to write a letter on behalf of Council and advocate with Council to the province that they meet their responsibilities and not download the Violence Against Women shelter system to our city shelter system.

5.         City Council direct the General Manager of Shelter, Support, Housing and Administration to work with Facilities Management during extreme weather alerts to identify city-owned facilities, including where shelter spaces can be accommodated to increase accessible and safe shelter spaces for Toronto’s homeless population by ten per cent when needed with any necessary additional funding being drawn from the Social Assistance Review Fund.

6.         City Council request the Ombudsman to conduct a comprehensive investigation and review of Toronto’s shelter and social housing system and to report back with recommendations on how to improve, properly accommodate and streamline the supply and demand for emergency shelter beds and to further develop proper communication and implementation protocols for the homeless population during extreme weather alerts.

7.         City Council request the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to ensure that the service planning process and the community consultation process include a focus on how the shelter system can be more accessible, giving consideration to the following: gender, age, sexual orientation, geographical distribution, people with physical and mental health care challenges, people with pets, and those who do not feel safe using our shelter system.