Item - 2013.CD19.2
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on April 3, 2013 without amendments.
- This item was considered by the Community Development and Recreation Committee on March 18, 2013 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on April 3, 2013.
CD19.2 - Review of the Centralized Waiting List for Social Housing: Framework and Proposed Directions
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on April 3 and 4, 2013, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to consult with stakeholders, including service users, evaluate identified options and report back to City Council by the first quarter of 2014 on findings and final recommendations regarding:
a. implementation of a choice based system that better matches applicants with vacancies;
b. changes to local rules to better address needs and challenges in the system;
c. improvements to the client service experience for all users of the system;
d. an implementation plan for an enhanced website and technology system that enables an improved application process; and
e. an implementation plan to achieve better integration of the waiting list for rent geared to income housing with other housing access services.
2. City Council request the Province to replace the Special Priority Policy with long-term funding for a specialized program to provide rent supplements and appropriate supports that better meet the housing needs of victims of domestic abuse.
3. City Council request the Province to make the legislative and regulatory changes required to provide Municipal Service Managers with greater flexibility to meet Service Level Standards with a range of service options that meet residents' diverse housing needs.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-56535.pdf
Communications (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/cc/comm/communicationfile-35315.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That City Council request the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, as part of the review of the Centralized Waiting List for Social Housing, to conduct an analysis of the households on the current Centralized Waiting List, giving consideration to:
i. actual need for affordable housing; and
ii. the housing situation of households, while they are on the Centralized Waiting List.
Vote (Amend Item) Apr-04-2013 5:36 PM
| Result: Lost | Majority Required - CD19.2 - Palacio - motion 1 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 17 | Members that voted Yes are Ana Bailão, Raymond Cho, Gary Crawford, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Peter Milczyn, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner |
| Total members that voted No: 21 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Karen Stintz, Adam Vaughan |
| Total members that were Absent: 7 | Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Mark Grimes, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Vote (Adopt Item) Apr-04-2013 5:37 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD19.2 - Adopt the item |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 38 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Doug Holyday, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Adam Vaughan |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 7 | Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Mark Grimes, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council end the debate on Item CD19.2 and take the vote immediately.
Vote (End Debate) Apr-04-2013 5:34 PM
| Result: Carried | Two-Thirds Required - CD19.2 - End Debate |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 34 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Adam Vaughan |
| Total members that voted No: 4 | Members that voted No are Paula Fletcher, Doug Holyday, Josh Matlow, Anthony Perruzza |
| Total members that were Absent: 7 | Members that were absent are Vincent Crisanti, Mark Grimes, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
CD19.2 - Review of the Centralized Waiting List for Social Housing: Framework and Proposed Directions
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:
1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to consult with stakeholders, including service users, evaluate identified options and report back to City Council by the first quarter of 2014 on findings and final recommendations regarding:
a. Implementation of a choice based system that better matches applicants with vacancies;
b. Changes to local rules to better address needs and challenges in the system;
c. Improvements to the client service experience for all users of the system;
d. An implementation plan for an enhanced website and technology system that enables an improved application process; and
e. An implementation plan to achieve better integration of the waiting list for rent geared to income housing with other housing access services.
2. City Council request the Province to replace the Special Priority Policy with long-term funding for a specialized program to provide rent supplements and appropriate supports that better meet the housing needs of victims of domestic abuse.
3. City Council request the Province to make the legislative and regulatory changes required to provide Municipal Service Managers with greater flexibility to meet Service Level Standards with a range of service options that meet residents' diverse housing needs.
Origin
Summary
As has been frequently noted, the social housing system in Toronto is under increasing pressure, with high demand for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) subsidized units. At the end of 2012, there were more than 87,000 households on the centralized waiting list, the majority of whom will wait up to 6 years before moving into an RGI unit.
The key challenge for those facing long wait times remains a lack of new subsidized housing sufficient to meet demand. Against that background, the purpose of this review is to improve customer service and more effectively match applicants with available units by transforming the waiting list system into a coordinated entry point to a broader housing access system that is able to provide integrated access to a range of both short and long term housing options to meet people's needs.
Operation of a centralized system for selecting households for rent-geared-to-income social housing is a legislated requirement under the provincial Housing Services Act, 2011. The current waiting list system in Toronto was established following the download of social housing and has been in operation for a decade. Several recent changes and initiatives underway provide a strong foundation for a review of the centralized waiting list at this time:
- The City's Housing Opportunities Toronto plan called for a comprehensive review of the social housing access system to "explore how to improve service to clients, more effectively match applicants with units, and provide fair and efficient access to housing for the most vulnerable."
- The provincial Housing Services Act, 2011, which came into effect in 2012, provides the City greater flexibility to redesign the waiting list system to be more responsive to local needs.
- The City is currently developing a strategic Service Plan for a more integrated housing stability service system that will capitalize on the opportunities presented by the new provincial Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI).
Staff have completed the first phase of the review of the waiting list system including research, analysis of available data and review of current service processes. This report provides an overview of the findings from the first phase, and outlines next steps for the second phase of the review involving further public consultation with stakeholders, including service users, and evaluation of implementation options.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-56535.pdf