Item - 2014.CD28.2

This report provides recommendations on the feasibility of establishing a 24-hour drop-in for women, based upon consultations conducted with service users and providers from December to March 2014.

An update report on the need and consultation process for developing a safe overnight space for women was received by Community Development and Recreation Committee on January 21, 2014. Currently, there are very few places for women to go overnight, particularly if they will not go to shelters, or if they need respite for a short period of time.

A majority of those consulted agreed that there is a need for a low-threshold overnight or 24-hour service for women.  A drop-in that is open during the most dangerous times for street-involved women, when other services are closed, will meet basic safety needs and provide identified essential service needs including showers, laundry, provision of healthy food and snacks, counselling and referrals. The recent consultations indicate the service philosophy must incorporate low-barrier, harm reduction, trauma-informed care.

A majority suggest that a 24-hour drop-in will best meet the need for a low-barrier overnight service for women.  While a stand-alone 24-hour drop-in is the most appropriate service model to meet the needs of the most vulnerable street-involved women, enhancing a current drop-in to provide overnight services represents another viable option.

Regardless of the option to be pursued, however, there will be a cost impact to expanding services that will be a challenge to implement if there is a desire or expectation to keep property tax increases at or around the rate of inflation.