Item - 2014.CD29.1
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on June 10, 2014 without amendments.
- This item was considered by Community Development and Recreation Committee on May 22, 2014 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on June 10, 2014.
CD29.1 - Feasibility of 24-Hour Drop-in Service for Women
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on June 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2014, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to issue a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) in 2014 to establish community interest in operating up to two 24-hour low-barrier drop-ins for women, one in the east end and one in the west end of the City.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to report to the August 6, 2014 Budget Committee on the results of the REOI, feasibility of the service, and estimated program costs and tax impacts, with a view to have one or two 24-hour low-barrier drop-ins for women established no later than December 2014.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-69028.pdf
(April 2, 2014) Attachment 3 - 24/7 Drop-in Service for Women: Stakeholder Consultations Executive Summary
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-69029.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47045.pdf
(April 17, 2014) Letter from Wendy Komiotis, Executive Director, METRAC (CD.Main.CD29.1.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47043.pdf
(April 16, 2014) E-mail from Eric Cashmore (CD.Main.CD29.1.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47020.pdf
(April 16, 2014) Letter from Tina Haynes, c/o Toronto Community Addiction Team (CD.Main.CD29.1.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47041.pdf
(April 17, 2014) Letter from Linsey MacPhee, Manager, Toronto Drop in Network (CD.Main.CD29.1.5)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47042.pdf
(April 17, 2014) Submission from Norma Neal, Regent Park Community Health Centre (CD.Main.CD29.1.6)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47044.pdf
Motions (City Council)
Vote (Adopt Item) Jun-10-2014 11:02 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD29.1 - Adopt the item |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 37 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Peter Leon, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, John Parker, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Giorgio Mammoliti |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Raymond Cho, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson |
CD29.1 - Feasibility of 24-Hour Drop-in Service for Women
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- 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 issue a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) in 2014 to establish community interest in operating up to two 24-hour low-barrier drop-ins for women, one in the east end and one in the west end of the city; and
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to prepare a report to the August 6, 2014 Budget Committee for their consideration on the results of the REOI, feasibility of the service, and estimated program costs and tax impacts, with a view to have one or two 24-hour low-barrier drop-ins for women established no later than December 2014.
Origin
Summary
Due to lack of quorum, this item was not completed at the Committee's meeting on April 17, 2014 (Item CD28.2), and is now brought forward for completion.
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.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-69028.pdf
(April 2, 2014) Attachment 3 - 24/7 Drop-in Service for Women: Stakeholder Consultations Executive Summary
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-69029.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47045.pdf
(April 17, 2014) Letter from Wendy Komiotis, Executive Director, METRAC (CD.Main.CD29.1.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47043.pdf
(April 16, 2014) E-mail from Eric Cashmore (CD.Main.CD29.1.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47020.pdf
(April 16, 2014) Letter from Tina Haynes, c/o Toronto Community Addiction Team (CD.Main.CD29.1.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47041.pdf
(April 17, 2014) Letter from Linsey MacPhee, Manager, Toronto Drop in Network (CD.Main.CD29.1.5)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47042.pdf
(April 17, 2014) Submission from Norma Neal, Regent Park Community Health Centre (CD.Main.CD29.1.6)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/cd/comm/communicationfile-47044.pdf
Speakers
(April 17, 2014) Norma Neal, Regent Park Community Health Centre (Submission Filed)
(April 17, 2014) Cherie Miller, Regent Park Community Health Centre
(April 17, 2014) Cara Heitmann, Women's Safety Committee for Downtown East Side
(April 17, 2014) Sushi Rosborough, Street Health
(April 17, 2014) Liisa Schofield, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
(April 17, 2014) Jolene Heida, Social Worker, PROS c/o All Saints Community Centre
(April 17, 2014) Jean McDonald, Administrative Coordinator, Maggie's - Toronto Sex Worker Action Project
(April 17, 2014) Monica Forrester, Maggies
(April 17, 2014) Susan Gapka
(April 17, 2014) Carol Danis Tina-Marie Painter, Sistering
Motions
That Recommendation 2 be amended by adding "the August 6, 2014" before "Budget Committee", and deleting "during the 2015 Operating Budget process" and adding ", with a view to have one or two 24-hour low-barrier drop-ins for women established no later than December 2014" at the end of the recommendation, so that Recommendation 2 now reads:
"City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to prepare a report to the August 6, 2014 Budget Committee for their consideration on the results of the REOI, feasibility of the service, and estimated program costs and tax impacts, with a view to have one or two 24-hour low-barrier drop-ins for women established no later than December 2014"