Item - 2016.CD14.12

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A to:

a.  Report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee in the fourth quarter of 2016 on recommendations on raising awareness on homelessness in the City of Toronto;

b.  Issue a Request for Expression of Interest to solicit best practice on raising awareness on homelessness and the need for shelters throughout Toronto as well as for best practice for community outreach and shelter relocation in new neighbourhoods; and

c.  Share the Terms of Reference of the Request for Expression of Interest with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Development and Recreation Committee prior to its issue.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee:

1.    Directed the General Manager, Shelter Support and Housing Administration to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee in the fourth quarter of 2016:

a.  On the City's obligations and requirements under the Municipal Shelter By-law and whether it should be amended to delegate authority for shelter approvals to the General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration; and

b.  On a standard community engagement process for proposed shelters; and

c. In consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, on the feasibility of implementing a process similar to the ‘Gold Star’ planning initiative to the shelter approval process.

City Council on July 12, 13, 14 and 15, 2016, referred Item CD13.16 back to the Community Development and Recreation Committee for further consideration.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee (CDRC) requested at their meeting of April 13, 2016, that Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) report to the June 23, 2016 meeting on its current divisional strategy to identify new and replacement services to ensure that housing and shelter services are available and accessible to all residents in all parts of Toronto. This report responds to that request.

This report provides an update on the City’s review of the Community Information Process (CIP), a component of the site review process for new shelters and shelters relocating to a new neighbourhood, required under the City’s Municipal Shelter By-law (By-law No. 138-2003) and related Council approved policies.  The engagement activities associated with the CIP review equally respond to Community Development and Recreation Committee's (CDRC) request for staff to report back to Committee on the use of a professional facilitator to assist with identifying best practices on raising awareness about homelessness issues and improving the City's community engagement when seeking to establish new and replacement shelter locations.