Item - 2018.CD29.4

The Community Development and Recreation Committee:

1.  Directed the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to conduct a review of current City of Toronto infrastructure uses against the needs identified through the Downtown West service system review in order to optimize facility use to best meet community needs and report back in the first quarter of 2019 on these findings.  

2.  Directed the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to identify options for the proposed operating structure and funding resources to support the new Alexandra Park Community Centre and report back in the first quarter of 2019 on the findings of this process.   

3.  Directed the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to notify community agencies operating in the downtown west of new funding opportunities through the Community Partnership Investment Program and Shelter, Support and Housing Administration grant programs as they become available to address local needs.

4.  Directed the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to explore funding options available to support potential supportive housing opportunities, as part of the review of the University Settlement and surrounding area campus plan.

5.  Directed the General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services to assess the need for a full-time staff person to support the Alexandra Park neighbourhood and other opportunities to promote access to Employment and Social Services' employment supports and services to the residents.

The City's Social Development, Finance and Administration Division has been leading a multi-stakeholder review of the local community services in the downtown west area of the City. The Downtown West area is bounded by College Street to the North, Adelaide Street to the South, University Avenue to the East and Bathurst Street to the West. The intent of this service system review is to identify current and planned community assets, service overlaps and/or gaps, and opportunities for service improvements. This report presents the findings of the review for consideration.

In addition to the service review, this report outlines the framework for a Social Development Plan for the Alexandra Park community which sits within the Downtown West area boundaries and is currently undergoing a revitalization process.