Item - 2018.CD30.5

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve the receipt of $250,000 in 2018-2019, and $250,000 in 2019-2020, and ongoing, for housing assistance for, among others, households included in the special priority category under the Housing Services Act, 2011.

2.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to enter into a Transfer Payment Agreement, and related agreement(s) with the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Finance or either of them, to facilitate the delivery of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Portable Housing Benefit - Special Priority Policy Program and, subject to the appropriate budget approvals, any amendments thereto to extend the term of the program beyond 2020, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

3.  City Council amend the Approved 2018 Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration by $250,000 gross and $0 net to deliver the Portable Housing Benefit - Special Priority Policy Program and include $250,000 gross and $0 net in Shelter, Support and Housing Administration's 2019 recommended budget.

4.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration,  as appropriate, to enter into agreements or other suitable arrangements with other City divisions, provincial agencies, community agencies, private entities and/or individuals to deliver the Portable Housing Benefit - Special Priority Policy Program in accordance with the provincial guidelines for the program.

The Ministry of Housing (MHO) has made $30,000,000 in funding available, province-wide, for the Portable Housing Benefit - Special Priority Policy (PHB - SPP) Program. The PHB - SPP Program is an extension of the Survivors of Domestic Violence – Portable Housing Benefit (SDV-PHB) pilot program, which was introduced in 2016. The program will provide a monthly housing benefit to survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking who have special priority policy (SPP) status on the Centralized Waiting List. Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) estimates that the funds allocated under this program will assist up to 500 households in Toronto to secure housing over two years.

The PHB - SPP Program aims to provide SPP households with additional options to meet their housing needs, alleviate pressure on the social housing system, and builds on the success of the pilot. Instead of staying in shelters or other precarious housing situations until a social housing unit becomes available, this program will provide survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking with the option to receive a portable housing benefit so they can quickly find housing in their community. This program also supports the Province’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy (LTAHS) to provide more portable housing benefits, enabling people to more quickly find housing in their preferred locations.

Like the pilot, this program will be administered by SSHA. To receive this funding, SSHA is required to enter into a new Transfer Payment Agreement with the Ministry of Housing (MHO). This report recommends the necessary actions to receive and administer this funding.