WHEREAS on page 4 of the Integrated Transition to Housing Strategy Report (ACS2023-CSS-GEN-006), hereafter referred to as the report, as part of its medium term strategies identifies, “… a plan for systems change to support housing objectives for clients experiencing homelessness, …”; and
WHEREAS the Systems Change to Support Housing Objectives is further elaborated on page 21, “Should additional capacity in the form of a new facility be required in the system over the medium term, the City will work with the community to identify the best operating model or focus to support the broader system, including continuing with the principles of the Housing First Approach adopted in 2015; and
WHEREAS on page 9 of the report, it states that the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan has as its first core goal, “Everyone has a home,..”; and
WHEREAS on page 19 of the report, the goal of the Enhanced Housing Allowance for Singles Prototype is, “to quickly reduce the number of clients needing to be served by the shelter system and enable the phasing out of PDCs,” and
WHEREAS Councillor King’s Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) motion was carried at Community Services Committee on Feb 28 and was approved at Council on March 8, 2023; and
WHEREAS the motion prioritized considering permanent housing options over a reliance to use recreational spaces as shelters (PDCs); and
WHEREAS the motion’s first resolution states, “that the City explore supportive housing options using the third round of Rapid Housing Initiative by working with non-profits, community organizations, and housing providers for eligible clients housed in shelter or PDCs and report back to Community Services Committee and Council with evidence of these efforts and final projects selected for funding;” and
WHEREAS the government of Ontario through its Community Housing Renewal Strategy and response to COVID-19, has prioritized housing first and supportive housing to address homelessness for vulnerable Ontarians, including streamlining and simplifying The Homelessness Prevention Program’s access to provincial housing and homelessness supports; and
WHEREAS Minister Clarke, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, when announcing the investment into the program, stated that these investments were critical “…so our municipal partners can spend more time focusing on providing vulnerable Ontarians with the supports they need to stay in their homes or get the housing they need.” ; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Strategy explicitly states a Housing First Approach, by “… moving people experiencing homelessness —particularly people experiencing chronic homelessness—rapidly from the street or emergency shelters into stable and long-term housing, with supports. The goal is to encourage housing stability and improved quality of life for persons served by Housing First and, to the extent possible, foster self-sufficiency.”; and
WHEREAS the city has discretion to provide funding consistent with the housing first principles espoused by all our levels of government;
WHEREAS “Shelter” is defined by Part 1 - Section 54 of the Zoning Bylaw as an establishment providing temporary accommodation to individuals who are in immediate need of emergency accommodation and food, and may include ancillary health care, counselling and social support service;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT any organization that receives funding from the city, or funding administered by the city, for programming to shelter people without homes (as defined by Part 1- Section 54 and applied to Part 5 – Section 134 of the Zoning Bylaw) are required to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the General Manager Community and Social Services Department, how their proposal will meet the requirements of the housing first principles expressed in this report, and assist in the transition to permanent, suitable housing options.