That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following motion due to the emergency nature of the situation, to advance the work being done by the Emergency Shelter Crisis Taskforce.
WHEREAS Ottawa is one of the coldest winter capitals in the world; and
WHEREAS many Emergency Shelters in Ottawa are only able to provide overnight accommodations, requiring individuals to leave during the day; and
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has an Extreme Heat, Cold and Smog Plan, that outlines when an emergency response may be initiated; and
WHEREAS there are multiple partners throughout the city who provide spaces for any individual seeking to stay warm or spend time throughout the day, including those experiencing homelessness; and
WHEREAS the City of Ottawa is facing unprecedented numbers of residents experiencing homelessness this winter, with those new to the shelter system having increased by 167% this year alone, including many unsheltered individuals who choose not to access shelters; and
WHEREAS there are many residents across Ottawa that are at risk of homelessness, who, would still benefit from access to warm spaces in the winter; and
WHEREAS those that may require safe, warm spaces overnight this winter are spread geographically across the city; and providing these services is an opportunity for unsheltered individuals to move safely inside, become stabilized, and access housing supports; and,
WHEREAS Section 4.2.3 the Official Plan permits shelters in all Urban Designations and zones; and,
WHEREAS Section 71 of the Zoning By-law permits land to be used for any use temporarily; and ,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Ottawa direct the General Manager, Community Social Services to work with the General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services; in collaboration with the Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health and Director, Corporate Real Estate Office, create an internal City Working Group to develop a long-term strategy for overnight warming spaces and other related winter services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff be directed to develop annual winter capital plans to identify locations for 24-hour warming spaces/respite centres and/or sites, and review available buildings, including City/agency-owned sites, Federal and Provincial-owned sites, private market spaces and/or community partner owned and/or operated spaces; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT that staff be directed to, as soon as possible, prepare a plan for expanding access to warm day-time spaces for the winter for those who are living unsheltered or at risk of homelessness, and leveraging the relationships with existing service partners and exploring new partnerships throughout the whole of the City for overnight spaces, and include plans for increasing capacity in the system prior to next winter 2024/25; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT these community-based warm spaces operate independent of the City of Ottawa’s existing Extreme Heat, Cold and Smog Plan or emergency responses with an initial focus on urban core areas, and be flexible in their offerings and use of available space.