7.4.2 Homeless Support & Emergency Shelters Social & Health Services

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1 HOW DOES THIS SERVICE CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF LONDON? In relation to the desired population results in the City of London s Strategic Plan: A Strong Economy, A Vibrant and Diverse Community, A Green and Growing City, A Reliable Infrastructure, A Caring Community Individuals and families experiencing homelessness face many barriers in achieving housing stability and improved health outcomes. Programs designed to support the change from homeless to housed with support promotes a caring community and cultivates an environment to build on economic prosperity and community vitality. Programs focus on the goals of achieving housing stability and prevention and ensure that basic needs and emergency shelter are available to assist at-risk, transient individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and households at high risk of becoming homeless. Emergency Shelter is provided to individuals and families in need as well as transitional support and community supports for those leaving the shelter system. In addition, long term and transitional housing and supports with daily living activities to vulnerable adults are provided through domiciliary hostels. This program area also provides funding to various community agencies for programs to address and prevent homelessness with a focus on housing stability and is tied to both the London Community Housing Strategy and the London Community Plan on Homelessness. Federal and Provincial funds are managed in accordance with program and service contract requirements and include administrative funding. Efforts continue to align all homelessness related funding and services wherever possible within London s plans on Housing and Homelessness. The Ontario Long Term Affordable Strategy identifies significant change starting in 2012 to the funding of provincial homelessness programs and emergency shelters. # Staff Included in Ontario Works Service Cost per Household Name the main activities done to provide this service: BASIC FACTS 2012 Approved Gross Budget ($000) 2012 Approved Net (Tax/Rate- Supported) Budget ($000) $8.52 $7,670 $1,427 How much did we do? (statistics - optional) 1. Emergency Shelter services In 2011 the 360 shelter beds operated at 87% capacity 2. Domiciliary Hostel services In 2011 we served approximately 36 individuals 3. Community Funding and In 2011 we assisted Purchase of Service approximately 161 Administration households through the Provincial Rent Bank and Is this service provided by someone other than City staff? (Yes/No/%) Yes 100% Yes 90% Yes 90% Page 1 of Business Plan

2 approximately 978 households through the Energy Emergency Funding and THAW. TURNING THE CURVE Turning the curve is changing the direction of a trendline on a important measure of performance. 130 Shelter Occupancy (How well did we do? or Is anybody better off?) Actual Forecast Target Average Number of Individuals Served in Shelters per Month (How much did we do?) Actual Forecast Target THE STORY BEHIND THE CURVES There is only one solution to homelessness: Housing with support. Without intervention and oversight into the daily operations of emergency shelters or programs that focus on housing with supports the occupancy rates of emergency shelters would quickly escalate to well over 100%. Individuals will stay longer in the shelters, and more individuals will seek emergency shelter resulting in spiking costs, increased use of emergency resources and diminished health outcomes. Page 2 of Business Plan

3 Provincial and City plans including the Ontario Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy, the London Community Housing Strategy and the London Community Plan on Homelessness are all aligned in the strategies and actions required to have in place the foundations of housing and support. Efforts are well underway to achieve a reduction of the number of emergency shelter beds operating in the City and to working with individuals residing in emergency shelters to be successful in securing and maintaining their housing. The City of London is designated by the Province of Ontario to be the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) for homelessness. This involves coordinating and planning for services in this area. In 2010 the Province released its Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy. The first phase of consolidation will include five homelessness-related programs, including Emergency Shelters, Domiciliary Hostels, the Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Program (CHPP), Energy Emergency Funding (EEF), and Rent Bank. By July 1, 2012 the Province is expected to announce the new funding model. This change, along with the City direction to decrease shelter beds by 15%, will serve as the catalyst for community change that is exclusively focused on housing with support. The London Community Housing Strategy was approved by Council in June, The implementation plan on the London Community Housing Strategy and the London Community Plan on Homelessness (approved November 2010) will address revised service targets, program initiatives and outcomes. This program is placing a higher focus on housing stability and will support homeless individuals in finding and maintaining housing. By housing more individuals experiencing homelessness there will be reduced numbers of individuals served in shelters. Stabilizing housing for individuals experiencing homelessness is supported by the various programs funded from all orders of government and include: 100% Provincial Funding: Energy Emergency Fund (EEF) for CMSM Rent Bank for CMSM Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Strategy (CHPP) for CMSM 100% Federal Funding: Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) 100% Municipal Funding: The Heat and Warmth Program (THAW) Mayors Anti-Poverty Action Group (MAPAG) Housing Support Services was established in 2006 through a Municipal Council by-law and service arrangement to identify a single service partner to consolidate The Heat and Warmth (THAW), Energy Emergency Fund and Rent Bank programs. These programs are administered under a single agreement with the Salvation Army, Centre of Hope Housing Support Services. o The Salvation Army Housing Support works with the private sector services, and funders including London Hydro and Union Gas in delivering a continuum of supports from homelessness prevention to home security. o The Rent Bank provides interest-free loans to assist low-income Londoners to avoid housing crisis and eviction. o The Heat and Warmth Program (THAW) and the Energy Emergency Fund assist low income Page 3 of Business Plan

4 Londoners who are experiencing a utility crisis with financial assistance to their utility company. Program strategies include updating local rules to support the economic trends and needs of individuals at risk of losing their housing including seniors and homeowners. The City of London serves as the Community Entity for the federal Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) at the invitation of the London Homeless Coalition. The federal funds are allocated by the City under contract with the federal government and in accordance with local priorities established through the Community Plan on Homelessness. The current funding stream concludes March 31, STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLANS TO TURN THE CURVE Briefly explain the strategies and action plans you will undertake in the next 5 years to improve effort, efficiency, effectiveness and economy, including at least one no-cost/ low-cost strategy. Who are your partners and what is their role? The City works with a range of community services and funded agencies from a wide range of sectors including health, justice and corrections, social and public services. Direction 3.7 of the Community Plan on Homelessness (CPH) states to Convene a summit of funders to align with the CPH. By taking a collaborative approach with other funders the City develops a respected role as the municipal leader and can guide the harmonization of funding with a focus aimed at improved outcomes for individuals and efficient and effective application of funding resources. This supports: - decreased duplication of services - the prevention of overlap of funding from different sources - case focused protocols that assist with diversion away from emergency services and better support to the individual - promotes innovation and partnership Action Plan Efforts will continue to engage the Federal and Provincial governments in increasing their service commitment and funding to this most vulnerable population. Permanent solutions to homelessness through housing with support will be the main focus. The Community Plan on Homelessness provides a focused set of actions that are both no or low cost including efforts of collaboration, decreasing duplication of service and improved quality of life for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. A key action is to maintain the focus of active community engagements to support and advance the change planning. Programming, service reviews and enhancements will be compatible with the findings and recommendations of the London Community Housing Strategy and Community Plan on Homelessness, London CAReS and in partnership with shelter providers, community service providers and stakeholders. Housing and homelessness initiatives will be fully integrated and administration within the City will be centralized. An improved database will be implemented in 2013 that will assist in tracking success of this program. Page 4 of Business Plan

5 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND STORIES Accomplishments, successes, improvements to efficiencies, economy and effectiveness in the last 12 months and stories of people who have been positively impacted by your Service. The November 2010 approval by Council of the Community Plan on Homelessness was based on a highly participatory process which has resulted in a strong commitment to the full implementation of the 29 recommendations. Agencies are speaking and working together differently and recognize not all funding will continue with the way it was. The Council approved Emergency Shelter Guidelines focuses the efforts of all the shelters into having simple and similar operating practices that improve service delivery by both the service user and other cross-sectoral service providers. The City has been an active and participating partner on a number of homelessness focused research projects including: - National Veterans Project: London is the sponsor of this two year pilot ($2M national project) on housing with support of veterans experiencing homelessness; - Youth Matters, studying the effects and solutions to youth experiencing homelessness; - Poverty and Social Inclusion studying the effect of poverty with individuals living with mental health issues; and - Health and Homelessness studying the health service path for individuals experiencing homelessness. The strength of the Community Plan on Homelessness is its collaboration and strong partnerships and direct involvement by the City on planning and program development. The Provincial Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy will direct sweeping changes to the emergency shelter structure. Announcement is anticipated in July OTHER KEY MEASURES (optional) Description of measure Households assisted through Provincial Rent Bank Household assisted through THAW and Energy Emergency Funding MEASURES UNDER DEVELOPMENT What important performance measures have you identified for which you do not currently collect the data? The number of individuals that experience homelessness that achieved housing stability will be an important measure that we currently do not have reliable data on. An integrated database will improve the tracking of individuals served by multiple agencies and counts will be based on unique individuals served across funded agencies. The London Community Plan on Homelessness identifies the count to be completed by Page 5 of Business Plan