1955 THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK REPORT NO. 1 OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HOUSING For Consideration by The Council of The Regional Municipality of York on September 28, 2000 1 REPORT OF YORK REGION HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE 1. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that: 1. Regional Council receive the Report of the York Region Homelessness Task force entitled Responding to Homelessness in York Region From Awareness to Action. 2. The report be referred to staff for analysis, determination of feasibilty and the development of implementation strategies, where appropriate. 3. That staff be authorized to work with area municipalities to assess the issues impacting on both area municipalities and the Region and to develop joint strategies as appropriate. 4. Regional Council consider matching the $300,000 annual funds provided by the Province to the Region for the Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund and refer this for consideration within the overall 2001 Business Plan for the Community Services and Housing Department. 5. The Regional Municipality of York, in concert with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Administrators Association, the Canadian Home Renewal Association, the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and others, strongly advocate for renewed federal and provincial funding for construction of affordable housing and for the development of a National Housing Policy.
1956 6. Regional Council approve the allocation of $5,000 from the current Homelessness Initiatives Fund to support community driven public education initiatives identified by the Alliance on Homelessness and Social Isolation. 7. The Task Force Report be circulated to York Region area municipalities, local MPPs and MPs, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Administrators Association, the Canadian Home Renewal Association, Human Resources Development Canada, the Ontario Non- Profit Housing Association, the Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Health and Long-Term Care, and Community and Social Services. 2. PURPOSE The York Region Homelessness Task Force report provides a snapshot of the growing problem of homelessness in the Region and outlines the factors contributing to the problem. In a proactive manner, the Task Force identifies issues that must be addressed in developing an implementable strategy for York Region and contains recommendations to address the issues both immediate and in the long-term. 3. BACKGROUND In the fall of 1998, the Provincial Homelessness Task Force designated Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (including York Region) to co-ordinate and support homelessness initiatives. The Region received the first annual allocation of $300,000 from the Province. The Homelessness Initiatives Fund supports community-based projects providing direct services to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness in our region. Following a broad-based community consultation, Regional Council adopted priorities for allocation of the funds in July 1999 in a report titled Strengthening The Ties That Bind and established a Homelessness Task Force. In September 1999, Regional Council appointed twenty-eight people to the Homelessness Task Force to study the extent and nature of homelessness in York Region and to develop long-term strategies to address homelessness this issue. Regional Councillor Tony Wong was appointed as Chair and Regional Councillor Janet Mabley, Vice-Chair. Other members of the Task Force include regional and local municipal councillors, representatives from community agencies and service providers, staff from federal, provincial and regional governments, and community members. The Task Force studied the findings of other similar task forces, current practices in the Region, and the successful approaches of other jurisdictions. The Task Force also created three work teams to study approaches to build community capacity, increase affordable housing supply, and identify services and supports to the homeless.
1957 The Task Force has completed an extensive consultation and deliberation process. It has also considered the preliminary findings of the Region s Human Services Strategy Report and has received input from the Human Services Strategy Project Manager. The attached report of the Homelessness Task Force defines the nature and degree of the homelessness problem in York Region and identifies a number of issues that must be addressed in developing an implementable strategy for the Region. 4. LINKAGES WITH OTHER REGIONAL INITIATIVES The Homelessness Task Force worked in a highly complex environment. York Region has experienced continuing rapid growth. Planners and service providers are concerned this growth will lead to increased affordable housing shortages and the need for co-ordinated human services planning. The Region has responded to these concerns by leading the development of a Human Services Strategy to guide the development of a wide range of health, social services, education, recreation and other community services over the next 25 years. The Region has also undertaken a Housing Needs Study to provide an up-to-date analysis of housing types, distribution and costs, household incomes and affordability indices, support and community infrastructure factors that affect access to housing for the residents of York Region. The Human Services Strategy Report and the Housing Needs Study, as well as the report of the Homelessness Task Force, will be considered by Regional Council in the autumn of 2000. Ongoing communication on issues at both staff and political levels will ensure consistent and complementary recommendations. The Homelessness Task Force considered the deliberations of the Human Services Steering Committee into account in the preparation of its report. 5. ANALYSIS The York Region Homelessness Task Force has spent a year identifying the major causes of homelessness and possible solutions to the problem in York Region. The Task Force realized that the nature and extent of the homelessness problem in the Region is different from that in other cities across Canada. There are few street people. Many homeless people are virtually invisible because they visit with friends and relatives until they wear out their welcome. Other people are under-housed, living in buildings that are structurally unsafe or overcrowded. The Region has the opportunity to identify effective solutions to homelessness and to prevent the erosion of its quality of life. The challenge the Region now has is that of engaging the broader community, including other levels of government and business, in solving a situation that, if left unattended, can erode the quality of life enjoyed by residents of the region.
1958 The Executive Summary of the Task Force Report provides a summary of the recommendations identified in the report. In view of the complexity and far-reaching implications of the issues, a number of the recommendations will require further study and analysis to ensure that they are practical and implementable. Thus, this report recommends that Regional Council direct staff to study the feasibility and implications of the Task Force recommendations and prepare, where appropriate, an Implementation Plan for Council consideration. The strategy is complex and multi-faceted. It requires commitment from all levels of government, the community, the private sector and provider agencies. The Region has been given responsibility for co-ordination of homelessness initiatives and has invested considerable time (of both elected officials and staff) in the development of the strategy. Many of the recommendations require that the Region take a leadership role in specific components of the strategy. To supplement staff involvement, it is important that the Region be seen to contribute directly to the community initiatives that are outlined in the report. For this reason, this report recommends that the Region match the funds provided by the Province to enhance the capacity of the community to meet the needs of people who are homeless or those at risk of homelessness. 6. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The Province has provided annual funding of $300,000 to the Region for support of homelessness initiatives. However, there continues to be a growing need for resources to support initiatives recommended by the Task Force and the broader community that would require additional funding support. As an indication of its commitment and support, it is recommended that the Region establish a matching fund of $300,000 (100% Regional funding) in its 2001 budget to be used for the implementation of the Task Force recommendations and related Homelessness Prevention initiatives. At this time a recommendation has also been included to provide funding in the amount of $5000.00 from within the existing Homelessness Initiatives fund to support community education initiatives through the Alliance on Homelessness and Social Isolation. 7. LOCAL MUNICIPAL IMPACT There is no immediate financial impact on the local municipalities. However, residents of local municipalities who find themselves homeless will receive support under the proposed programs. Prevention of homelessness also supports the quality of life in local communities. Some of the recommendations of the Task Force (such as those pertaining to development charges and zoning by-law issues such as secondary suites) are within the jurisdiction of local municipalities, require consultation with and the agreement of local municipal councils and would have an impact on local municipalities if they are implemented.
1959 8. CONCLUSION Addressing homelessness in York Region requires vision and commitment. The Regional Municipality of York is already building on the capacity and strength of its communities, citizens and agency partners to not only meet the needs of those currently homeless, but also to take pro-active steps to prevent homelessness for those who are at risk. The Homelessness Task Force report is the result of months of deliberations by a joint committee of politicians, service providers, community representatives, and staff from all levels of government. The Region can take a leadership role in addressing the growing problem of homelessness by endorsing and supporting the implementation, where feasible, of the recommendations of the Task Force. This report has been reviewed by the Senior Management Group. Respectfully submitted, September 20, 2000 Newmarket, Ontario Joann Simmons Commissioner of Community Services and Housing ( was adopted, without amendment, by Regional Council at its meeting on September 28, 2000.)