ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: December 21, 2000
Author/Local: Annitta Lee/6025

RTS No. 01791

CC File No. 2151

Council: January 9, 2001

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of the Housing Centre
SUBJECT:	Grant Request for Marpole Temporary Shelter

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve a grant of $50,000 to Lookout Emergency Aid Society for operating a temporary winter shelter at 8982 Hudson Street for 2000/2001. Source of funds is the Affordable Housing Fund.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council's housing priorities are low and modest income families with children, seniors, low-income singles living in downtown rooming houses and hotels, and those with mental
or physical disabilities.

Since 1996, Council has approved an annual grant of $50,000 to Lookout Emergency Aid Society for a temporary winter shelter at 8982 Hudson.

A grant requires 8 votes of Council.

BACKGROUND

The Marpole Shelter has been operated by Lookout Emergency Aid Society on a temporary basis since the winter of 1996. The City has provided a grant of $50,000 for four previous winters.

DISCUSSION

Marpole Shelter is an important part of the Lower Mainland cold wet weather strategy which provides 400 shelter beds for the homeless. Marpole provides 50 beds and the occupancy at the shelter is high. The normal operating period for Marpole Shelter is from November 15 to April 30. Last year, due to funding and the relatively mild weather, Marople closed on March 30. With the early closure, Marpole has housed 616 individuals, up from prior years in the same time period, despite more shelter beds being available through the Haven and other shelters. Last year 235 individuals were turned away mainly due to no bed or no appropriate bed available.

The shelter has been operating in a temporary location and is a former remand centre, owned by the British Columbia Building Corporation, and is for sale.

The "hometown" of those accommodated last year is as follows:

Vancouver 60.9%

Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley/Sunshine Coast 8.8%

Rest of B.C. 9.3%

Rest of Canada 21.0%

The total projected expenses and sources of funding for the Marpole Shelter are as follows:

2000/2001

$421,331

Ministry of Social Development & Economic Security -Grants and Cold Wet Weather Strategy, Vancouver Richmond Health Board, City of Vancouver, Supporting Community Partnership Initiatives Funding, Vancouver Community Mental Health, Central City Mission Foundation and Donations.

The letter of request including a detailed budget is in Appendix A (on file in City Clerk's Office). $63,143 has been carried over from last year mainly due to the early closure. This amount will be used to offset the expenses needed to operate the facility for 5.5 months this winter.

A new shelter will soon be under construction at 5^th and Yukon. When it opens, the temporary shelter at Marpole will no longer be necessary. It is hoped that the new shelter will be open by the end of 2001.

When the temporary shelter opened, Lookout met with local businesses and neighbours to foster a positive relationship. This has continued and few complaints have been received about the facility. Local groups and individuals continue to provide donations and volunteer services such as cleaning and resume-writing assistance.

In conclusion, it is recommended that the City provide a grant to Lookout for the operation of a temporary shelter at 8982 Hudson Street. The shelter meets a need for temporary winter accommodation outside the Downtown core. It is well run and has generated few complaints from its neighbours.

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