Vancouver City Council |
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 8, 2003
Author/Local: C. Gray/7207
RTS No. 03500
CC File No. 4661/2201
Meeting Date: July 22, 2003
TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
Director of the Housing Centre
SUBJECT:
Seniors Housing Information Program
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a $5,000 grant to the Seniors Housing Information Program (SHIP) from the Affordable Housing Fund to allow their outreach program to operate until funding can be made available through the next Supporting Community Partnerships Initiative proposal call.
This is a grant and requires 8 votes in support.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council's social housing priorities are to: Maintain and expand housing opportunities in Vancouver for low and modest income households with priority being given to families with children; seniors on fixed incomes or in need of support; SRO residents; and the mentally ill, physically disabled, and others at risk of homelessness.
BACKGROUND
The Seniors Housing Information Program (SHIP) was established in 1987 and provides a variety of services to seniors and other vulnerable adults at risk of homelessness. They work closely with the City's Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) and other service providers in the City. For the two years ending March 2003, SHIP was able to expand its outreach services through a $73,000 grant from Human Resources Development Canada's (HRDC) Supporting Community Partnerships Initiatives (SCPI) program.
DISCUSSION
In the 2003 federal budget, SCPI was extended for another 3 years. SHIP is seeking funding from BC Housing, GVHC and the City to continue their expanded outreach services until the next SCPI proposal call which is to take place this summer with funds to be allocated later in the fall. SHIP's letter is attached as Appendix A. BC Housing has committed to a grant of $10,000 to SHIP, and GVHC is prepared to provide a matching a grant of $5000. Maintaining SHIP's outreach while the Province's welfare system is being restructured with many facing reduced benefits and possible displacement is very important. TAP has experienced increasing demands on its services and any loss of support will only aggravate the problem. It is therefore recommended that Council approve a grant of $5,000 to SHIP, with the source of funding to be the Affordable Housing Fund. As this is a grant, 8 votes of Council are required.
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