|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
December 22, 2003 | |
Author: |
Cameron Gray | |
Phone No.: |
7207 | |
RTS No.: |
03864 | |
CC File No.: |
2004 | |
Meeting Date: |
January 13, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of the Housing Centre |
SUBJECT: |
Grant Request: 2004 National Conference of the Canadian Housing & Renewal Assn. |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a grant of $10,000, with funding to be provided from the Affordable Housing Fund, for the 2004 National Conference of the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association that is being held in Vancouver at the end of March 2004; the grant would be paid to BC Housing who is organizing and financing the conference on behalf of CHRA.
This is a grant and requires 8 affirmative votes of Council.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services recommends approval.
POLICY
Council policy is to provide grants to conferences where senior staff is involved in presenting or organizing the conference and the conference is relevant to City business.
In 1994, Council set a limit of $5,000 for grants to conferences. Funding for conferences has typically been provided from Contingency Reserve.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval of a $10,000 grant for the 2004 national conference of the Canadian Housing & Renewal Assn. which will be held in Vancouver at the end of March 2004.
BACKGROUND
Established in 1968, the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association (CHRA) is the national non-profit organization that promotes access to adequate, affordable housing for low and modest income households, and seeks to heighten awareness of affordable housing issues through research, advocacy, net working and communication. CHRA members include non-profit societies that provide affordable housing, municipalities, provincial housing agencies, developers and advocacy organizations.
2004 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
CHRA's 2004 national conference will be held in Vancouver from March 31 to April 3, 2004. The theme of the conference is "Sustainable Communities: Building the new urban landscape". The conference will bring together 400 delegates to discuss the critical role of housing in building healthy communities and a new Canadian urban landscape. It is being co-chaired by Chief Executive Officer of BC Housing and the City's Director of the Housing Centre, and will include presentations and tours involving City staff.
The Province through BC Housing and the Federal Government through CMHC are each contributing $50,000 to the conference. It is recommended that the City provide a grant of $10,000 for CHRA's 2004 national conference, with funding to be provided from the Affordable Housing Fund. The grant higher than the $5,000 limit set in 1994 is recommended given the funding and policy restructuring which is currently underway in the area of affordable housing and homelessness, and the importance of the issue to Vancouver. The conference should provide an important forum for the discussion of national and regional housing policy. The grant would be paid to BC Housing who is organizing and financing the conference on behalf of CHRA.
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