|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
December 14, 2004 | |
Author: |
Annitta Lee | |
Phone No.: |
871-6025 | |
RTS No.: |
04770 | |
CC File No.: |
2151 | |
Meeting Date: |
January 18, 2005 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of the Housing Centre |
SUBJECT: |
Grant for the Shelter Planning Project |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve a grant of $5,000 to support the Shelter Planning Project, "Responding to the Crisis in Homelessness Services". Source of funds is the Affordable Housing Fund.
This recommendation provides for a grant and requires eight affirmative votes of Council.
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. The City has undertaken several initiatives to prevent homelessness, including development of new social housing and provision of community services.
On January 5, 1999, City Council joined other Canadian municipalities in declaring homelessness a national disaster and passed a number of motions calling for action by the federal government and supporting FCM's call for Federal action.
On November 2, 2004, City Council received the draft Homeless Action Plan and referred it for public review, for report back early 2005.
DISCUSSION
The City's draft Homeless Action Plan (November 2004) recommends a significant increase in supportive housing as an effective way for people to move off the streets and develop more stable lives. The draft plan puts less emphasis on temporary accommodations such as shelter. However, the plan recognizes the need for planning for shelters, including the links to other forms of more permanent accommodation. Action 32 states:
"The Provincial Government and/or non-profit societies to modestly expand the shelter system in the short-term, until systemic changes are in place for social assistance and housing, with priority for areas outside the Downtown Eastside. Any shelter expansion within the Downtown Eastside should be based on demonstrated demand, linked to services and housing, and targeted to underserved groups."
A group of service providers and government agencies is sponsoring a project to plan for emergency shelter and transitional housing in Greater Vancouver over a 10 year period. The proposed Regional Shelter Plan is called "Responding to the Crisis in Homelessness Services: Proposal to Develop a Ten-year Strategy for Greater Vancouver". The plan will identify what types and quantities of shelter services are needed in Greater Vancouver, by population group and by sub-region. The project will also analyze options for reducing demand on the shelter system by increasing supportive/transitional and other forms of housing.
The City, the Ministry of Human Resources, and BC Housing each contributed $5,000 in the beginning of 2004 to support proposal development, stakeholder consultation and other work required in the preliminary phase of the project. Phase 1 was completed in November 2004. The required budget to complete the second phase is approximately $90,000, depending on project scope. A well-balanced range of organizations are committed to participate in the project including Covenant House BC, BC and Yukon Transition Houses, Salvation Army, Lookout Emergency Aid Society, St. James Community Services Society, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, and Vancouver Coastal Health.
Seven funding partners have been secured as follows:
1. Vancouver Coastal Health Authority $10,000
2. Fraser Health Authority 10,000
3. BC Housing 5,000
4. Township of Langley 3,870
5. City of New Westminster 2,500
6. Supportive Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) 45,000
7. Vancouver Foundation 8,500
$84,870
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A request for a financial contribution has been made to the Ministry of Human Resources which will assist with some of the administrative costs. Shelter Net BC Society will administer project funds. A consultant will be selected, through a letter of intent process. The City will participate in the Joint Task Force which will oversee the study and a smaller group within the Joint Task Force will direct the study.
It is appropriate that the City contribute $5,000 towards the completion of the project, thus matching the contribution of BC Housing. This is important work which will consider the regional shelter needs, and place the needs in the City of Vancouver within that regional context.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that Council approve a grant of $5,000 to support the Responding to the Crisis in Homelessness Services Project. It is critical to work together with all levels of government, emergency shelter providers and concerned communities to develop an effective strategy to respond to homelessness at both the regional and sub-regional levels. With the $5,000 contribution, the City will continue to participate in the Joint Task Group which is leading the project.
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