HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-20-152 - Use of Affordable Housing FundingREPORT TO: Council
DATE OF MEETING:September 14, 2020
SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services
519-741-2200 ext. 7646
PREPARED BY:Karen Cooper, Manager, Strategic and Business Planning,
519-741-2200 ext. 7817
WARD (S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: Sept 10, 2020
REPORT NO.: DSD-20-152
SUBJECT: Use of Affordable Housing Funding
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the remaining $40,000 within the 2020 affordable housing budget be allocated to
Option 1 (supportive housing indoor/outdoor amenity space) as outlined within DSD-20-152.
PURPOSE:
As requested by Council on August 31, 2020, this report provides specific options for using the
$40,000 remaining in the 2020 affordable housing budget.
BACKGROUND:
At least 450 units of supportive housing are required in the City of Kitchener to meet the needs
of people who are homeless in our communityas indicated in the Needs Assessment presented
to Council on January 9, 2020.
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On February 24, 2020 Council participated in a Strategy Session on Affordable Housingand
discussed the top issues that the Housing Strategy should address. Council identified
homelessness as the top housing issue that needed to be addressed in Kitchener. Council
reiterated the importance of supporting the Region of Waterloo in their mandate to address this
issue and directed staff in developing the housing strategy to focus on actions that were within
Kitchener’s local authority and jurisdiction. Council did not want to see duplication of effort
between the City and the Region, and indicated they wanted to see collaboration.
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On August 31, 2020 Council received the Draft Housing Strategy as a part of report DSD-20-
108.The strategy focused on the actions Kitchener could take, how it could collaborate with the
Region and how it could advocate for the non-profit and private sector to attract federal and
provincial funding for affordable housing to be developed in the city. Council was interested in
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input from the Advisory Committee on the use of the modest $40,000 remaining in the affordable
housing fund.
REPORT:
Affordable Housing Strategy Advisory Committee
The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is composed of members of the public, Council,
the non-profit community, advocates, people with lived experience, the development community,
academia, and regional and city staff. Members of the Committee agree that responding to
homelessness is the top issue and the most pressing issue to address. The Advisory Committee
has focused on creating the “big ask” which included all participants’ plans and projects that
required funding and advocacy. The list is included in the draft Housing Strategy.
The following feedback has been received from members of the Advisory Committee with
respect to potential uses for the available funding:
One member of the Advisory Committee has suggested that the $40,000 remaining in the
2020 affordable housing budgetbe used to assist people in encampments. In a
subsequent email exchange amongst the committee members, people raised various
ideas on the use of the funds all pertaining to homelessness. Some wanted the funds to
go towards permanent supportive housing, some wanted it to go to services like water
and washroom facilities for people who were unsheltered. Each idea has merit, however
they all fall under the Region’s mandate to provide services and funding to address
homelessness.
At the August 31 Council meeting, Council heard a heartfelt delegation from one member
of the Advisory Committee to increase the amount of funding to approximately $94,000
and use it for a sanctioned encampment on a city site. A source of funding to increase
the available budget was notidentified by the delegation.
Since the August 31Council meeting, the Affordable Housing Definition sub-committee
members have communicated via email and met on September 9 to further develop their
ideas for a tiny home encampment on city property and have proposed 3 options as
included in the options section of this report.
Collaboration with the Region
Council directed staff to support the Region in developing permanent supportive housing that
people in the encampment at Lot 42/A Better Tent City can move into so the encampment can
be closed, and the site return to operating in compliance with the zoning bylaw.
Staff, acting on Council’s direction to work with the Region to find city and regional sites for
permanent supportive housing, recommended, inreport DSD-20-108, that the remaining
$40,000 in the Affordable Housing budget should be used to support this goal and to leverage
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opportunities to provide permanent modular supportive housing. Using funds in this way also
ensures that the City does not over step its bounds in being a direct provider of shelter space.
There is funding available from provincial and federal governments for permanent supportive
housing. It is timely to collaborate with the Region to develop housing on city and regional sites
in Kitchener that could be built quickly through private sector involvement and operated by our
community’s non-profit housing and service providers.
The aim is to secure sites and develop sites so occupancy can take place within a year.
The Region believes its plan to end homelessness for sheltered and unsheltered people
will result in everyone having accommodation in the coming months before winter.As
reported to Council, this includes closing the 51 space Charles Street emergency shelter and
replacing it with space for 120 men in hotel accommodation andspace for 80 to 90 people in
dormitory accommodation. The Region has recently made arrangements for funding for
emergency shelter space at a church, andnow is also providing funding forLot 42/A Better Tent
City to allow it to continue providing accommodation for approximately 40 people over the winter.
Options
Potential uses of the remaining $40,000 in 2020 funding for affordable housing include:
1. Aligning with the Region’s plans to provide permanent supportive housing.
***RECOMMENDED***
The funds could be used to provide better indoor or outdoor amenity space in the
supportive housing projects which are anticipated to commence within the next year.
Using the funds for this purpose is consistent with Council’s direction to collaborate with
the Region on moving unsheltered people to housing.This would have the effect of
improving the quality and comprehensiveness of the supportive housing development for
the benefit of residents and the surrounding host neighbourhood.
2. Supporting existing or planned projects being undertaken by the non-profit and service
providers as demonstrated in our non-profit needs list.
A request for expressions of Interest would be a fair way to allocate funds in this option.
The following options have been put forward by members of the Advisory Committee but are not
recommended for the reasons outlined:
3. Collaborating with non-profit service providers and/or private developers to pilot a ‘tiny
home’ project.
Concerns:
The amount of available funding is not sufficient for this option.
No non-profit has stepped forward or been identified to take this on.
The City does not have the resources to take this on.
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Council has previously stated that it does not wish to see the city take on Regional
responsibilities with respect to shelter services/affordable housing.
It is contradictory to request staff to support moving people from one encampment to
permanent housing and then authorize another encampment.
4. Collaborating with Region and non-profits to use Regional or City land to allow for
sanctioned encampments, and to have supportive services provided directly to them.
Concerns:
The amount of available funding is not sufficient for this option.
It is contradictory to request staff to move people from one encampment to permanent
housing and then authorize another encampment.
The Region is focusing its efforts on securing supportive funding for the interim hotel and
dorm style accommodation and for permanent supportive housing.
5. Collaborating with the Region to provide essential life services such as drinking water, and
mobile shower units to encampments and the unsheltered population.
Concerns:
The Region has the resources to take this on without City involvement.
Conclusion
Staff recommend that the $40,000 in available funding be used to provide permanent supportive
housing for people leaving homelessness, as it is a priority of the Advisory Committee, the
community and Council. Regional staff have indicated that the City’s investment in an interior or
exterior amenity space would be appropriate and appreciated. This recommendation keeps the
roles of the City and Region separate, distinct and complementary.
ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
2019-2022 Strategic Plan – Caring Community Goal: Enhance people’s sense of belonging
and connection by…helping to make housing affordable.
Strategic Plan Action: Create an Affordable Housing Strategy for Kitchener by 2020 in
collaboration with Waterloo Region, community groups and the development industry.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is $40,000 remaining in the Development Services Department operating budget for
affordable housing initiatives.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM - This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in advance of the
committee/council meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Service
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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