Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-04 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:00 p.m. Present: Mr. A. Bieronski, Chair Councillor S. Davey, Ms. D. Chapman, Ms. N. Bird, Ms. E. Clarke, Ms. J. Metzger, Ms. K. Porritt and Messrs. P. Doherty, S. Grande, A. Rahimi, M. Farwell and D. McKlusky. Staff: Mr. M. Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs and Services Ms. L. Korabo, Committee Administrator REGIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES - HOMELESS OUTREACH 1. Ms. L. Randall, Director of Social Planning, Policy and Program Administration, Region of Waterloo (RoW), advised that she and Ms. V. Vilaysinh, Manager of Social Planning, were in attendance at the Committee’s request, to provide an overview of the RoW’s housing stability system which deals with persistent homelessness and the conditions for ending homelessness. Following the presentation, feedback from Committee members regarding options for consideration in addressing short term transitions as well as long term planning would be appreciated. Ms. V. Vilaysinh shared the RoW’s ‘Homeless to Housing Stability Strategy’ first developed in 2007 and updated in 2012. The Strategy summarizes two complementary frameworks, being: The Policy Framework - providing guidelines for essential elements and key concepts to end homelessness, available resources and future policy directions; and, The Action Framework - 40 action items to be implemented in the next ten years. Ms. Vilaysinh acknowledged the complex social issues around homelessness which require a multi-dimensional system response. The RoW and other stakeholders have taken a leadership role by providing greater housing stability but acknowledge this is only one of many services required to support citizens of the Region; the importance of adopting a collaborative approach was also shared. Ms. Vilaysinh noted the RoW’s role is to manage the service system and fund service providers. She gave an overview ranging from those programs currently in place to conditions requiring strengthening at the system level in order to end homelessness, with the main approaches being: housing retention and rapid re-housing. Ms. Randall spoke of the Out of the Cold Program (OOTC) operated by community volunteers / churches during the winter months, offering warm meals and beds at rotating locations. She noted that four of the 11 OOTC sites have announced they will not be operating for the coming winter season. Statistics indicate that approximately 65 guests make use of the overnight accommodations and with the pending reduction of available sites, it is unknown how many will seek shelter at one of the Region’s six emergency shelters. Emergency shelters operated by the RoW offer a total of 187 beds with an additional 80 cots / mats available for use. A referral protocol system is in place to ensure that if one shelter is full, guests will be referred to another location or a motel if no additional space is available. Ms. Randall noted more flexibility in accepting guests due to recent changes in eligibility guidelines and commented this could provide a means to accommodate guests from OOTC more easily. Finally, she spoke of the different types of street outreach being undertaken in the community. In order to plan for a system-wide response to current realities, Regional staff is consulting with various community stakeholders on how best to respond in both the short and long term. A report will be presented to Regional Council in November, 2014. Mr. A. Bieronski thanked the delegation for their presentation. He advised the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee had identified homelessness as an issue and had added investigation of possible ways to become involved to their current work plan. Today, members are gathering information to inform their discussion / decision on how to best assist. Mr. M. Hildebrand added that specifically, the Committee is looking on how it can support the Region’s programming to allow for a possible expansion to cover the time period between 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. when no facilities are available for homeless individuals. Through general discussion, the following points were identified as the Committee’s input for Regional consideration on ways to improve upon the current services / outreach offered for people with persistent homelessness: SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 - 20 - CITY OF KITCHENER REGIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES - HOMELESS OUTREACH (CONT’D) 1. look at opportunities to extend the hours of street outreach workers to include evenings; address the lack of services / facilities available to homeless individuals between the hours of 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.; provide safe storage locations for the belongings of homeless individuals; and, address language and cultural barriers that may act as a deterrent to accessing services. Ms. S. Feeney spoke in support of the OOTC Program and cautioned the RoW’s strategy may not address the needs of all homeless individuals. It was her view the OOTC Program needed to work in conjunction with the shelter services offered by regional government. She shared the view there were still volunteers committed to carrying on with the OOTC Program but agreed that Regional shelters can assist on the evenings when no OOTC option exists. She requested the City consider undertaking its own street outreach program to reach more homeless individuals and to also join with the Region in implementing a housing strategy. Ms. C. Stewart Savage, Coordinator of the Friday OOTC Program, spoke of her experiences with the Program and of the supportive environment provided for its guests. Ms. Stewart Savage expressed concerns that Regional emergency shelters do not accept all people. She noted the motels used as shelters are generally located on arterial roads and cause difficulty for individuals returning to the core area to access other services. Mr. B. Switzer, Coordinator of the Friday OOTC Program (Waterloo), noted that homeless individuals who may be more ‘difficult’ cases tend to visit the OOTC facilities rather than go to emergency shelters. It was his opinion that emergency shelters face a perception problem of not being welcoming and open for all. He requested that brochures outlining various Regional programs be displayed at the rotating OOTC shelters for easy access by guests. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised the Committee he is currently preparing a report regarding a review of the OOTC and a review of options, as requested by Council. He further advised of Council’s direction that the report be tabled before the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee for comment. The finalized report will be presented at the Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on September 8, 2014. Council direction also included extending an invitation to Regional staff to present information on their homeless outreach program / services, similar to that provided today. City staff looked at establishing a city-led task force but consensus was it would be very difficult to get all appropriate stakeholders to the table to discuss and get all approvals in place. In order to not work in parallel, Mr. Hildebrand’s report will recommend the City of Kitchener actively support and participate in the stakeholder consultation being undertaken by the Region of Waterloo regarding the OOTC program. The Committee supported the position being put forward in Mr. Hildebrand’s report on options for the OOTC and homeless issues, as discussed this date and directed that this support be noted in his report. In response to a request for more concrete actions rather than simply supporting the Region’s consultation process, Councillor S. Davey offered to table some of the suggestions made during upcoming consultations. He noted that, as part of future discussions, the Committee may opt to discuss allocating some of its budget to assist in some capacity. JOINT MUNICIPAL SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMITTEE MEETING - UPDATE 2. The joint municipal planning committee continues to finalize plans for the November 18, 2014 Joint Municipal Safe and Healthy Committee meeting. The meeting will be held at the Rockway Golf Club from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and will include dinner. Attendance of approximately 30 people (10 per community – committee members and staff) is anticipated. Mr. D. McKlusky requested the Committee approve up to $1,000. of its current budget to assist with costs for the event. He advised the City of Waterloo representative is making a similar request. Mr. McKlusky advised that Mr. M. May, Deputy CAO – Community Services for the City of Kitchener has also agreed to provide yet-to-be-determined in-kind support. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 - 21 - CITY OF KITCHENER JOINT MUNICIPAL SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMITTEE MEETING - UPDATE (CONT’D) 2. On motion by Mr. D. McKlusky – it was resolved: “That the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee provide funding to an upset limit of $1,000. toward costs associated with the Joint Municipal Safe & Healthy Advisory Committees meeting scheduled to be held on November 18, 2014 at the Rockway Golf Club.” NEIGHBOURHOOD MATCHING FUNDS GRANT - UPDATE 3. Mr. M. Hildebrand advised that the Neighbourhood Matching Funds Grant is now available. He asked that the Committee communicate this information throughout their networks wherever possible. ADJOURNMENT 4. On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator