HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-14-099 - Out of the Cold Program Follow up
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: September 8, 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services
Department (519-741-2200 x7079)
PREPARED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs
and Services, (519-741-2200 x7687)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: September 5, 2014
REPORT NO.: CSD-14-099
SUBJECT: OUT OF THE COLD STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS &
REVIEW OF OPTIONS
___________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
That City of Kitchener staff actively support, and participate in, the stakeholder
engagement process being undertaken by The Region of Waterloo regarding the
needs of Out of the Cold guests, as outlined in CSD-14-099.
BACKGROUND:
At its August 25, 2014 Council meeting, Kitchener City Council passed the following
resolution;
“That staff from the Region of Waterloo be invited to attend the September 8,
2014 Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting to present on
the issue of homelessness and the Out of the Cold Program (OOTC), including
what it would cost to assist the OOTC Program financially; and further,
That staff be directed to bring forward a joint recommendation, in conjunction
with Regional staff, to the September 8, 2014 Committee meeting on the
establishment of a taskforce involving social agencies, government, private
sector and other community partners, with the taskforce to bring forward
recommendations for short-term solutions at the November 10, 2014
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting and longer-term
solutions sometime thereafter.”
2 - 1
REPORT:
In response to the first clause of Council’s August 25 motion, staff from the Region of
Waterloo will be in attendance at the September 8, 2014 Community and Infrastructure
Services Committee meeting to provide a presentation on a number of issues related to
homelessness and recent developments with the Out of the Cold program.
In response to the second clause of Council’s August 25 motion, City and Regional staff
have met and engaged in a number of conversations over the past two weeks regarding
“a joint recommendation” that could be brought forward to Kitchener City Council.
During those discussions Regional staff indicated they had already received direction
from Regional Council (August 12, 2014) to engage a variety of stakeholders involved in
the Out of the Cold program and prepare a report examining a variety of options for
addressing the challenges faced by guests of the Out of the Cold Program. Recognizing
the limited time until the winter season is upon us, Regional Staff were directed to report
back to a Regional Committee meeting in November with the outcome of their
consultations and review of short-term options.
As part of their review of short-term options, Regional staff plans to engage the
following stakeholders to gather their input, ideas and suggestions:
Out of the Cold (OOTC) volunteers and guests,
The 6 shelters including:
YWCA Mary’s Place,
o
Charles Street Men’s Hostel,
o
Cambridge Shelter for women, men and families
o
R.O.O.F.,
o
Argus, and
o
Safe Haven
o
Support to end Persistent Homelessness (STEP) Home,
STEP Home Participant Advisory Group,
Public Health,
Crime Prevention Council,
Grand River Hospital,
Mental Health & Addictions,
Ontario Works,
Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), and
The Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre.
2 - 2
Expansion of Regional Stakeholder Consultations:
After reviewing the motion passed by Kitchener City Council on August 25, watching the
online video of the public delegations to Council, and meeting with City staff to discuss a
“joint recommendation”, Regional staff has agreed to expand their stakeholder
consultations to include:
City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo staff;
Several delegations that appeared at the August 25 meeting of City Council;
Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committees (Kitchener & Waterloo);
Ray of Hope; and,
The City of Kitchener’s Downtown Stakeholders Group; membership includes:
City of Kitchener (numerous staff and Mayor)
o
Region of Waterloo (numerous staff and Regional Chair)
o
Waterloo Regional Police
o
Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network
o
Crime Prevention Council
o
The Working Centre
o
House of Friendship
o
Downtown Kitchener BIA
o
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
o
Local MPs and MPPs
o
R.O.O.F.
o
Waterloo Regional Homes for Mental Health
o
These additional consultations will be used to help inform the report Regional staff will
be taking to their Council regarding short-term options for addressing the challenges
faced by guests of the Out of the Cold Program.
In addition to expanding the scope of their stakeholder consultations, in response to
Kitchener City Council’s August 25 motion Regional staff committed to reporting back to
their Council on September 9, 2014. Although yet to be confirmed, there will also be
opportunities for Regional staff to report back to Regional Council on September 30,
2014 and then again on November 4, 2014.
It is City’s staff’s understanding that once their review of short-term options is complete,
Regional staff will look to bring those concerned with the challenges faced by guests of
the Out of the Cold Program together for a collective, cross-sector dialogue (a “working
group” or “task force”) to explore long-term solutions.
2 - 3
Given Kitchener City Council’s interest in engaging stakeholders and exploring options
to help guests of the Out of the Cold Program (as outlined in its August 25 motion), the
following chart identifies the pros and cons of proceeding with two different approaches:
Option #1:
Establish a City led taskforce, separate from the Regional consultations,
to examine options to help guests of the Out of the Cold Program. This taskforce
could consist of members of the Downtown Stakeholders Group (listed above), as
well as some representation from OOTC volunteers and guests.
Option #2:
Work with the Region to support their consultations and review of
options to respond to the needs of the Out of the Cold guests.
Option # 1 Pros:Cons:
Establish a City led
Responds to the Would be a duplication of work
taskforce on the future
requests of the OOTC already underway by the
of the Out of the Cold
volunteers and guests Region to engage stakeholders
Program.
from August 25, 2014 and review options.
Council meeting.
Many of the same individuals
from the same groups would
Allows Kitchener City be needed for both the City
Council to demonstrate taskforce and the Regional
leadership on the issue consultation (duplication of
of homelessness and work and effort by
housing in the stakeholders. Inefficient use of
community.their time when timing is tight
before winter arrives).
A separate taskforce could
recommend actions that would
duplicate Regional efforts.
Within our existing two-tier
municipal structure,
homelessness and housing
clearly fall within the formal
jurisdiction of the Region. City
staff does not have the
expertise or relationships to
deal effectively with this issue
and its complexities.
The taskforce would have no
formal authority to direct the
Region to implement the
actions.
2 - 4
Option # 2 Pros:Cons:
Support the Region’s
A joint process is more There is an expectation
consultations and
efficient and effective amongst some of the
review of options for
for the stakeholders community that the City will
addressing the
involved – which is create a separate taskforce.
challenges faced by
particularly important
the Out of the Cold
given the limited time
Some OOTC guests indicated
Program and its
to complete a review
a general distrust of
guests.
before the winter
government and a preference
(avoids duplication of
to work with the City.
efforts).
Recommendations
coming out of these
consultations will go to
Regional Council which
has formal authority for
homelessness and
housing.
Regional staff are the
experts and can more
effectively lead this
review, while City staff
can provide support
and input into the
process.
Regional staff already
have substantial
contacts with
stakeholders who work
within and support
homelessness in our
community.
Based on this analysis, staff recommends proceeding with option 2 by actively
supporting and providing input into the Region’s consultations and the review of options
for addressing the challenges faced by Out of the Cold guests. This approach would
avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful duplication of efforts within the community
and allow Regional staff with the expertise and existing relationships to lead the
process, all of which increases the likelihood effective solutions can be found prior to
the beginning of winter.
2 - 5
Establishing a separate City taskforce would likely require time from the same
stakeholders, looking at the same issues, but potentially developing different
recommendations that could duplicate efforts, or even work at cross-purposes to the
consultations and actions that will be undertaken by the Region. As a result, this
approach is not recommended by staff.
While Option 2 does not include the creation of a City taskforce, staff believe the
expanded scope of the Region’s stakeholder consultations and their planned review
meets the objectives laid out in City Council’s August 25 motion in the following ways:
The Regional review of options will explore short and long term options;
The Region will engage a comprehensive list of stakeholders (including Out of
the Cold guests and volunteers);
This approach can be jointly supported by the Region and the City with the
Region taking a leadership role in the process;
City staff will be at the table to provide input into the consultation process; and,
A multi-stakeholder, facilitated discussion on long-term solutions will take place
once the short-term options have been considered.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Input Gathered from Downtown Stakeholders Group Meeting:
At the September 4 meeting of the Downtown Stakeholders Group, City staff provided a
summary of Council’s August 25 motion along with an outline of this report. Specifically,
the two options outlined above were shared with the group for discussion and feedback.
Also at this meeting, Regional staff provided an overview of their Homelessness to
Housing strategy. They shared the latest challenges faced by OOTC, confirmed that
consultations have already begun with stakeholders, and discussed the possible options
(both short-term and long-term) being considered. Questions and comments from the
group showed support for staff’s recommended approach (option 2 above).
Input Gathered from Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee:
At the September 4 meeting of the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee,
staff provided an update on Council’s August 25 motion and staff’s recommended
approach to stakeholder consultation (option 2). The committee unanimously supported
the approach being recommended by staff (option 2).
2 - 6
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Community Priority: Quality of Life – “Our shared vision is for Kitchener to be a
community that invests in maintaining basic services, in addition to
amenities such as community centres, museums, theatres, art
galleries, and leisure facilities …”
Strategic Directions: All voices matter; A city where everyone has a place; Nurture a
sense of pride and community; Community programs and facilities.
Community Priority: Dynamic Downtown – “Our shared vision is for Kitchener to be a
community that has built a vital and lively downtown which provides
all residents with a unique mix of exciting big-city amenities and
diverse services
Strategic Directions: Perception and Reality – Increase the sense of safety and vitality
of the downtown, with increased residential, options, enforcement,
green spaces, meeting places, cultural events and more.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None at this time.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Jeff Willmer, Chief Administrative Officer
2 - 7