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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2023-422 - Supplemental Report to DSD-2023-295 - Housing for All Strategy Lived Expertise Working Group Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole DATE OF MEETING: September 25, 2023 SUBMITTED BY: Rosa Bustamante, Director of Planning, 519-741-2200 ext. 7319 PREPARED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager, Policy & Research, 519-741-2200 ext. 7648 Garett Stevenson, Manager of Development Review, 519-741-2200 ext. 7070 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: September 19, 2023 REPORT NO.: DSD-2023-422 SUBJECT: Supplemental Report to DSD-2023-295 Housing for All Strategy Lived Expertise Working Group RECOMMENDATION: That the $30,000 already committed to the operation of the Lived Expertise Working in DSD-2023-295; and, That the City transfer $23,600, inclusive of interim funds authorized by resolution of Council on June 26, 2023, to the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (SDCWR) for year 2 costs in accordance with the Purchase of Services Agreement signed June 13, 2022, extended to August 31, 2023; and, That staff be authorized to extend the Purchase of Services Agreement, signed June 13, 2022 (and extended to August 31, 2023) to June 30, 2024 to complete the second year of the LEWG pilot; and further, That staff, together with the facilitator of the Lived Expertise Working Group, report back to Council at the conclusion of the pilot program in 2024 on the outcome of the pilot. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of this report to provide an update on conversations between Planning staff, the Social Development Center Waterloo Region (facilitator) and the Lived Expertise Working Group. Planning staff recommends to continue proceeding with year 2 of the Lived Expertise Working Group with a specific focus on matters outlined in the LEWG Charter and work plan described in this report. The financial implications are outlined in report DSD-2023-295. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. council / committee meeting. The LEWG year 2 work plan was prepared, discussed and agreed to by members of the LEWG and Kitchener Planning staff. that stable, secure and affordable housing is a human right. Further, that the City will use equity, diversity and inclusion principles to realize the right to housing. BACKGROUND: On June 26, 2023, Council considered report DSD-2023-295 which sought Council support for the continued funding and work of the Lived Expertise Working Group (LEWG). At this meeting Council resolved: to allow for an opportunity to further discuss the partnership with the Lived Expertise Working Group (LEWG) and Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (SDCWR) about the preferred approach to establish a City driven Lived Experience Working Group, and during this two month deferral, the City will continue to providing funding to the SDCWR in accordance with the previously approved agreement: That the $30,000 already committed to the operation of the Lived Expertise Working Group (LEWG) for year 2 from DSD-2023-295; and, That the City transfer $23,600 to the SDCWR (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region) for year 2 costs in accordance with the Purchase of Services Agreement signed June 13, 2022; and further, That staff, together with the facilitator of the Lived Expertise Working Group, report back to Council at the conclusion of the On August 28, 2023, Council received a report from Planning staff requesting additional time to confirm a work plan for year 2 with the LEWG, with a commitment to report back to Council on September 25, 2023. REPORT: Throughout July and August, City staff and staff from the Social Development Center Waterloo Region (SDCWR) had conversations about opportunities to continue to work jurisdiction. These conversations have led to a mutual understanding of the following; - during year 1, there were some gaps in City staff support, - consistent City staff resourcing is required to support the LEWG work program and help to guide the work of the LEWG, - that Planning staff will continue to provide staff support to the LEWG and will attend two evening meetings a month until June 2024, - a lived expertise lens is irreplaceable and lived experts are valued and bring a diverse perspective to housing related work that is currently underway by the Planning Division, - that decision making and consultation on encampments and encampment related issues are not within the mandate of LEWG and not part of the year 2 work program, - A two- year pilot project for staff to work with and learn from a Lived Experience Working Group on addressing housing issues in the city, to gain advice on strategy and - that stable, secure, affordable housing is a human right and needs to be available for everyone. ision continued to attend and participate in dialogue with the LEWG. The result of these collaborative discussions is a Charter that includes a work plan for year 2 of the LEWG that focuses on: A re-confirmation of the role/mandate of the LEWG as outlined in the attached Charter and work plan All Strategy, and a human rights approach to housing as defined in the Housing For All Strategy. Working collaboratively with City Planning staff on housing related policy matters including the Official Plan review; Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study, and; Housing For All Implementation and Monitoring (e.g. housing needs assessment, understanding and unpacking the success and challenges of implementing Housing for All, understanding housing needs for specific communities, and tracking and monitoring renovictions). Planning staff are supportive of the continuation of the second year of the LEWG pilot and the prioritization of work outlined above. The year 2 Charter and work plan for LEWG refocuses on matters that will assist with the continued implementation of the Housing for All Strategy and will also provide the opportunity to understand and consider lived expertise perspectives on housing as Kitchener embarks on a comprehensive review of its Official Plan. Staff, together with the LEWG, will report back to Council on the successes and areas for improvement of applying a lived expertise lens to the Housing For All Strategy implementation including next steps for the LEWG or alternative. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: stable, secure and affordable housing is a human right. Further, that the City will use equity, diversity and inclusion principles to realize the right to housing. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: As outlined in report DSD-2023-295, there is no impact on the Capital Budget. Kitchener has committed to contributing up to $30,000 annually for the term of the 2-year pilot to help remove barriers to participation and to remunerate participants for their time and contributions. The recommended allocation of year 2 funds for the LEWG are outlined in DSD-2023-295. Funds for July and August have not yet been provided. Upon signing an extension agreement to the Purchase of Services Agreement signed June 13, 2022, extended to August 31, 2023, staff will transfer $23,600, inclusive of interim funds authorized by resolution of Council on June 26, 2023, to the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (SDCWR) for year 2 costs in accordance with the Purchase of Services Agreement. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM the council / committee meeting. COLLABORATION The LEWG year 2 work plan was prepared, discussed and agreed to by members of the LEWG and Kitchener planning staff. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: DSD-20-214 Housing for All City of Kitchener Housing Strategy COR-2022-104 - Housing for All Program Update 2022 Year in Review DSD-2023-295 - Housing for All Strategy Lived Expertise Working Group First Year Review and Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study Update + Year 1 Report DSD-2023-366 - Supplemental Report to DSD-2023-295 Housing for All Strategy Lived Expertise Working Group APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A Draft LEWG Year 2 Charter and work plan PROJECT CHARTER AND WORK PLAN Lived Expertise Working Group (LEWG) Year 2 September 19, 2023 Section 1: Overview 1.1 What is Lived Expertise: Lived expertise combines lived experiences of housing marginalization with advocacy experience and connections to diverse communities. Bringing all three elements together is important to ensure the group has the knowledge, experience and supports needed to act as a bridge between the City and diverse communities. 1.2 What is a Human Rights Based Approach: The Human Rights Based Approach we take declares that everyone has the right to permanent and adequate housing. That stable, secure, affordable housing is a human right and needs to be available for everyone (Housing For All Strategy, 2020). Rooted in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and affirmed in the National Housing Strategy Act governments in Canada are expected to maintain the right to adequate housing. This has been further informed by developments in case law and the work of advocates, into a human 1.3 Meeting Format Evening meeting the first and third Wednesday of every month. Meetings are facilitated by the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (SDCWR) and attended by Lived Experts, SDCWR staff, and City Planning staff. Section 2: Working Group Member Roles and Responsibilities 2.1 Lived Experts The Lived Expertise Working Group consists of 12 representatives from communities experiencing housing marginalization in the community who provide advise and collaborate on the implementation of the Housing For All Strategy. 2.2 Social Development Centre of Waterloo Region Funds facilitation services (15hr/week) and administer stipends. The facilitation team acts as a bridge of communication and trust between the working group, the City and other members of the community as necessary. 2.3 City of Kitchener Staff from the Planning Division who meet with the working group and connect them to projects and other City divisions to ensure lived expertise throughout City housing related initiatives. The City provides funding for stipends and associated meeting supports. Section 3: Mandate 3.1 Housing For All Strategy 2020 A two-year pilot project for staff to work with and learn from a Lived Experience Working Group on addressing housing issues in the city, to gain advice on strategy implementation and monitor progress. (Housing For All Strategy 2020). Section 4: Principles 4.1 Lived Expertise should be incorporated throughout all decision-making regarding housing, homelessness and poverty reduction: from planning to implementation to evaluation and accountability. 4.2 Lived Experts are irreplaceable. Municipalities may not have staff working in these areas that understand the impacts of housing marginalization and the solutions to prevent, mitigate and get people out of homelessness unless you have experienced it yourself. 4.3 Lived experts should be treated the same as other experts, including appropriate compensation (ie. stipends, travel, childcare) and respect. 4.4 The ongoing loss, harm and failure of the housing system needs to be acknowledged and dignified. Lived experience is the harms that arise from the failures and gaps of the system. Group members and consultants need to honour the loss and acknowledge the gaps. 4.5 Lived Experts authentically express themselves and all group members shall do the same. There are limitations such as legal and financial obligations, however group members need to be transparent about limitations. 4.6 The LEWG operates from a human rights-based approach and the enabling of permanent housing with individualized supports. 4.7 Bridges are necessary for success. Lived Experts are bridges to our communities and have very different experiences than others and help is sometimes needed to facilitate communication and understanding across that difference. Lived Experts have partnered with the Social Development Centre to help communicate across power and marginalization. Section 5: Year 2 Work Plan Working collaboratively with City Planning staff on housing related policy matters including the Official Plan review; Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study, and; Housing For All Implementation and Monitoring (e.g. housing needs assessment, understanding and unpacking the success and challenges of implementing Housing for All, understanding housing needs for specific communities, and tracking and monitoring renovictions). Projects within the Scope of Year 2 include: Updating the Official Plan Applying a Human Rights Based Approach Lived Expertise Informed Approach Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study Tenant protections Displacement toolkit Rental Replacement Options How the city facilitates information and tools to community Data collection Housing for All Strategy Implementation and Monitoring Housing Needs Assessment Housing data and monitoring Section 6: Evaluation 6.1 Metrics of success: At the end of this pilot the working group, the City of Kitchener, and the Social Development Centre will collaborate on an anonymous review of the pilot to evaluate our work plan and our scope of work on the Housing For All Strategy. This review will assess our progress on our projects, how the City engaged the working group and incorporated our voices, and how the Social Development Centre facilitated the process. The review will result in a series of recommendations on how lived expertise engagement should continue moving forward. Section 7: Assumptions Effective problem-solving approaches will be taken to resolve issues. Decisions, where required, will be made on a timely basis to keep the project on track.