Council passes motion (34 to 4): Changes to Provincial Funding Approaches for Homeless Prevention and Social Assistance Programs

Full details regarding the motion can be found here:

Excerpts:

City Council on October 30, 31 and November 1, 2012, adopted the following:

1.         City Council approve, subject to final confirmation from the Province, receipt of $96 million for the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI), with specific funding allocations for the homeless prevention services described in the report to be provided through the 2013 Operating Budget process.

2.         City Council request the Province to:

a.         recognize 2013 as a transition year and provide 2013 funding for the Housing Stabilization Fund, as described in the report (September 24, 2012) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, equivalent to the provincial funding provided in 2012 for the Community Start-up and Maintenance Benefit.

b.         provide additional funding as required to respond to emergencies, economic and geopolitical circumstances that may increase emergency shelter occupancy.

c.         provide medical benefits to social assistance recipients through the Provincial Health Care System under the mandate of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

d.          adjust funding allocations for inflation on an annual basis.

3.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to:

a.         submit to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval, negotiate and administer any required plans or reports with respect to the allocation of funds in relation to the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, subject to Council approval of the 2013 Operating Budget;

b.         negotiate, execute and administer any and all agreements with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing related to the administration of the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative; and

c.         subject to the requirements of any agreements with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, transfer up to 25 percent of any approved allocation within the Investment Plan from one service category to another service category, to ensure full and effective use of available provincial funds and to do so in conjunction with the General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services.

4.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to negotiate, enter into, amend and administer agreements and Local Rules with respect to the City’s current program related to rental deposit and rental arrears loans (previously referred to as the Provincial Rent Bank Program), in accordance with any existing Council authority (October 26, 2009).

5.         City Council authorize the General Manager of Employment and Social Services to deliver the Housing Stabilization Fund as outlined in Attachment 1 of the report (September 24, 2012) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, and the Emergency Energy Fund in accordance with previous provincial guidelines, starting in January 2013.

6.         City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and the General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services to:

a.         Develop a consultative engagement strategy to solicit input from clients and community stakeholders on priorities and best approaches to services that capitalize on the flexibility offered by the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative program; and

b.         report back to Council in 2013 on the long-term strategic plan and implications for program implementation starting in 2014.

7.         City Council direct the General Manager of Employment and Social Services to realize cost efficiencies in the provision of medical benefits through bulk purchasing, tendering and establishing a schedule for Orthotics in accordance with the principles and approaches outlined in the report (September 24, 2012) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A.

8.         City Council request the General Manager, Employment and Social Services to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on the proposed program changes for the new medical benefits delivery model.

9.         City Council request the City Manager to include in his 2013 Operating Budget for Employment and Social Services, for consideration during the budget process, funding for supplementary medical benefits to assist Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Hardship Fund eligible residents at current service levels until the revised delivery models are developed.

10.       City Council direct the City Manager to continue current medical benefits and extend funding of the Hardship Fund to the conclusion of the 2013 Budget process to ensure uninterrupted service at current levels until Council has deliberated on the Operating Budget for Employment and Social Services.

11.       City Council request the City Manager to:

a.         work with other supportive municipalities, in consultation with the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) and the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), on a joint campaign to resist the provincial download tomunicipalities of the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) with less than 50 percent of the necessary funding; and

b.         further request the Province of Ontario to maintain the full funding (demand-based, with no fixed funding cap) for the CSUMB, noting that the Province’s decision to terminate the CSUMB without providing the municipalities the funding necessary will cause significant hardship to some of the most vulnerable people across the Ontario.

12.       City Council direct the City Manager to report directly to City Council on November 27 and 28, 2012 on changes to earned income deductions from social assistance benefits and rent-geared-to-income that could support the City of Toronto residents to achieve improved economic standards.

The vote was 34 to 4

Result: Carried

Majority Required – EX23.15 – Mihevc – motion 1

Yes: 34
Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Peter Milczyn, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam

No: 4
Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Doug Holyday