March 9, 1998

To: Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

From: Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Subject: Resources to Support Inter-related Task Forces

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to outline the resource requirements identified for the various task force initiatives in the Community and Neighbourhood Services area, and to inform Committee that an allocation of $500,000.00 has been established within a Corporate expenditure account to support these initiatives, subject to budget approval.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

For each of the task forces, in-kind staff support and supplies are being provided. However, the terms of reference of five inter-related task forces identify resources that cannot be absorbed within existing operating budgets. To meet these additional resource requirements, an allocation of $500,000.00 for the 1998 budget year has been requested.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Each of the initiatives is at different stages of implementation, and has varying levels of support provided to it at this time. A common characteristic of the initiatives, however, is that they are action oriented and will require additional resources to explore and in some cases pilot local community-based initiatives to improve services. This requires additional resources beyond those that have already been absorbed within operating budgets . Appendix A provides a summary of how additional resources would be allocated to the initiatives.

The Youth Employment Summit is receiving support from two Community and Neighbourhood Services staff and a staff from Urban Planning and Development. However, additional resources will be required to stage the summit. An amount of $30,000.00 has been identified for that purpose.

The terms of reference for the Council Strategy Committee for People without Homes request designated staff from Community and Neighbourhood Services to support its activities. As well, Community and Neighbourhood Services staff continue to support the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons and the Alternative Housing and Services Committee. An amount of $50,000.00 has been identified to support initiatives arising from the Council Strategy Committee.

The Homelessness Action Task Force, chaired by Dr. Anne Golden, is an independent task force reporting directly to the Mayor, but with strong linkages to the Council Strategy Committee for People without Homes. The terms of reference for this task force were provided to the Miller Committee as an attachment to the submission by the Council Strategy Committee for People without Homes. The budget totals about $700,000.00. Of this amount, $300,000.00 is being provided by the federal government, and the United Way and Clarke Institute are covering some in-kind staffing costs. Two policy staff from Community and Neighbourhood Services have been seconded to the task force on a full-time basis until the end of 1998. As well, two Chief Administrative Office staff and one Corporate Services staff provide administrative support to the task force. Office space and supplies have also been provided by the City of Toronto. In total in-kind costs totalling $95,000.00 have been absorbed by Community and Neighbourhood Services, and $166,600.00 by the rest of the city. However, this still leaves a net amount of $170,000.00 that cannot be absorbed within existing operating budgets.

This report has been reviewed by the Chief Administrative Officer and the Treasurer and they concur with its direction and the recommendations.

Conclusions:

There are a number of task force initiatives underway related to Community and Neighbourhood Services. In-kind resources, including staffing and supplies, are being provided by Community and Neighbourhood Services, Corporate Services, Urban Planning and Development and the Healthy City Office to support these initiatives. However, additional resource requirements have been identified

for these initiatives that cannot be absorbed within existing operating budgets. Therefore, an allocation of $500,000.00 has been established in a Corporate expenditure account, pending budget approval, to support these initiatives.

Contact Name:

Eric Gam - 392-8238

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Appendix A