(Report dated June 1, 1998, addressed to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, from Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services.)

Subject:Proposed Use of Birkdale Villa as a Hostel for Women and their Children

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to authorize the use of Birkdale Villa as a hostel for mothers and their children located in Ward 15.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The approval for the use of this facility as a hostel will be funded from the operating budget on a per diem basis.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the use of Birkdale Villa at 1229 Ellesmere Road, be approved as a hostel for homeless mothers and their children;

(2)the current directive to not exceed a maximum enrollment of twenty-five students at Edgewood Public School continue; and

(3)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The former Metropolitan Council previously approved the use of Birkdale Villa (Clause No. 1 of Report No. 1 of The Human Services Committee) as a temporary accommodation for the residents in the Robertson House program while it was under construction.

A status report on Birkdale Villa was approved (Clause No. 11 of Report No. 4 of The Human Services Committee).

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The Birkdale Villa has been used as a temporary hostel since August 1996, while renovations were being done to Robertson House at 291 Sherbourne Street. It is anticipated that these renovations will be completed this summer and Robertson House will reopen in time for the beginning of the school year in September 1998.

A review of the use of Birkdale Villa has been completed. The Councillors representing this area and a number of service agencies and community organizations were consulted. A per diem agreement has been reached with the owners of Birkdale Villa conditional on the approval of Council and subject to entering into a formal contract.

For the past twenty-two months, a Community Liaison Committee has met several times and issues surrounding the use of Birkdale Villa as a hostel have been discussed and ultimately resolved. There has been minor impact on the neighbouring community. A full community meeting was held on May 21, 1998 at the Edgewood Public School with both Councillors and Hostel Services staff present.

Several community groups have been helping out at Birkdale Villa, namely Aisling Support Group, Creative Expressions, Tropicana Toy Caravan, Mother Goose Program, Discoveries, Homework Clubs with tutors from neighbouring High Schools and individuals who organize shopping trips to the local market. In addition, there is a licensed nursery program run by Children=s Services Division and a full-time Liaison worker in Edgewood School funded through Earlscourt Community Centre.

The greatest impact has been on Edgewood Public School, but the number of students has been limited to twenty-five students, as directed by Council. This quota was exceeded at the beginning of school in September of 1997, because of the influx of refugee claimants from the Czech Republic. All the available motel rooms on Kingston Road were full, so as a result, families could not be referred to the motel program.

Families with school age children were admitted to Birkdale Villa because we felt that we could not deny entry of the hostel system to single mothers with their children. In early 1998, Birkdale returned to its quota of twenty-five students.

Birkdale Villa has proven to be a suitable facility for homeless women with children. About 60 percent have fled abusive relationships. While initial approvals centered on the use of this facility during the renovation of Robertson House, needs have continued to grow. In August 1996 when we began to use Birkdale Villa, the shelter system for women with children accommodated 730 people a day. That number has now risen to 1,007 people a day. Therefore, the Department recognizes the need to continue the use of this site for the foreseeable future.

Conclusions:

The present use of Birkdale Villa has been successful and the Department=s continuing use of this facility as a hostel should be approved.

Contact Name:

John Jagt

Director of Hostel Services Division

Tel: (416) 392-5358

Fax: (416) 392-8876

E-mail: john_jagt@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca