August 27, 1998
To:Community and Neighbourhood Services
From:Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services
Subject:Health and Safety Allocations for Hostels
Purpose:
To gain Committee and then Council approval to allocate funds to several shelters for their
requested Health and Safety needs.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The funds for these hostel needs are Provincial dollars that have been forwarded to City of
Toronto Hostel Services for distribution to hostels that most need it to address their health
and safety needs. Hence, there are no financial implications for the City.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)Toronto Hostel Services be authorized to administer 100 percent Provincial funds to
hostels for minor capital needs;
(2)the allocation totalling $114,961.69 shown in this report be approved;
(3)80 percent of these amounts be advanced to the hostels as soon as required, with the
remaining 20 percent released after the work is completed and appropriate expenditure
documents have been submitted; and
(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to
give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
In 1992, the Department entered into a legal agreement with the Ministry of Community and
Social Services (MCSS) regarding discretionary minor capital allocations for community
based hostels. Under this agreement, year end money was made available to help hostels
with items related to improved health and safety. Since 1992, the province has made
available to Hostel Services a total of $860,206.00. We have spent $678,720.97 on badly
needed health and safety repairs. Presently, the Health and Safety fund has a remaining
balance of $181,485.03.
The Ministry has assisted hostels with minor capital needs for many years. However, they
have asked Hostel Services to assist with these allocations because we are in closer contact
with these services and are more knowledgeable about their specific health and safety needs.
Again, these allocations have a zero net cost to the City.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
The Department is prepared at this time to proceed with six allocations totalling
$114,961.69. This would leave $66,523.34 for other needs identified during the year. The
six allocations we want to proceed with at this time are as follows:
Hostel Services have met with each group and are satisfied that the above requests reflect
their needs. We are pleased to be in a position to assist them in such times of restraint, at no
cost to the City and ask that these requests be approved.
