September 22, 1998
To:Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee
From:Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services
Subject:Status Report on Hostel Services for Families
Purpose:
This report describes the current pressures facing the hostel system for families.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Costs are directly related to caseload volume. Funds have been included in the 1999 budget
request to allow for service increases at current rates.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the Commissioner of Corporate Services be requested to designate the necessary staff to
assist Hostel Services in securing adequate facilities to provide emergency accommodation for
an additional 100 families;
(2)the Chair of Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee convene a meeting with
MPP Jack Carroll who is the Chair of the Provincial Task Force on the Homeless and request
assistance with this urgent matter; and
(3)the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect
thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
Council authorized staff to use commercial motels in the fall of 1987 to respond to overflow
demands in the family shelter system. Since that time, these arrangements have grown to the
point whereby there are now more families in motels than in regular shelters. A special
Sub-Committee made up of six members of Council was recently set-up to conduct a full
review of this motel service. This sub-committee is expected to report out by the end of 1998,
with recommendations on changes and alternatives.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Appendix "A", which shows the trend in use of family hostels, tells the story. Since 1992, this
use has increased by 123 percent or 926 more people a day.
Current contracts and arrangements for sheltering families have almost been exhausted. In
recent days, staff have run out of rooms entirely. Consequently, about a dozen families are
currently placed in motels outside of the City.
All indications point to even higher needs and a worsening situation. The standard of living of
many middle and low-income families has fallen over the past decade. This fact combined
with lower vacancy levels, higher rents and the shift in landlord-tenant laws has left many
families in a housing crisis. Demands on family shelters are expected to grow by almost 25
percent between now and the end of 1999.
This crisis has had a compounding effect on the family hostel system. Firstly, more families
are losing their housing and seeking hostel assistance. Secondly, once in the hostel system,
these families stay much longer because of the difficulty in finding replacement housing.
It should be noted that unlike homeless singles, there is no significant winter pattern in family
need. The growth in family need has been a steady incremental increase without a large
seasonal factor.
Attempted Solutions
Because of practical concerns and growing community pressures, it is not feasible to further
expand our use of motels along the Kingston Road corridor in Scarborough. The current
impact on local schools and services is very substantial.
Unfortunately, we have not been very successful in securing alternative sites in other areas of
the City. Authorization was obtained to extend the use of the Birkdale Residence for a further
three-year period. However, four other proposals have failed due to zoning or financial
restrictions.
Consequently, we are responding to current demands by placing families in motels outside of
the City. However, this practice creates additional hardship for some of these families and
raises thorny jurisdictional concerns.
Fortunately, Robertson House is reopening in October 1998 after being closed for renovations
over the past 26 months. This adds 100 beds for women with children and will provide some
relief. We expect that we will be able to meet demands to the end of 1998 with this addition.
While we may be able to cope for the next three months, we expect needs will continue to
increase throughout 1999. Based on the pattern of growth experienced over the past two years,
we estimate that we will need space for an additional 100 families by the end of next year.
This would be equal to about 300 individual family members.
Staff have also initiated three initiatives which will help families move out of or avoid hostels.
These are described in Appendix "B" and they include the Housing Contacts, Employment
Connections, and Project Going Home. However, these programs are likely to have only a
modest impact on overall demands.
Options
Given that needs are likely to continue to grow and that current arrangements are almost
exhausted, other solutions are clearly needed.
The current practice of placing families outside of the City is less than ideal and is also
limited. Staff will continue to search for potential sites within the City.
The option of purchasing high-end hotel space has also not been pursued because of limits on
the provincial subsidies and the controversy associated with such arrangements.
Similarly, the option of building large new family shelters in other areas of the City would
prove to be very costly and would not help on the short-term.
Conclusions:
Solutions on the short-term are difficult to arrange and needs are growing. Until the housing
situation improves, additional hostel services will be needed. Staff will continue to explore all
possible options.
Contact Name:
Joanne Campbell
General Manager of Shelter, Housing and Support Division
Tel.: (416) 392-7885
Fax: (416) 392-0548
Shirley Hoy
Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services
Appendix "A"
TREND IN SHELTER USE BY FAMILIES
Comparison of September occupancies over past seven years:
|
Initiatives for Families |
Additional Costs |
| (1)Birkdale Villa
(See also Clause No. 10 of Report No. 6 of The Community and Neighbourhood
Services Committee)
Council approval has been received and a new contract has been
negotiated to extend the use of this 175-bed residence for
women and children for another three years. It is located in the
Brimley-Ellesemere area of Scarborough.
|
-no new cost
-in 1998 base budget |
| (2)Robertson House
After undergoing over two years of extensive renovations, this
100-bed facility for women and children will reopen in October
1998. It is located in the Sherbourne-Gerrard area of downtown
Toronto.
|
-$1,097,000.00
-annualization
-in the preliminary 1999
budget |
| (3)Beatrice House
Staff have approved a proposal from this organization to set-up
and develop a new 60-bed facility for women and children.
Beatrice House will provide adult upgrading, job training and
placement, and children's services to families referred by
Robertson House. Currently, many of these families are in
motels and other facilities managed by Robertson House.
|
-no new cost
-offset to motels
-in the preliminary 1999
budget |
| (4)Housing Contacts
(a separate report will be submitted in January 1999)
This is a diversion program that began as a pilot almost a year
ago. It is designed to help families in hostels and motels to
broaden their housing search to other parts of Ontario if they
wish. About 400 people have already used this service.
|
-in the 1998 base budget |
| (5)Central Family Intake
By consolidating this administrative function under one roof,
families now only need to call one number to access the eight
shelters available. This offers the potential for a more consistent
and co-ordinated response. Most importantly, however, this
change opens the door to providing families with better
information about their rights and alternatives. It also relieves
shelter staff of this pressure so they can focus on the needs of
existing residents.
|
-no new cost |
| (6)Employment Connections
(a separate report will be submitted in early 1999)
This is a pilot project jointly sponsored by Hostel Services and
Social Services. Social Services will assist Ontario Works
clients to search for employment across the province. Once the
connection is made and a job offer confirmed, then Hostel
Services will assist the family with travel and housing plans.
|
-included under Item
No. 4
-in the 1998 base budget |
| (7)Project Going Home
This service began at Seaton House in late 1997 and on August
1, 1998 was expanded to all shelters. It is intended as a
diversion program which helps homeless individuals and
families stranded in Toronto to return to their communities of
origin. The program is voluntary and staff verify that they will
no longer be homeless upon arrival. We estimate that 600
individuals will be assisted through this new program.
|
-reported separately in
the singles' report |
| (8)Motel Review
(See also Clause No. 9 of Report No. 6 of The Community and Neighbourhood
Services Committee)
This process is being steered by a six-member ad hoc
committee of Council. It will review the past and current use of
motels in Scarborough. The review will include an investigation
of the impact of motel arrangements on these homeless families
and the need for alternative approaches.
|
-no cost |
| Total Additional Costs |
$1,097,000.00 |
