Resources to Support Inter-Related Task Forces
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee recommends that an upset limit of $170,000.00 be
established for the City of Toronto= s direct charges by the Homelessness Action Task Force, chaired by Dr. Anne
Golden.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee submits the following report (March 9, 1998) from the
Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:
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.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Council Reference/Background/History:
On January 2, 6, and 8, 1998, Council adopted Report No. 1 of the Striking Committee which established a number of task
forces, including: the Homeless Strategy Task Force (The Council Strategy Committee for People Without Homes) chaired
by Councillor Jack Layton; the Children=s Action Committee chaired by the Children=s Advocate, Councillor Olivia
Chow; and the Task Force to Develop a Strategy of Issues of Concern to the Elderly (Senior=s Task Force), chaired by
Councillor Anne Johnston. The terms of reference for the task forces were submitted to the Special Committee to Review
the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team (the Miller Committee) for approval at the March 4, 1998, meeting of City
Council.
In addition to these task forces, in January, Mayor Lastman announced the striking of the Homelessness Action Task
Force, chaired by Dr. Anne Golden to Adevelop solutions to the growing crisis of homelessness in Toronto.@ This Task
Force=s mandate is to the end of 1998. As well, the Mayor announced a Youth Summit on Employment to be held this
spring.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Each of the initiatives is at a different stage 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 Children=s Action Committee has held two formal meetings of the full committee. The mandate of the Committee
extends to the end of 1998. Five staff from Community and Neighbourhood Services, and a staff person from Urban
Planning and Development are providing support to the Committee on a part-time basis. A detailed workplan and budget is
before the March 26, 1998, meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for approval. In addition to
the in-kind staff support that have been identified, $150,000.00 is being requested to support task force activities. Of the
$150,000.00 requested, $50,000.00 is allocated to support youth initiatives.
The Youth Employment Summit is receiving support from two Community and Neighbourhood Services staff and a staff
person 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 Task Force to Develop A Strategy of Issues of Concern to the Elderly is receiving staff support from Community and
Neighbourhood Services and the Healthy City Office. $100,000.00 is proposed to support the Task Force=s work in
reviewing service needs and gaps and proposing innovative local responses.
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 and Telephone Number:
Eric Gam - 392-8238
Appendix A
Task ForceAdditional Resources Required
($000s)
Homelessness Action Task Force170.0
The Council Strategy Committee for 50.0
People Without Homes
Children=s Action Committee150.0
Task Force to Develop A Strategy100.0
of Issues of Concern to the Elderly
Youth Employment Summit 30.0
Total500.0
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