September 10, 1998
To:Budget Committee
From:City Clerk
Subject:Hostel Ombudsperson Pilot Project
Recommendation:
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on September 10, 1998,
recommended to the Budget Committee the adoption of the attached report (August 20, 1998)
from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Hostel
Ombudsperson Pilot Project.
City Clerk
R. Dyers/tl
Item No. 7
(Report dated August 20, 1998, addressed to the
Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee from the
Commissioner of Community Services)
Purpose:
To report on a request by the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee at their
July18,1998, meeting to respond to a report by the Advisory Committee on Homeless and
Socially Isolated Persons recommending a one-year hostel Ombudsperson pilot project.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Approval of funds for the proposed one-year hostel Ombudsperson pilot project would require
a submission through the 1999 budget process for $100,000.00 to be provided in the Shelter,
Housing and Support Division's budget.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)in their 1999 budget, the Shelter, Housing and Support Division include a request of
$100,000.00 for a purchase of service contract to implement a one-year hostel
Ombudsperson pilot project;
(2)regular 80/20 percent cost-sharing be sought from the Ministry of Community and
Social Services and subject to provincial funding approval, staff be directed to implement
a request for proposal process through which community agencies can submit proposals to
operate the hostel Ombudsperson office;
(3)the pilot project be evaluated according to its satisfaction of project objectives of
providing a neutral resource for the protection of hostel user rights and in facilitating fair
and equitable access to the hostel system, with a report back by the Commissioner after one
year; and
(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary actions to
give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At the July 16, 1998, meeting of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, a
communication was received from the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially
Isolated Persons calling for a one-year hostel Ombudsperson pilot project. Further, it was
recommended that the project be operated independently of the hostel system by a
community-based organization selected through a proposal process.
This request by the Advisory Committee came in response to the identification of a need for a
neutral resource to assist hostel users in ensuring their protection of rights along with fair and
equitable access to the hostel system.
This report outlines the Community and Neighbourhood Services Department's analysis of
this recommendation.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
As discussed in the report submitted by the Advisory Committee, recommendations calling
for the establishment of an Ombudsperson for Toronto's hostel system are not new. This issue
has been raised by people who use the hostel system, community-based organizations who
work with people who are homeless and the Coroner's Inquest into the freezing deaths of
Eugene Upper, Mirsalah-Aldin Kompani and Irwin Anderson, conducted in 1996.
The Hostel Services Division has also supported the recommendation for an Ombudsperson
and has requested funds for such an office in their 1997 and 1998 budgets. Both requests were
turned down in the corporate budget process. While the primary reason for rejecting a hostel
Ombudsperson appears to be financial, the issue remains relevant as evident by the continued
support from the community.
Generally speaking, people turn to hostels when they have exhausted all other means of
support and are therefore vulnerable to the hostel system as an option of last resort. Significant
improvements have been made to the hostel system in recent years; however, the
establishment of an Ombudsperson would ensure the availability of a neutral party to assist
hostel users in resolving any complaints they may have with the hostel system. These would
likely include a wide range of service issues such as barrings and security of tenure.
Approval for a one-year pilot project would allow the City to test the value and viability of a
hostel Ombudsperson. A formal evaluation of the initiative could then guide any future
commitment of funds. It is therefore recommended that the Shelter, Housing and Support
Division include in their 1999 budget a request of $100,000.00 for a purchase of service
contract to implement the hostel Ombudsperson pilot project. And further, that regular 80/20
percent. cost-sharing be sought from the Ministry of Community and Social Services and,
subject to provincial funding approval, staff be directed to implement a request for proposal
process through which community agencies can submit proposals to operate the hostel
Ombudsperson office. Finally, upon approval of funds, staff develop and implement an
evaluation of the pilot to determine whether the project objectives have been met and to report
back after one year to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee.
Conclusions:
The recommendation for a hostel Ombudsperson has support from both users and operators of
the hostel system. An independently operated Ombudsperson's office would provide a neutral
resource to assist hostel users resolving complaints, thereby ensuring their protection of rights
along with fair and equitable access to the hostel system.
It is therefore recommended that the Shelter, Housing and Support Division include in their
1999 budget a request of $100,000.00 for a purchase of service contract to implement a
one-year hostel Ombudsperson pilot project. Further, that regular 80/20 percent cost-sharing
be sought from the Ministry of Community and Social Services and, subject to provincial
funding approval, staff be directed to implement a request for proposal process through which
community agencies can submit proposals to operate the hostel Ombudsperson office.
Contact Name:
John Jagt:
Tel: 392-5358/Fax 392-8758
