September 3, 1999

 To:Community Services Committee

From:Commissioner of Community and Neighborhood Services

Re:Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies

Purpose:

This report provides an update of the actions taken by Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies in response to the funding conditions placed on the agency through the 1998 Community Services Grants Program.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

N/A

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the outstanding amount of $24,224.00 be released to Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

The Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies (416 Drop-In Centre) is located in the Dundas and Sherbourne Street area. The agency provides a daily drop-in for homeless, transient and socially isolated women. The agency provides a range of programs and services which include shower and laundry facilities, clothing, food depot, breakfast and a hot lunch, crisis intervention, a full medical clinic, trustee support, recreation activities, and housing search supports.

On August 13 and 14, 1997, the former Metropolitan Council adopted the Human Service Committee Report No. 10, Clause No. 4 recommending that the Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies develop and immediately implement a plan to redirect male clients to more appropriate service providers and that a property audit of the agency be conducted. This recommendation resulted in the E.S.F. allocation to this agency of $8,000.00 being held pending the completion of the property audit. On November 7, 1997, staff reported to the Human Services Committee that the property audit was complete and recommended that the $8,000.00 be released. The issue of male clients was still unresolved at this time. In November of 1997, the agency informed staff that the agency mission statement had been changed to include the following sentence "to provide limited support to those men unable to access traditional male services". The agency was advised by staff that this change in mandate could influence future funding recommendations.

During the 1998 allocation process the agency advised staff of efforts to comply with the condition. Staff were informed that the agency had moved over half of the men to other services, but had not fully met the condition placed by the former Metropolitan Council on August 1997, to redirect all male clients to more appropriate services.

The 1998 Community Services grant of $24,224.00 was held pending the agency developing a system to refer male clients to other service providers. The 1998 condition required the agency to meet regularly with other agencies providing services to homeless men and develop a system which documents the process of referral and when service is accessed or denied.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

During 1998, the agency provided a report in response to the conditions of the grant. At that time the agency informed staff that on average 7-10 men use trustee, medical clinic and psychiatric supports at the drop-in. These 7-10 men are not permitted to access the drop-in program, they are supervised at all times and while at the agency their movements are restricted to the Executive Director's office on the second floor, the medical clinic on the third floor and the bench in the hallway at the entrance of the agency. The agency also confirmed that when responding to new referrals of men, their first approach has been to find suitable services at other programs; however, if the client cannot be accommodated elsewhere due to the vulnerable status of the individual, they offer supports through the medical clinic and trustee supports.

In past meetings other agencies have indicated that they had referred men to the agency because of the need for a 'hands on' model of care. Agencies also spoke to the need for supports for homeless trans-gendered individuals in particular.

During 1998 the agency provided a letter from the Good Shepherd Ministries, commenting that they are ill equipped to meet the needs of the fragile and vulnerable men currently accessing the Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies. Letters of support from Street Health Community Nursing Foundation and Dr. Hayding, the physician working at the agency were also included.

The agency continues to urge the City to establish a separate program based on the model of the Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies targeted for vulnerable men. The proposed model would provide a holistic, hands on approach to care, which can respond to the unique issues of each individual. This approach would consider all of the clients' issues such as substance abuse, and mental health, the need for and compliance to care, gender identification, housing search support; the provision of meals and showers; the dispensing of medication and the need for trustee services.

The conditions on the agency have come as a response to concerns expressed by the local residents group and issues raised by the former Metro Community Services Committee over the last three years. The agency has over this time been required to participate in mediation discussions with the residents group, as well as undergo a property audit. The agency has complied in both aspects. The agency has stated that the needs of women continue to be the primary priority of the agency and meeting these needs has not been compromised by the medical/psychiatric care provided for this group of 7-10 men.

The agency has consistently argued that these men, many of whom face multiple issues, such as dual diagnosis of both substance abuse and mental health and some who are cross-gender, cannot access appropriate hands on support elsewhere. The agency has articulated that efforts have been made to refer these men to other agencies; however, for the 7-10 men still using the medical clinic and trustee services no alternative can be found. Letters from the agency documenting these efforts are attached to this report.

Conclusions:

This report recommends that the 1998 Community Services grant in the amount of $24,224.00 be released to the agency based on the attached submission from the agency which includes written confirmation from other drop-in programs in the downtown area stating that they can not accept male clients of the Friends of Shopping Bag Ladies.

Contact Name:

Manjit JheetaTel: 392-8684Fax: 392-8684

e-mail: mjheeta@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services