Update on the 11 Ordnance Youth Project
(Eva's Phoenix)
The Community Services Committee recommends the adoption of the report dated June 3, 1999, from the
Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services.
The Community Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested Councillor Brad Duguid,
Chair of the Community Services Committee, to send a letter of appreciation to Mr. B. Hargrove, President of the
Canadian Auto Workers, for the generous donation towards the construction cost of 11 Ordnance Street (Eva's Pheonix).
The Community Services Committee submits the following report (June 3, 1999) from the Commissioner of
Community and Neighbourhood Services:
Purpose:
This report provides an update on the progress of the 11 Ordnance Youth Project, an extended shelter and training facility,
now known as Eva's Phoenix. In addition, it seeks Council approval to receive funds on behalf of the project and direct
these funds to the project.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The total capital cost of this project is $2,500,000.00. To date the following amounts have been raised: the former City of
Toronto Capital Leverage Fund, in 1998, contributed $500,000.00 that is available in the Shelter, Housing and Support
Division budget; $600,000.00 has been committed through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program of Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation; the Canadian Auto Workers donated $325,000.00 to the City for this project and
$100,000.00 has been allocated to Eva's Place through the 1998-99 Provincial Homeless Initiatives Fund. Negotiations are
nearing completion for an additional $575,000.00 and Eva's Place is actively fundraising for the remaining $400,000.00. A
phased approach to construction will allow the project to proceed as funds are available. This report does not seek
additional City funds.
Operating funding will be covered in the 2000 budget through hostel per diems in Hostel Services of the Shelter, Housing
and Support Division.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)Council accept the donation of $325,000.00 from the Canadian Auto Workers for construction costs related to Eva's
Phoenix and grant these funds to Eva's Place to pay costs related to the construction of the facility at 11 Ordnance Street;
(2)the City grant $600,000.00 available through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program of Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation (RRAP) to Eva's Place to pay costs related to the construction of the facility at 11 Ordnance
Street as stipulated in the RRAP program;
(3)Council declare that the purpose of the grants is in the interests of the municipality;
(4)the City enter into one or more agreements, in form and content satisfactory to the Commissioner of Community and
Neighbourhood Services, the Commissioner of Corporate Services and the City Solicitor with regard to:
(a)the disbursement of capital grants to Eva's Place as renovation work progresses, up to a total maximum of
$325,000.00; and
(b)and disbursement of capital grants to Eva's Place as renovation work progresses, up to a total maximum of
$600,000.00.
(5)the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect to the recommendations.
Council Reference/Background/History:
This project, now known as Eva's Phoenix, will provide accommodation and one year of intensive skill development for
fifty homeless youth to assist them to leave the shelters and live independently.
Last year we reported twice to Council on the development of this project. On July 8, 1998, Council assigned 11 Ordnance
Street for a youth shelter project and asked staff to select a lead agency to develop the project. In addition, on October 1
and 2, 1998 Council authorized the Commissioners of Community and Neighbourhood Services and Corporate Services to
enter into agreements with the selected agency, Eva's Place, and authorized disbursement of $500,000.00 toward capital
costs from the Capital Leverage Fund in the Shelter Housing and Support Division budget. The October 1998 Council
report also noted that we would require additional capital funds in 1999 and that we were actively pursuing external
resources.
Comments:
I am pleased to report that Eva's Place and the City were able to obtain commitments from several sources toward the total
capital costs of $2,500,000.00. On May 31, 1999, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) donated $325,000.00. The CAW
approached the City last summer about working together on a Millennium project that would help homeless youth. After
meeting with Eva's Place, the CAW decided to proceed with a donation to help build the 11 Ordnance project to assist
youth to leave shelters. The attached CAW letter in Appendix A indicates that the $325,000.00 is to be used for
construction costs of the facility, now known as Eva's Phoenix, that is being built at 11 Ordnance Street.
We also were successful with the application for $600,000.00 to the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program of
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (RRAP) as described in the report to Council, entitled "Special Funding Under
the Federal Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program," which was approved on April 13, 14 and 15, 1999. The
$600,000.00 RRAP funds will be used to renovate the infrastructure of the old building at 11 Ordnance in preparation of
the construction of the interior accommodation. We anticipate that these renovations will lessen the ongoing maintenance
costs of the facility.
In addition, $100,000.00 has been allocated to Eva's Place through the 1998-99 Provincial Homeless Initiatives Fund.
Negotiations are nearing completion for an further $575,000.00 and Eva's Place is actively fundraising for the remaining
$400,000.00. A phased approach to construction will allow the project to proceed as funds are available.
Site preparation and demolition began April 6, 1999, with construction of the interior structures to begin this summer.
Occupancy is planned for early 2000.
Last fall we reported that every attempt was being made to employ homeless youth in the construction. Eva's Place has
been successful and the first group of homeless youth began working on the site on May 31, 1999, as a result of funding by
the Federal Government. In total, 48 young people will be given an opportunity to help build this facility and find
employment or further training at the end of their participation in this project.
Disbursement of Funds:
Under Eva's Place's current agreements with the City, it is responsible for carrying out the construction and renovations at
11 Ordnance Street. The approved funds for the project must therefore be flowed through to Eva's Place to enable it to
carry out this work. Eva's Place has also obtained direct funding and donations of materials from other sources which will
be used on this project.
The process put in place to disburse the City's $500,000.00 will be used to distribute the CAW and RRAP funds. As
renovation work progresses, Corporate Services staff will monitor the construction and recommend payments to Eva's
Place according to the terms of the agreement. In the case of the RRAP funding, approval by City staff responsible for
RRAP delivery will also be required. This approach fulfils the CAW request for accounting of their funds and provides the
basis of the report to the CAW as described in the attached letter.
Conclusion:
This important project will provide homeless youth with an opportunity to develop the skills necessary to leave hostels and
live independently. As the facility is being built, forty-eight homeless youth will participate in the construction through a
training project. We are very excited about the partnerships with all levels of government, unions and industry that are
being developed to fund the various components of Eva's Phoenix and look forward to youth moving in next winter. The
disbursement of funds described in this report ensures that the City's interests are protected and that municipal accounting
practices are in place.
Contact Name:
Joanne Campbell
Tel: 392-7885/Fax: 392-0548
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Appendix A
Text of Letter from Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) to Mayor Lastman:
"Dear Mayor Lastman:
This donation of $325,000.00 is a contribution toward the construction costs of the transitional housing project for
homeless youth at 11 Ordnance Street, a joint project between the City of Toronto, Community and Neighbourhood
Services, Shelter, Housing and Support Division and Eva's Place.
We understand that these funds will flow from the City of Toronto to Eva's Place to the construction manager and that
both the City and Eva's Place will keep records of the project budget. The City will contact the CAW to establish
accounting procedures and provide interim reports on spending. When construction is completed, the CAW needs a
description of the use of the CAW funds.
Yours truly,
(signed by)
Basil "Buzz" Hargrove
President"
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Councillor Jack Layton, Don River, appeared before the Community Services Committee in connection with the foregoing
matter.
