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STAFF REPORT

January 4, 2000

To: Community Services Committee

From: Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

Subject: City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund

Purpose:

This report gives an overview of activities funded through the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund (CT-HIF) in 1999 and outlines plans to consolidate and streamline funding for homeless services in 2000.

The City received an allocation of $1.02 million from the Province for the CT-HIF in 1998/99 following the creation of the Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund in October 1998. In April 1999, the Province announced an increase in its funding to the City. As a result of the increase, the City received $4.724 million for 1999/2000.

This report outlines how these funds were spent and gives details of three Proposal Calls used to select projects.

This report also recommends that up to $450,000 be set aside for winter emergencies and emerging priorities and for additional projects directed towards the Aboriginal community. It also recommends that authority to allocate these funds be delegated to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund includes a 1999/2000 allocation of $4.724 million to the City of Toronto from the Province as well as an allocation of $881,100 from the City in the 1999 approved budget for the Consolidated Grants Program.

All funds are available in the 1999 Operating Budget. An in-year adjustment to the 1999 budget was set up in order to accommodate the Provincial grant of $4.724 million and spending for 1999/2000. A year end liability has been established for the outstanding balance to cover any remaining payments paid out to agencies in 2000 relating to 1999.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) Authority be delegated to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to allocate up to $350,000, available in the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund, for winter emergencies and emerging priorities.

(2) Authority be delegated to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to allocate up to $100,000, available in the City of Toronto Homeless Initiatives Fund, for projects that address Aboriginal homelessness as described in this report.

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

Background:

This report summarizes the activities undertaken through the CT-HIF over the past year. The CT-HIF has combined the City's Homeless Initiatives Fund and the Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund into one program with a common application, selection and evaluation process. The CT-HIF has grown considerably over the past year both in the number and geographical distribution of projects. In 1998, the program was limited to the former City of Toronto. With the additional Provincial funding and the City's policy of "levelling-up" grants programs to include all Community Council Districts, the CT-HIF now funds approximately 100 community-based projects across the City.

Funding for the CT-HIF comes from two sources. The City received a 1998/99 allocation from the Province of $1.02 million and a second allocation of $4.724 million in 1999/2000. In addition, the City approved an allocation of $881,100 in the 1999 approved budget for the Consolidated Grants Program.

The intent of the CT-HIF is to expand the City's responses to homelessness across the City by funding a range of community based initiatives that meet one or more of the following "outcome" areas established by the Province as a condition of funding:

1) Moving people from the streets to emergency accommodation;

2) Moving people from emergency to permanent accommodation; and

3) Preventing homelessness by supporting the retention of permanent accommodation.

In addition, priority is given to:

4) Developing strategies which result in longer term solutions to homelessness;

5) Funding projects which create efficiencies elsewhere in the "system";

6) Providing direct services to homeless people or those at risk of homelessness;

7) Including homeless people in projects through employment and in the planning, implementation and evaluation stages; and

8) Including quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods to ensure that the program meets its goals and objectives and that individual projects are effective.

The CT-HIF uses the recommendations of the Mayor's Homeless Action Task Force as a base for establishing priorities for funding and consults with City staff and with community groups that work with homeless people to ascertain the emerging needs in the community. Specific projects are selected through a Proposal Call process.

Types of funding:

In the first year of the expanded CT-HIF all projects that received funding in 1999 will fall into the following two categories:

· Innovations: One year funding of up to $10,000 to develop new ideas, attract other funders, build partnerships with other sectors etc. These are small scale projects that help smaller organizations build on the ideas of their clients, staff or volunteers as a response to homelessness. Flexible and creative ideas are encouraged in such areas volunteer development, peer initiatives and creative arts.

18 projects will have received $189,155 in funding from CT-HIF with 1998/99 and 1999/2000 allocations.

· Pilot and Demonstration Projects: The bulk of project funding from the CT-HIF has been directed to new community projects across the City. Funding will be provided for up to three years for new initiatives that provide services that are currently not available. Projects are evaluated after each year to determine their eligibility for additional funding.

90 projects will have received $4,139,743 in funding from the CT-HIF with 1998/99 and 1999/2000 allocations.

Over the course of 2000 and 2001, staff will be undertaking a "service review" of the City's continuum of supports to homeless people. Responsibilities and service funding has changed significantly over the past year. As of January 1, 2000, the Province has downloaded to the City two programs which are 100% Provincially funded: the Community Partners Program and the Supports to Daily Living Program. These programs provide supports to people who are looking for housing or need supports in order to maintain their housing. In addition, new funding will be provided to hostels through the Hostel Re-direction Initiative. CT-HIF projects will be reviewed in relation to these new programs and the need for services to address homelessness across the City. After the service review process is complete funding programs will be streamlined and CT-HIF projects that demonstrate that they provide essential services and develop long term solutions to homelessness will be eligible to apply for ongoing funding. These projects could be cost shared with other levels of government.

In addition to summarizing the activities of the CT-HIF over the past year, this report provides information on the status of projects selected through the Proposal Call process, provides an update on the reporting and evaluation process and service review plan for 2000, and recommends that the balance of funding for 1999/2000 be set aside for winter emergencies and other priorities identified before 2000/2001 funding is received.

Comments:

In October 1998, the Province established the Provincial Homelessness Initiatives Fund and allocated $1.02 million to the City. A Proposal Call was issued in December 1998 and funds were allocated to 25 projects. In April 1999, the Province announced an increase in its allocation to the City. As a result of the increase the City received $4.724 for 1999/2000. In order to handle the increased volume of projects, two Proposal Calls were issued, one in July and one in November 1999. Because the City received two allocations from the Province between October 1998 and April 1999, a total of three Proposal Calls were issued.

In previous reports to the Committee it was reported that there was some urgency in developing new projects and services for homeless people across the City. For this reason authority was delegated to the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to allocate funding to projects for RFP 1 and RFP 3.

The status of the projects selected from the three Proposal Calls is as follows:

1) Request for Proposal (RFP) 1 (January 8, 1999 Deadline):

Twenty-five projects were selected following the December 1998 Proposal Call. These projects have almost completed their first year of operations and have submitted their final project reports that outline project activities for the year. Staff has prepared a report to the Province which summarizes the work done by each project and compiles aggregate services statistics for the projects as a whole. This information has been filed under a separate report. A list of projects is attached as Appendix "A".

2) RFP 2 (July 16, 1999 Deadline):

Fifty-one projects, selected through the second Proposal Call, were approved by Council at its meeting in September 1999, and have just begun operation. This group of projects includes significant resources directed towards eviction prevention such as an expanded Rent Bank, projects which will help chronic hostel users break their cycle of homelessness and secure and maintain permanent accommodation, as well as comprehensive projects which help isolated people living in parks and ravines access shelters. A complete report on these projects and the selection process involved was submitted to the Committee in September. An interim report on these projects which details the work they are undertaking and the impact they are having will be submitted to the Committee in March 1999. A list of projects is attached as Appendix "B".

3) RFP 3 (November 26, 1999 Deadline):

Thirty-two projects, selected through the third Proposal Call have been approved for funding by the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services. Council delegated authority to allocate funds to projects selected through this Proposal Call to the Commissioner in order to expedite the approvals process and give community agencies the time to hire staff and get projects up and running in the winter months. A list of projects, area of service and a description of the services to be provided is attached as Appendix "C".

Additional Priorities for the Aboriginal Community

In September, City Council authorized the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to establish an Aboriginal Steering Committee. Following up on the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force Recommendations, the Aboriginal Steering Committee will determine shelter, housing and support needs of the Aboriginal population in the City. It is comprised of representatives from all levels of government and the Aboriginal community.

In addition to the projects funded through RFP 3, it is recommended that $100,000 to be made available for projects to address Aboriginal homelessness in the City. Project priorities will be determined by the Aboriginal Steering Committee as part of the implementation of an Aboriginal homelessness strategy. Projects will then be selected by staff through a "mini" Proposal Call to be issued in the winter of 2000. Funding will then be allocated to projects by the Commissioner.

The extent and complexity of Aboriginal homelessness was recognized by the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force. Although only 1% of the general population in Toronto are Aboriginal, they represent approximately 15% of the homeless population. The Task Force, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and other studies have recommended that Aboriginal specific strategies are needed to address the issues. The CT-HIF will have funded 5 projects to support Aboriginal agencies that help people move from the streets to shelters, from shelters to permanent housing, or prevent homelessness. A number of other strategies are still needed including a follow-up to Task Force recommendations to facilitate the development of supportive housing and a clinical detox unit. It is hoped that CT-HIF funds will lever additional funds from other levels of government.

Winter Emergency Fund

Our experience in developing the expanded CT-HIF indicates that that there are often emergencies or rapidly escalating situations that demand immediate responses. While staff have been careful to develop new programs which will provide a range of responses to some of these issues, it is often the case that some problems are not anticipated. An example of such a problem was the increased number of people sleeping or congregating in City parks over the summer of 1999. Council authorized the Commissioner to allocate up to $150,000 to projects to address emerging issues. Six projects were funded.

It is recommended that the balance of the 1999/2000 CT-HIF allocation, approximately $350,000 be set aside for winter emergencies and other situations which require an immediate response purpose and that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be delegated authority to allocate these funds. Staff will report back on how the funds were used and plans to develop long term solutions to these emerging problems.

Plans for the CT-HIF in 2000

The Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness recommended that the City take a lead in addressing service challenges by adopting a service planning approach to homeless services. This approach will focus on how to co-ordinate services for different population groups across different service sectors. It will help break down existing service silos and enhance service co-ordination by creating opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration. It will also allow the City and other service providers to better identify gaps, clarify service and funding mandates, enhance prevention initiatives and improve access to services. CT-HIF projects and the range of services they offer will be an intregal part of the service planning process.

As Council approved in September, funding for Homeless Services will be administered in the context of a consolidated CT-HIF. In 2000 the CT-HIF will include the projects described in this report plus 58 projects previously supported through the former Metro Emergency Support Fund now known as the Homeless Support Services Fund (HSSF). Although in 1999 funding for these two programs was allocated in two different streams, staff from Social Development and Administration and Shelter, Housing and Support worked together to co-ordinate allocations and ensure that there was no overlap. In 2000 these two funding streams will be administered together through the CT-HIF.

The HSSF provides a range of funding to community agencies including Drop-in and Outreach services. This consolidated program will fund over 150 community-based projects. These projects provide services that respond to a diverse array of needs among homeless people. Services differ according to such factors as the length of time a person has been homeless, whether they live on the streets or in a shelter, complicating factors such as mental health or substance use issues, as well as age, gender and family type. In addition an increasing level of support is provided for homelessness prevention.

Ongoing Monitoring and Support

While there is a significant amount of collaboration and co-ordination that takes place among service providers in the community there are a number of areas in which improvements can be made. In the context of the CT-HIF, staff will be working with projects in groups or "clusters" according to their service area. Seven "Housing Help" projects have already been meeting monthly to develop common strategies, share resources and information. Staff will be working with other groups of projects to develop a more comprehensive "system" of services across the City.

In addition, there are new programs that will help service providers work more intensively with their clients to develop solutions to their housing problems. For example, the Hostel Redirection Initiative which will allow the City to re-direct a portion of the funding they receive from the Province for hostel services to preventative programs will give shelter operators additional resources to help their clients access and maintain more permanent forms of housing. The Province has also downloaded to the City two programs that are 100% Provincially funded: the Community Partners Program and the Supports to Daily Living Program. Staff will also be examining the role these programs play in the range of services to homeless people and their relationship to CT-HIF and other City programs.

Reporting and Evaluation:

Early in 2000, we will be engaging the services of Consultants who will help us develop a more comprehensive system of information management and evaluation for the CT-HIF. We will be working with the community groups that operate CT-HIF projects to develop more efficient methods of reporting on their projects so that in turn, our staff can report to Council on the successes of the projects, the gaps in service that have been identified and as a way to help inform our policy making process. Staff will be using this information to evaluate individual projects as well as the program as a whole.

Conclusions:

1999 has been a year of remarkable change in terms of the new resources that have been available to the City. New funding from the Province for the CT-HIF has enabled us to develop a wide range of needed services across the City and particularly in the Suburban Community Council Districts where there have been very limited services available for homeless people or those at risk of homelessness. This additional funding has also enabled us to respond to many of the recommendations in the Mayor's Homeless Action Task Force report.

In 2000 the focus will shift from building the program to co-ordinating program activities in conjunction with the service planning process, evaluating project outcomes, identifying gaps in service and developing more effective responses to complex homeless problems. Staff will also be working with other funders to develop collaborative funding initiatives which will enable the City to lever its own funding. A recent example of such collaboration is the Toronto Homeless Community Economic Development Program which the City, through the CT-HIF, is jointly funding with the Federal and Provincial governments and the United Way.

Contact:

Simon Liston, Agency Review Officer

Shelter Housing and Support Division

Phone: 392-0602

Fax: 392-0548

Commissioner, Community and Neighbourhood Services

Appendix "A"

Projects selected from CT-HIF Request for Proposals # 1

Sponsoring Organization

Community Council District

Outline of Project

Funding Recommendation

1. Housing Help: Special Projects

Albion Neighbourhood Services

Etobicoke

Provision of direct services to low income people in Etobicoke who are at risk of losing their housing. Services will include landlord-tenant mediation, money management, direct interventions, and long term follow up support.

50,000

Scarborough Housing Help Centre c/o Agincourt Community Services Association

Scarborough

Provision of mediation services, landlord outreach, and rent bank services in co-operation with the Toronto Housing Help Rent Bank Project. The project will work with the most vulnerable tenants in Scarborough, particularly sole support families, to help them maintain their housing and prevent eviction.

50,000

North York Housing Help Centre c/o COSTI

North York

Provision of long term, ongoing, one on one support to vulnerable tenants in North York. Services will be tailored to individual and ethnocultural needs and will include off site supports, home visits, and direct supports to access and stabilize housing and/or prevent eviction.

50,000

York Community Services

York

Provision of an eviction prevention outreach program directed to families and individuals who are currently accessing the food bank system in York and are at high risk of eviction. This target group lacks social and family supports, restricted housing choices and are at high risk of eviction.

46,676

East York/East Toronto Family Resources

East York

Provision of direct supports to vulnerable East York tenants, individually, and through peer support groups. Services will include landlord/tenant mediation including conflict resolution, and the development of longer term solutions by working with service clubs and businesses.

50,000

West Toronto Community Legal Services

Toronto

Provision of direct supports to vulnerable tenants facing eviction through the training of Community Peer Advocates to negotiate with landlords on behalf of tenants. In cases where eviction is not preventable, support services will aim to avoid abrupt eviction which leads to homelessness and use of

50,000

Woodgreen Community Centre

Toronto

Provision of specialized and intense assistance to low income clients of the Info Link Community Information Centre in the east end of Toronto. Clients who have urgent housing needs will be assisted by a Housing Support Worker who will provide direct one-on-one services aimed at helping homeless people find and keep appropriate housing or to prevent eviction.

50,000

2. Crisis Support for Vulnerable Tenants and Landlords

Evangel Hall

Toronto

Provision of direct services to the most vulnerable, socially isolated tenants and their landlords in the Toronto Community Council District. A Housing Support Worker will work with current or referred clients of Evangel Hall identified at risk of losing housing, needing emergency housing, or trying to move out of a hostel and into more permanent housing.

50,000

3. Initiatives for Homeless Aboriginal People

Native Child and Family Services

Toronto

Provision of services through a Housing Advocate Worker who will work with homeless Native youth between the ages of 16-24 to identify their housing needs and to develop self help and mutual support by participation in Talking Circle groups. The long term goal of the project is move participants from the streets and into more permanent forms of shelter.

50,000

10.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto

Toronto

Funding to develop long term solutions for homeless by working with vulnerable aboriginal people who demonstrate a willingness and desire to escape homelessness. The project will work with small groups to effect lifestyle changes through the development of mutual self help and support strategies as a breakfast club, a circle of care and other responses.

50,000

4. Access to Settlement Services and Housing for New Canadians

11.

Toronto Refugee Community Non-profit Homes and Services Inc. Romero House

Toronto

Provision of Interim housing and services to refugees when they are waiting for eligibility documents and are not eligible for welfare and assistance in finding and securing appropriate stable housing for refugees transitioning out of Romero House.

This project will work with the Refugee Housing Task Group to determine which are the most effective strategic interventions in preventing homelessness among refugees.

The Maytree Foundation is interested in taking part in this project by providing funding to evaluate and document best practices.

50,000

5. Community/Business Initiatives

12.

Warden Woods Community Centre

Scarborough

Conflict Management Training for Landlords in Scarborough to help them respond more effectively to conflict between landlords and tenants thus reducing the possibility of eviction.

7,958

13.

Christie-Ossington Neighbourhood Centre

Toronto

Funding for the Co-ordinating Community Capacity Initiative that will employ a community worker to co-ordinate an outreach and community mobilization strategy in the Christie-Ossington area of the Toronto Community Council District.

The project will work with homeless and marginally housed people, local businesses, restaurants, recreation centres, St. Peter's Out of the Cold program, and food banks to enable the community to assist homeless people living in local parks, garages and laneways.

41,490

6. Housing for Chronic Hostel Users

14.

Progress Place

Toronto

Funding for a Double Trouble pilot project that helps people with both addictions and mental health issues assume more responsibility for moving from hostels and into more permanent forms of housing.

The project is based on a program which has proven to be successful in the United States. It would be the first project of this kind in Canada.

50,000

15.

West Hill Community Services

Scarborough

A community based project to work with repeat users of hostels and motels in Scarborough to resolve immediate crises and secure and maintain stable housing. The project will hire a Community Outreach Worker who will work in conjunction with Woodgreen Red Door (Scarborough) and other community groups.

50,000

7. Skills Development Initiatives

16.

Second Base Youth Shelter

Scarborough

A Youth Training and Catering project which will train Second Base Youth Shelter residents and homeless youth in all aspects of food preparation and services. Youth who complete the program will be referred for job placement in a Cafe project funded through HRDC.

24,735

17.

761 Development Corporation

Toronto

A Training project for women involved in the Clothes for Change and Inspirations Community Economic Development projects to develop community business plans for women's CED initiatives.

25,000

18.

Fred Victor Centre

Toronto

Development of Community Economic Development or small business initiatives with homeless, under housed or unemployed members of the Fred Victor community.

25,000

8. Innovations

19.

University Settlement House

Toronto

A project to train peers, homeless and under housed participants in the University Settlement House Out of the Cold program, in starting up a nutritious meal program for homeless people.

4,420

20.

Native Canadian Centre

Toronto

Employment of homeless aboriginal people in the Odd Job Street Squad which aims to build bridges between local residents, businesses and homeless people in the Bloor/Spadina area by providing casual labour aimed at neighbourhood improvement

5,000

21.

Parkdale Focus Community

Toronto

A Housing Outreach worker, who has experienced homelessness will initiate contact and form relationships with people living on the street in Parkdale and provide housing/shelter related support.

5,000

22.

Caring Alliance c/o Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre

Scarborough

Funds to utilize the skills of homeless people to improve the accommodation of their peers, people who have moved from motels on the Kingston Road strip in Scarborough.

5,000

23.

St. Christopher House Meeting Place

Toronto

Funds to create a newsletter produced by the Meeting Place Drop-in members for distribution in the community and to develop better relationships with local businesses.

5,000

24.

Cobblestone Theatre c/o Mixed Company

Toronto

Funds to train and remunerate homeless people to develop and write a new play for the Cobblestone Theatre.

5,000

25.

Cobblestone Theatre Youth Troupe c/o Mixed Company

Toronto

Funds to perform this year's production of "Wild Child", an interactive theatrical play about life on the streets written and performed by Cobblestone Theatre's Youth Troupe, in the suburban Community Council districts.

5,000

TOTAL: 25 Projects 805,279

Appendix "B"

Projects selected from CT-HIF Proposal Call # 2

Sponsoring Organization

Area Focus of Service

Outline of Project

Funding Recommendation

1. Services to People Living Outside

Central Neighbourhood House

City Wide

Funding to provide a front line resource that will develop contact, provide assistance and connect socially isolated homeless people who live in parks and ravines with appropriate supports and to assist their transition to shelters.

$150,000

Metropolitan United Church

Toronto

Funding to establish a community based support initiative that will assist homeless people in the downtown core access support services and shelters. The project will focus on the Metropolitan Church Grounds Park and Out of the Cold meal programs in the downtown core.

$ 47,970

2. Housing and Hunger Initiatives

Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre

City Wide

Funding to augment PARC=s community meal program.

$ 10,000

Toronto Christian Resource Centre

Toronto

Funding to implement a community food program for low income tenants.

$ 10,000

St. Stephen=s Community House

Toronto

Funding to expand a community supper club, community kitchen and Good Food Box program.

$ 10,000

Parkdale Golden Age Foundation

Toronto

Funding to expand a congregate dining program in Parkdale.

$ 10,000

Trinity Square Enterprises

Toronto

Funding to implement a meal ticket program for homeless and marginally housed people.

$ 8,000

Toronto Friendship Centre

Toronto

Funds to develop a community kitchen program for low income roomers and tenants in the Dundas Sherbourne area.

$ 25,000

Christie-Ossington Neighbourhood Centre

Toronto

Funding to expand a community kitchen program for homeless and marginally-housed people in the Bloor West neighbourhood.

$ 25,000

Queen West Community Health Centre

Toronto

Funding to hire peer workers to prepare and deliver meals to homeless and socially isolated people.

$ 10,000

Fred Victor Centre

Toronto

Funding to expand a community breakfast program for homeless and low income tenants.

$ 25,000

Stop 103

Toronto

Funding to develop a food access homelessness prevention initiative.

$ 15,000

Parkdale Community Health Centre

Toronto

Funding to hire peer outreach workers to prepare and distribute meals to the homeless population in Parkdale.

$ 10,000

Access Alliance Community Health Centre

Toronto

Funding to facilitate community kitchens, food workshops and bulk purchasing for under-housed immigrant and refugee families.

$ 10,000

Harbourfront Community Centre

Toronto

Funding to assist low income people to buy and cook food in bulk, learn cost saving techniques and food preparation.

$ 10,000

Homes First Society

Toronto

Funding to implement a Meal Club that will teach basic cooking skills and provide meals to residents of Strachan House and Savards.

$ 25,000

Foodshare Toronto

City Wide

Funding to provide a series of on-site cooking sessions for street youth at youth serving agencies.

$ 9,672

Houselink

City Wide

Funding to operate two community kitchens and organize bulk food shopping for low income people.

$ 25,000

Agincourt Community Services Association

Scarborough

Funding to provide food skills training to homeless and low income tenants.

$ 8,235

3. Enhanced Drop-in Services to Homeless People

St. Stephen=s Community House

West End of the City

Funding to strengthen the delivery of drop-in services and increase access to services for the homeless population in the west end of Toronto. The consortium of 5 drop-in=s (St. Stephen=s Community House, St. Christopher House, Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, Evangel Hall and Sistering) will focus on training for participants, volunteers and staff and communication and coordination strategies between a cross sector of service providers.

$ 50,000

4. Chronic Hostel Users Pilot Projects

Shared Care Clinical Outreach Program

Toronto

Funding for two clinical housing workers to work with the Shared Care Program to develop permanent housing solutions for chronic hostel users at Seaton House and the Maxwell Meighen Centre.

$115,000

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Toronto

Funding to assist chronically homeless women in the Rendu House hostel access and maintain permanent housing.

$ 78,000

John Howard Society of Toronto

City Wide

Funding to identify and assess chronic homeless offenders, facilitate treatment programs and assist their transition into stable accommodation. The project will work in conjunction with the Good Shepherd Refuge.

$ 80,000

5. New Canadians Housing Access Project

Sojourn House

City Wide

Funding to establish a housing access service for homeless new Canadians living in shelters and utilizing drop-in centres. The project will work with a variety of community partners to expedite the transition to housing from shelters, and reduce recidivism.

$100,000

Albion Neighbourhood Services

Etobicoke

Funding to work with socially isolated low income and homeless new Canadians from Latin America. The project will improve access to housing and services and provide interventions in crisis situations.

$ 25,000

Regent Park Community Health Centre

Toronto

Funding to connect socially isolated and homeless people from Somalia with appropriate shelter, housing and support services.

$ 25,000

6. Housing Supports for the Aboriginal Community

Native Women=s Resource Centre

City Wide

Funding to assist homeless aboriginal women and homeless aboriginal women and their children with their housing needs and to develop opportunities for self-help and mutual support.

$ 50,000

Anishnawbe Health Toronto

City Wide

Funding to provide housing support services for Aboriginal women of all ages, some of whom will have children. The project will assist women to break the cycle of homelessness.

$ 50,000

7. Enhanced Housing Help/Eviction Prevention

Neighbourhood Information Post

City Wide

Funding to provide loans to low income tenants in danger of eviction for economic reasons and to provide service planning, financial management, administration and co-ordination of a Rent Bank Program.

$260,000

York Community Services

York