Proposed Use of Birkdale Villa as a

Hostel for Women and Their Children

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee recommends the adoption of the report dated June 1, 1998, from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested:

(a) the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to investigate the need to enhance the Edgewood Park playground located directly to the south of Birkdale Villa home for women with children and take the appropriate measures to ensure that the recommendations of the Midland Park Community are addressed as soon as possible;

(b) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to submit to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in November 1998 a progress report on the use of Birkdale Villa as a hostel for women and their children, such report to include the financial implications of the program; and

(c) the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to invite Mr. Bruce Rivers, Executive Director, Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto, to visit the Birkdale Villa facility.

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee submits the following report (June 1, 1998) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to authorize the use of Birkdale Villa as a hostel for mothers and their children located in Ward 15.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The approval for the use of this facility as a hostel will be funded from the operating budget on a per diem basis.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the use of Birkdale Villa at 1229 Ellesmere Road, be approved as a hostel for homeless mothers and their children;

(2) the current directive to not exceed a maximum enrolment of 25 students at Edgewood Public School continue; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

The former Metropolitan Council previously approved the use of Birkdale Villa (Clause No. 1 of Report No. 1 of The Human Services Committee) as a temporary accommodation for the residents in the Robertson House program while it was under construction.

A status report on Birkdale Villa was approved (Clause No. 11 of Report No. 4 of The Human Services Committee).

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The Birkdale Villa has been used as a temporary hostel since August 1996, while renovations were being done to Robertson House at 291 Sherbourne Street. It is anticipated that these renovations will be completed this summer and Robertson House will reopen in time for the beginning of the school year in September 1998.

A review of the use of Birkdale Villa has been completed. The Councillors representing this area and a number of service agencies and community organizations were consulted. A per diem agreement has been reached with the owners of Birkdale Villa, conditional on the approval of Council and subject to entering into a formal contract.

For the past 22 months, a Community Liaison Committee has met several times and issues surrounding the use of Birkdale Villa as a hostel have been discussed and ultimately resolved. There has been minor impact on the neighbouring community. A full community meeting was held on May 21, 1998, at the Edgewood Public School with both Councillors and Hostel Services staff present.

Several community groups have been helping out at Birkdale Villa, namely Aisling Support Group, Creative Expressions, Tropicana Toy Caravan, Mother Goose Program, Discoveries, Homework Clubs with tutors from neighbouring high schools, and individuals who organize shopping trips to the local market. In addition, there is a licensed nursery program run by Children's Services Division and a full-time liaison worker in Edgewood School, funded through Earlscourt Community Centre.

The greatest impact has been on Edgewood Public School, but the number of students has been limited to 25 students, as directed by Council. This quota was exceeded at the beginning of school in September of 1997, because of the influx of refugee claimants from the Czech Republic. All the available motel rooms on Kingston Road were full so, as a result, families could not be referred to the motel program.

Families with school age children were admitted to Birkdale Villa because we felt that we could not deny entry of the hostel system to single mothers with their children. In early 1998, Birkdale returned to its quota of 25 students.

Birkdale Villa has proven to be a suitable facility for homeless women with children. About 60 percent have fled abusive relationships. While initial approvals centered on the use of this facility during the renovation of Robertson House, needs have continued to grow. In August 1996 when we began to use Birkdale Villa, the shelter system for women with children accommodated 730 people a day. That number has now risen to 1,007 people a day. Therefore, the Department recognizes the need to continue the use of this site for the foreseeable future.

Conclusions:

The present use of Birkdale Villa has been successful and the Department's continuing use of this facility as a hostel should be approved.

Contact Name:

John Jagt

Director of Hostel Services Division

Tel: 392-5358/Fax: 392-8876

E-mail: john_jagt@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca

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The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, also having had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter communications from the following:

- (June 11, 1998) from Mr. Bruce Rivers, Executive Director, Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto, supporting the continued use of Birkdale Villa as a shelter for women and children; urging the Committee not to approve any portion of the report restricting access to the shelter for women with school age children, due to the cap on children attending the local public school; and noting that there are often empty beds at Birkdale Villa while women with school age children are placed in motels; and

- (June 17, 1998) from Councillor Brad Duguid, Scarborough Civic Centre, in support of the recommendations embodied in the report dated June 1, 1998, from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services; and recommending that Parks and Recreation staff be requested to investigate the need to enhance the Edgewood Park playground located directly to the south of Birkdale Villa home for women with children and take the appropriate measures to ensure that their recommendations are completed as soon as possible.

Councillor Brad Duguid, Scarborough Civic Centre, appeared before the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.