Community Services Grants Program -

1998 Reallocation of Funds

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations of the Municipal Grants Review Committee contained in the following communication (November 20, 1998) from the City Clerk:

Recommendation:

The Municipal Grants Review Committee on November 20, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee the adoption of the attached report (November 2, 1998) from theCommissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services respecting the Community Services Grants Program - 1998 reallocation of funds.

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(Report dated November 2, 1998, addressed to the

Municipal Grants Review Committee from the

Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services)

Purpose:

This report recommends the reallocation of funding to three agencies under the 1998 Community Service Grants Program (C.S.G.P.).

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Sufficient funds for the 1998 C.S.G.P. exist in the Community Services Grants Programs component of the Corporate Grants appropriation.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the reallocation of $20,000.00 under the 1998 C.S.G.P. to: Macaulay Child Development Centre ($14,500.00); and Welcome Baby Support Program for Etobicoke ($5,500.00) be approved;

(2)the allocation of $10,000.00 to the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto be approved; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

On July 8, 9 and 10, 1998, City of Toronto Council approved the report, titled "Community Services Grants - 1998 Allocations and Appeals" (Clause No. 9, Repot No. 10 of The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee). In this report, 1998 grant allocations were approved for Common Ground Women's Centre ($15,000.00) and Toronto Children's Breakfast Club ($15,000.00). Circumstances changed for both of these organizations whereby they are no longer eligible for support through the Community Services Grants Program.

This report recommends that funds totalling $30,000.00 from the two aforementioned organizations be reallocated to the following three organizations, Macaulay Child Development Centre, Welcome Baby Support Program for Etobicoke and the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

In the Community Service Grants Program, organizations are assessed annually to determine operational and service effectiveness. At the time of the review, agencies are provided advice and might receive conditions in order to improve their effectiveness. However, agencies occasionally encounter organizational difficulties which may warrant tough decisions in order to meet their financial and legal obligations or ensure their survival. Common Ground Women's Centre and Welcome Baby Support Program of Etobicoke are two agencies funded under the 1998 C.S.G.P. which found themselves experiencing serious financial problems this year.

Common Ground Women's Centre:

Common Ground Women's Centre has been funded by the municipal government for many years, in addition to receiving core funding from the provincial government. Earlier this year, the agency lost a provincial stabilization grant of approximately $45,000.00 for the 1998/99 fiscal year. The organization developed a fundraising strategy to minimize the loss of its provincial grant. Municipal staff encouraged the agency to pursue appropriate restructuring opportunities, given the insecurity of long-term funding from current sources. The organization has withdrawn its application for 1998 municipal funding because it has closed its doors for service. The Centre provided services to low income women and their children and was located in the former City of York. The agency has requested that their Community Services grant be reallocated to low-income women and children.

Toronto Children's Breakfast Club:

In the past, the Toronto Children's Breakfast Club has received funding through the former area municipal community services program. In 1998, Toronto Public Health allocated $1,310,500.00 to child nutrition programs across the new City of Toronto. This agency is now eligible to access municipal support from the Public Health Division. The agency received a 1998 grant of $17,715.63 from Public Health for the 1998/99 school year.

Year End Allocation:

On occasion, approaching year-end, grant monies may remain unexpectedly if agencies cannot meet their grant conditions and/or the monies are returned by funded agencies. These unexpended grant dollars may be reallocated to agencies which meet the eligibility criteria and have no performance issues. Macaulay Child Development Centre and Welcome Baby Support Program are two currently funded agencies which have been identified for reallocation of available funds. A third organization, the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto, is also being recommended for the reallocation of grant monies.

Macaulay Child Development Centre:

The Macaulay Child Development Centre provides a range of programs designed to "foster the optimal development of children in partnership with families and community", including licensed childcare and family support programs. Currently, the agency is funded for $16,333.00 under the 1998 C.S.G.P. to provide two family resource programs, a caregivers resources program in the Junction area and a teen parent/child drop-in program in the former City of York. The agency is requesting additional funding to support three parent/caregiver resource programs in under-serviced neighbourhoods.

The agency is requesting funding to supplement existing programs and to operate a parent-child program at Trimbee, a Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited site, located at Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue West in the former City of York. Trimbee is a very diverse, under-serviced neighbourhood; 35 percent of the units are subsidized and more than half of the 250 households are of single parent families; one-third have children below the age four. The program will address the development needs of the children and the social support needs of the adults.

Macaulay Child Development Centre is recommended for an additional $14,500.00 to support the teen/parent drop-in, caregiver resources program and the Trimbee site.

Welcome Baby Support Program For Etobicoke:

For the past 12 years, Welcome Baby Support Program of Etobicoke has served first-time high-risk mothers, 21 years old and younger. With two part-time staff, they facilitate a community support network which match the young mothers with trained volunteers to reduce the isolation and stress of the new mothers. The agency received a 1998 C.S.G.P. grant totalling $18,415.00 and has no other government support. The agency has been funded by the Trillium Foundation and the Toronto Community Foundation, however, the monies are for specific initiatives. The agency provides a unique model of service delivery which has been effective in reaching a high risk population and has been short-listed nationally by the Fraser Institute (Wm. Donnor Memorial Award) for excellence in community service.

Currently, Welcome Baby Support Program is experiencing financial difficulties due to some unforseen changes in revenues and expenses. The agency has developed a financial strategic plan and increased its fundraising efforts. An additional grant of $5,500.00 is recommended for this agency to help sustain it in the short-run. In addition, the organization is encouraged to enlist the assistance of a Community Development Officer to help with the financial strategy to ensure its ongoing viability.

Woman Abuse Council of Toronto:

The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (W.A.C.) was established in 1991 (as the Metro Woman Abuse Council of Toronto) to create a Metro-wide integrated community response to woman abuse. The need for the initiative was established through research and community consultation that identified that the response to woman abuse by community and institutional services was inconsistent and fragmented. Municipal government has played a key role through participation on the Council with other service providers, and additionally, through the provision of in-kind resources to support some of the basic operating costs.

At the current time, the Council consists of 18 members (including Toronto Public Health and the Toronto Police), and a further 175 organizations participate in various committees and initiatives. City of Toronto Council Members are also active in a variety of Women Abuse Council initiatives. The W.A.C. efforts in developing protocols and monitoring the implementation of innovations in systemic responses to woman abuse has provided an effective and efficient way to co-ordinate community input on this crucial issue. The 1998/99 organization activities include ongoing initiatives such as the Specialized Domestic Courts and the Male Batterers' program, as well as projects such as a Court Watch Project and responding to the Provincial Coroner's Inquest into Domestic Violence.

Since amalgamation in January, 1998 the W.A.C. has continued to access in-kind support through the Community and Neighbourhood Services, Social Development Division budget. This support has included office space, access to office equipment and supplies, printing, telephone service and other resources related to the administration of the W.A.C. Due to expansion of Ontario Works, the W.A.C. was required to move in early 1998, and the organization has been relocated to rent-free space at 590 Jarvis Street. Non-space, in-kind administrative resources are estimated at about $20,000.00 per year.

As an independent body, the W.A.C. is unique in being able to draw on departmental administrative resources. In order to regularize the relationship, it is recommended that the in-kind administrative support be replaced with a grant of $10,000.00, to reflect six months of administrative costs starting in January 1999. The W.A.C. will apply for continuation of this support through the 1999 Community Services Grants Program. The in-kind provision of space would not be affected by this change, as it is governed by the current space use policy administered through the Corporate Services Department.

Over the life of the W.A.C., staffing support has come from a variety of sources, including provincial ministries. Due to the changing funding climate and reduced funding from previous sources, the W.A.C. has requested that the City allocate operating and administrative costs of $115,000.00, over and above the currently received in-kind support. The organization has been asked to submit any request for additional funds through the Community Services Grants Program in 1999, where it can be reviewed in the context of the City's overall support for community organizations. Staff has also provided information to the organization on other sources which may be approached regarding this substantial funding needs.

Conclusions:

The Common Ground Women's Centre and the Toronto Children's Breakfast Club were approved for 1998 C.S.G.P funding totalling $30,000.00. These two organizations became ineligible for funding under the C.S.G.P. for different reasons and the 1998 grant monies could not be allocated to them. The unexpended C.S.G.P. funds are being recommended for reallocation to Macaulay Child Development Centre, Welcome Baby Support Program of Etobicoke and the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto.

This report recommends that funds totalling $30,000.00 under the 1998 C.S.G.P. be approved for reallocation to Macaulay Child Development Centre ($14,500.00), Welcome Baby Support Program of Etobicoke ($5,500.00) and Woman Abuse Council of Toronto ($10,000.00).

Contact Name:

Chris Brillinger

Tel: 392-8608/Fax: 392-8492

e-mail address: chris_brillinger@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca.