The Community Development and Recreation Committee:

1.         Requested the Budget Committee, as part of the 2014 budget review process, to include necessary resources to increase access to shelter beds so that shelter capacity does not exceed 90% in any category of shelter (i.e. women's, men's, co-ed and family); and further requested the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to develop a rapid deployment strategy that can be quickly implemented if the 90% standard is not achieved in any sector.

2.         Directed the General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to convene a bi-annual meeting of all city-funded homeless service providers to review shelter occupancy and discuss emerging and ongoing issues within the homelessness service sector.

3.         Requested the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to report on a quarterly basis to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on the shelter accommodation rate.

This report provides information on shelter system occupancy and use. It also provides the findings of a quality assurance review of shelter access and client satisfaction. The report provides an overview of the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) division's short and longer term actions and strategies to improve access to the shelter system.