Item - 2017.CD20.6

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that: 

1.  City Council approve the recommended bed capacities and annual funding allocation as set out in Appendix A to the report (April 26, 2017) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, which are in accordance with the service levels included in the 2017 Approved Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration.

2.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, or his designate to:

a.  enter into purchase of service agreements with community agencies for the provision of shelter services up to the annual funding allocation as outlined in Appendix A to the report (April 26, 2017) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration;

b.  enter into agreements with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Mental Health Program Services of Metropolitan Toronto (Habitat Services) to issue payments up to $10.244 million gross and $2.056 million net for the provision of housing and supports for psychiatric consumer survivors living in Habitat Services contracted boarding or rooming houses as outlined in Appendix B to the report (April 26, 2017) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration;

c.  enter into an agreement with, and issue payments to the Toronto Hostels Training Centre for the administration and provision of training for shelter, drop-in and other agency staff up to a maximum amount of $0.134 million gross and $0.134 million net and to support systems necessary for E-Learning as outlined in Appendix B to the report (April 26, 2017) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration; and

d.  purchase up to $0.06 million gross and net in training for staff of the directly operated shelters from the Toronto Hostels Training Centre, as outlined in Appendix B to the report (April 26, 2017) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, in order to meet the training requirements laid out in the Council-approved Toronto Shelter Standards.

3.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, or his designate, to take the necessary actions required for the hotel services expansion to address the higher demand from homeless refugees:

a.  City Council approve an increase and extension of the existing purchase order with Quality Hotel and Suites (Purchase Order 6044837) by $2,000,000 until December 31, 2017 for the provision of hotel and food service;

b.  City Council approve an increase and extension of the existing contract with Alternative Living Solutions (Contract 47020406) by $700,000 until December 31, 2017 for the provision of hotel service;

c.  City Council approve an increase and extension of the existing contract with Alternative Living Solutions (Contract 47020322) by $1,000,000 until December 31, 2017 for the provision of food service; and

d.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, or his designate, to enter into a purchase of service agreement with COSTI Reception Centre for $800,000 to staff and manage the shelter programs being run out of the Alternative Living Solutions Hotel and Quality Inn.

4.  City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to separate the information on flex capacity at each shelter, in all future shelter allocation funding reports.

5.  City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee, as part of the 2017-2018 winter season, on flex bed capacity.

6.  City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to report on ways to address wage discrepancies between City-run and not-for-profit run shelters in any budget submissions to the Budget Committee and City Council.

The City of Toronto's Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) Division provides funding to 52 shelter sites operated by 30 community not-for-profit agencies through purchase of service contracts.

This report provides recommendations on the 2017 funding allocations for the purchase of service shelter system and funding levels for other related operating contracts.

All programs must meet the operating requirements set out in both the Toronto Shelter Standards and the purchase of service contracts. All programs are also evaluated using a quality assurance review process.

SSHA has also contracted two hotels to provide food and shelter to homeless refugees. The demand for these services remains high and is likely to continue throughout the year. The target values for the contracts and/or purchase orders that were established for these services will be exceeded at some point this year. Given the dollar value, Council's approval is required to amend these purchasing vehicles.