Item - 2019.EC2.10

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to enter into a Contribution Agreement with Employment and Social Development Canada or related entity necessary for the receipt and expenditure of funding under the Reaching Home funding program and to undertake appropriate measures as the program proceeds to adjust program parameters, recipients and year end funding among program components as required to ensure full and effective use of available federal funds, on such terms and conditions as are satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

2.  City Council approve the receipt of the new Reaching Home program funds for provision of homelessness and housing support services under Canada's Homelessness Strategy, in line with the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement and any related directives or program guidelines.

3.  City Council increase the Approved City Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration by $1,256,071 gross and $0 net in 2019 to be funded from the City's allocation of Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, with future year requests subject to Council approval through the annual budget process.

4.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to develop a Community Plan, outlining funding priorities, in line with the terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement and any related directives.

5.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to enter into agreements or other suitable arrangements with other City divisions, provincial agencies, community agencies, private entities and/or individuals to allocate and deliver Reaching Home funding in accordance with the federal program guidelines.

6.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to enter into a Contribution Agreement or amending agreement with Employment and Social Development Canada or related entity necessary for the receipt and expenditure of funding under the Community Capacity and Innovation funding stream of the Reaching Home program, on such terms and conditions as are satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor, and make any necessary in-year budget adjustments to receive the funds.

7.  City Council direct the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to develop an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) funding stream in partnership with local Indigenous organizations and associations, with a minimum target of 20 percent of new Reaching Home funding, and report to the Aboriginal Affairs Committee or the appropriate Standing Committee on the agreed structure of this funding stream.

The Government of Canada has announced that on April 1, 2019, the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) will be replaced by Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy. The City of Toronto has applied to act as the Community Entity for Toronto and has been advised that the Toronto Designated Community allocation of Reaching Home funding will be $123,548,447 over five years. Toronto will also be receiving an allocation from the federal Community Capacity and Innovation (CCI) funding stream; however, the amount of this allocation remains unknown.

Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) is in the process of negotiating a Contribution Agreement with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). However, the agreement has not yet been finalized. It is anticipated that the agreement will be finalized before March 31, 2019 when the current HPS agreement ends. In order to ensure service continuity, this report seeks authority to undertake the necessary actions to enter into the Contribution Agreement, on terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and in a form approved by the City Solicitor, upon receipt of the agreement and to receive and allocate this federal funding and ensure continued delivery of homelessness and housing support services.