Item - 2019.EC6.20

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve the Community Services Partnership framework as described in Appendix A to the report (June 11, 2019) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration .

2.  City Council approve the following appeals approach for the full Community Services Partnership funding application:

-  Appeals to the recommendations for funding presented to Council will only be accepted and considered in either of the following circumstances:

      -   If there is evidence to suggest that a person involved in the funding recommendation had a conflict of interest at any time during the granting process that has affected the grant recommendation;

       -  If there is evidence to suggest that there was a departure from the approved grant-making process outlined in the grant guidelines.

-  A recommendation to cease funding a particular program or agency will not, in and of itself be a basis for appeals.

-  There will be a process to submit and assess the request to appeal before the appeal is reviewed by an appeals panel. Appeals will be heard by a panel of residents, service users and city staff from divisions other than Social Development, Finance and Administration.
 

3.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to re-allocate the 2019-2022 Community Service Partnerships (Community Services Partnership) funds that are not used during the funding year by approved organizations to other Community Service Partnership approved organizations.

4.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to approve changes to funded programs for already Council approved agencies within each four year Community Services Partnership funding cycle where a demonstrated community need is being addressed.

5.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to re-allocate, or approve and disburse one-time Capacity Building grants.

6. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to report back annually to the Economic and Community Development Committee on the grants approved through authority provided in recommendations 3, 4 and 5.

7. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to receive and allocate money received from other funders in support of capacity building projects approved through authority provided in recommendation 5 and to enter into agreements for the use of these funds.

8.  City Council, on a one-time basis, amend the Toronto Grants Policy, to permit the following organizations to submit an eligibility application to the Community Services Partnership no later than July 26, 2019:

a.  Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities.

b.  Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre.

c.  New Canadian Community Centre.

d.  Armenian Relief Society, ARS Social.

e.  Canadian Hearing Society.

f.  Mood Disorders Association of Ontario & Toronto.

This report describes the Community Services Partnership Renewal process which is only open to currently funded groups at their existing funding levels. Community Services Partnership provides $17.4M in funding to 187 groups across Toronto. The report recommends that Council approve the Community Services Partnership framework (Appendix A) which includes: the long term and short term outcomes that the funding supports agencies to achieve and a focus on serving vulnerable Torontonians. An appeals process is also recommended that outlines two circumstances in which applicants can appeal; where there is evidence of a conflict of interest or where staff have not followed the application process as outlined.

The report speaks to two other grant streams: Projects and Events and Capacity Building. The grant call for Projects and Events will focus two critical City priorities: 1) youth gun violence prevention, interruption and intervention; and, 2) actions developed by the community through Social Development Plans and Action Plans in four community revitalization neighbourhoods: Downtown East, Regent Park, Alexandra Park, and Lawrence Heights. With respect to capacity building, the report also notes several capacity building activities slated for 2019 that strengthen organizational capacity, build Black youth leadership and support Indigenous organizations

The report recommends that the Executive Director of Social Development Finance and Administration be authorized to make one-time grants in support of a range of capacity building activities and re-allocations within Community Services Partnership to respond to community needs.