Item - 2020.EC12.14

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Requested the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, in consultation with relevant City divisions, to undertake an immediate review of the request from The Survivors Fund and to provide a formal response to the organization prior to their fundraising event on April 25, 2020.

Earlier this year, my office was approached by The Survivors Fund, which requested that the City of Toronto join a number of corporate sponsors in supporting their upcoming gala fundraiser event through a financial commitment. As described on their website, "the gala dinner is targeting to raise over $200,000 in net dollars to be used in 2020 to provide interest-free loans to survivors of human trafficking and/or domestic violence." According to the organizers, every interest-free loan that helps a survivor to access appropriate housing saves the City of Toronto $3,000 per month over five months - or, in other words, frees up beds in our shelter system for others who need them.

Supporting the survivors of human trafficking is an established goal of City Council. Most recently, in June 2019 (2019.EC5.4), City Council endorsed a number of staff recommendations to improve the ability of City programs and services to identify and assist survivors of human trafficking, prioritizing the safety, well-being, and human rights of the person being trafficked or at risk of trafficking. The City and Province also provide funding to a number of community partners to prevent human trafficking and support survivors, as outlined in the appendices of that staff report.

At the time, I connected The Survivors Fund with the General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to explore opportunities for collaboration. However, it is now my understanding that there is no clear system in place at the City of Toronto for receiving, evaluating, and responding to requests for support from these kinds of community initiatives.

In the absence of an established process, I am requesting that City staff undertake an immediate review of the request from The Survivors Fund with all relevant divisions and provide a formal response to that organization well in advance of their fundraising event taking place on April 25, 2020.