Item - 2020.EC18.7

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1.  Received the report (November 23, 2020) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, for information.

The Auditor General's report, Opening Doors to Stable Housing: An Effective Waiting List and Reduced Vacancy Rates Will Help More People Access Housing, was adopted by City Council on July 16, 2019, along with 34 recommendations outlining how the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration division (SSHA) can improve its administration of the centralized waiting list for subsidized housing.

At this meeting, City Council requested that SSHA report quarterly to the Economic and Community Development Committee on the following:

-  Progress on the implementation of the new choice-based housing access model;

-  Centralized waiting list data, including the number of households on the centralized waiting list; the average number of offers required to fill a vacancy; and the number of applicants housed;

-  Vacancy data, including how long units stay vacant and reasons for vacancies; and

-  Updates on the implementation of recommendations made by the Auditor General.

The report covering the first quarter of 2020 was initially scheduled to be considered by the Economic and Community Development Committee in June 2020, however was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report provides the information requested for the first, second and third quarters of 2020.

SSHA agrees with, and is currently working towards all recommendations made by the Auditor General. Of the 34 recommendations, 10 recommendations have been completed with work underway to address the balance, with some impacts to original timelines due to the City's emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.