Item - 2021.HL29.5

The Board of Health recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the Medical Officer of Health to award, execute and amend, on an ongoing basis, a purchase of service contract for the Creating Health Plus Program with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre, in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the purchase of service contracts awarded and executed by the Medical Officer of Health for 2021, according to the delegation of authority by City Council.

This report also requests approval for the Medical Officer of Health to award, execute and amend, on an ongoing basis, a purchase of service contract with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) to support the service delivery of the Creating Health Plus Program.

The Creating Health Plus (CHP) Program is a partnership program between Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, North York Harvest Food Bank, PARC, and Toronto Public Health in response to research that identified nutritional gaps in meals served at Toronto drop-ins. This program serves the City's most vulnerable people, many of whom are homeless or under-housed, have mental health or substance use issues and/or are street involved. Creating Health Plus provides regular and reliable access to five fresh foods at Toronto drop-ins on a weekly basis, including fruits, vegetables, milk, yoghurt and eggs.