GENERAL MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 13, 2015 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am Central Public Library, Stevenson & Hunt Room - 251 Dundas Street

1. Call to Order – Abe Oudshoorn, Chair

2. Mission Statement - The London Homeless Coalition exists to advise, shape and coordinate community responses to homelessness, and related needs to the London area.

3. Introduction of and Welcome to those in Attendance Abe Oudshoorn, Chair Jan Regan, CoL, Recording Secretary Jan Richardson, Homeless Prevention, CoL Barbra Egelton, London Housing Registry Ashley Gammon, CMHA Elgin David Caloren, London Public Library Josh Browne, Housing, CoL Jason Westbrook, Housing, CoL Deb Peckham, LHAC Melissa Hardy-Trevenna, LSTAR Michelle Lynne Goodfellow, LMHC Michele Reid, Homeless Prevention, CoL Gordon Russell, Mission Services Martha Connoy, Mission Services Lorraine Stuyt, Mission Services Sonja Burke, RHAC Jaclyn Seeler, United Way Jessica Justrabo, CYN Betsy Odegaard, LHAC Brandon Agnew, London CAReS Mirella Bryant, YOU Amanda Wright, LHRI, CURA Jesse Helmer, Councillor, CoL Shelley Yeo, WCH Marcia Gardiner Neil Watson, Housing, CoL Trevor Johnson, Homeless Prevention, CoL Samantha Matty, CNRC Barhet Woldemariam, CMHA-Middlesex

4. Approval of Agenda Motion: To approve the agenda, noting CURA Conference to be added to Announcements. Moved: Shelley Yeo Seconded: Melissa Hardy-Trevenna Carried.

5. Approval of Minutes of The General Membership Meeting March 2, 2015 Motion: To approve the minutes of the meeting on March 2, 2015, noting a correction to the date from January to March 2. Moved: Deb Peckham Seconded: Melissa Hardy-Trevenna Carried.

6. Presentations 6.1 Ashley Gammon, Housing Case Manager, for ‘Care Homes’, CMHA Elgin In December 2013, St. Thomas City Council received a ‘community-wide standards of care for residential care homes’ report for approval. The standards of care are designed to support the safety and well-being of both staff and residents, provide a basis for inspection and monitoring, provide consistency of service and set benchmarks for care.

 In St. Thomas there are 96 beds that were funded under the former domiciliary hostel program now funded under CHPI  Partnership - the City funds inspections and standards  ODSP will be sending letters to participants residing in homes with supports advising of a change in what is considered board and lodging. This will decrease the monthly amount the resident receives. It was noted that, in London, there are 28 of these types of units operating including the John Gordon Home and the Roger Smith Wing at Men's Mission. These units are monitored based on the standards set by CHPI for these types of services.

Effective January 1, 2013, all former homeless related programs funded by the Province of Ontario including, emergency shelters and domiciliary hostels, were eliminated. The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) was introduced by the Province and included a Housing with Support category. Each community/municipality operates programs differently.

Recommendation: To forward to the OW/ODSP Advocates the issue of the change by ODSP in how they fund participants residing in different lodging situations. It being noted the next Advocates meeting is scheduled for September 2015.

6.2 Mirella Bryant, YOU – Young Moms Project Update YOU operates 30 permanent housing units for youth, including young moms at the Cornerstone.

YOU is in the process of purchasing an additional five buildings (in a row) in close approximately to Cornerstone and intends to convert them into 46 units of affordable housing, as a ‘Housing First mini- scattered site -model’ within the buildings. A capital fund raising campaign is expected to launch in June 2015, with an anticipated two year conversion process.

7. Business Arising from March 2, 2015 minutes 7.1 Priorities for 2015 The top three priorities were presented, noting the amendment to priority one from ‘lobby for an increase in social assistance rates’ to ‘lobby for a reduction in poverty as it relates to people’s ability to obtain and retain housing’.

Motion: To approve the following three priorities:

1. Our Governments Poverty has a significant income component based on the gap between the cost of basic necessities, and social assistance rates. We will continue to lobby for a reduction in poverty as it relates to people’s ability to obtain and retain housing.

2. Our Community Homelessness affects us all as citizens of London and area. We will ask our community members what they can do to be a part of ending homelessness.

3. Ourselves We can end homelessness in London, but to do so we need to be collaborating together to form the components of a comprehensive system. We will build community collaboration with a common vision of ending homelessness.

Moved: Martha Connoy Seconded: Shelley Yeo Carried.

7.2 Soup n Bread – Friday, May 1, 2015 – 12:00 – 1:30 pm – Covent Garden Market Square The Soup n Bread event aims to raise awareness about homelessness in our community. This spring’s theme is ‘Join us for a community conversation’. Consider:  What does homelessness mean to you?  What does it mean to your community?  What can you do to help address the issues of homelessness?

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 What do you think our caring community can do to address homelessness?

The event is open to everyone including those with lived experience, agencies/organizations, the community, politicians and the media.

The membership discussed various ideas, materials and messaging for the day.

Action: The Steering Committee will discuss and determine the format for the day.

7.3 CAEH Conference – November 2 – 4, 2015 – Montreal The London Homeless Coalition has submitted a collaborative abstract for consideration at the 2015 CAEH conference in November. The submission, titled “Collaborating to End Homelessness” will explore four models of service collaboration currently being implemented in London, including: Orders to Reside; Homes for Women; London CAReS; and, Street-Level Women at Risk.

It was also noted that there are subsidies available for those individuals with lived experience.

7.4 London Transit Commission Jesse Helmer advised the membership that Kelly Palenczny, General Manager, London Transit Commission, will attend the May 2015 LHC meeting to provide a brief presentation and answer questions related to the SMART card roll out. Prior to the May meeting, a survey will be circulated to gather information related to how agencies/organizations distribute bus tickets and what some of the concerns may be.

Link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ecd0d93YVvsM%2fU11R9%2fWgg %3d%3d

7.5 Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) and the Role of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) Homelessness Partnership Strategy funding, commonly referred to as HPS, is federal funding. It should be noted that the London Homeless Coalition is the Community Advisory Board, or CAB, for this funding, and as such administers the process to determine who receives funding. For the past two annual cycles and the special project cycle, we as the Coalition voted to divest this process to an arms-length community group, in this case the Homelessness Prevention System Implementation Team. It is important to note that this team consists of representatives of community organizations who are informed on the issue but somewhat removed from direct funding (that said, myself, Kate Wiggins, and Steve Cordes, would be in conflict and would declare such).

Because of this structure, we as the Coalition need to be attuned to any concerns regarding the process. Once the funding for this cycle has been finalized, I recommend that we reopen the discussion as to how we can best fulfill our role as the Community Advisory Board.

Action: The LHC will re-visit HPS and their role as the CAB at a future meeting and prior to the end of this funding cycle (2015-2019).

8. Standing Items 8.1 City Updates – Jan Richardson, Manager, Homeless Prevention

i) Community Plan Regarding Street-Level Women at Risk Three meetings have been held with 22 agencies (the Collaboration Working Group), and from this group, the Governance Group has formed. The Governance Group will assume a leadership role and will guide the implementation of the plan.

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ii) Community Plan to Address, Reduce and Prevent Youth Homelessness Maria Sanchez-Keane, Consultant, Centre for Organizational Effectiveness, is developing an annotated bibliography on Housing First models for youth and other programs that have demonstrated success in addressing, reducing and preventing homelessness.

iii) Centralized Intake for Emergency Shelters The Centralized Intake Working Group, comprised of frontline staff and mangers from emergency shelters, continues to meet to develop the model of centralized intake for emergency shelters in London.

iv) Housing Selection Workers Two meetings have been held with London’s Housing Selection Workers to look at landlord relationships and to consider shared practices and working together.

v) Housing Stability Bank The Housing Stability Bank, Emergency Assistance Program, has transitioned from a grant program to an interest-free loan program for electrical bills only. (Attachment #1)

The Housing Stability Bank, a $4M program, receives a $225,000 grant from London Hydro, which is now exhausted.

A Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) report was submitted to Council in June 2014 detailing the Housing Stability Bank (Attachment #2).

Attachment #1 Attachment #2

For additional information contact: Charlotte Dingwall Housing Stability Bank, Manager [email protected]

A request for proposal (RFP) for the operation of the Housing Stability Bank is expected to be released in the next six weeks.

vi) Housing Division – Josh Browne and Neil Watson In August 2014, the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) for Ontario (2014 Extension) was announced. The City of London is developing a detailed Program Delivery and Fiscal Plan to be presented to City Council.

10 projects are currently underway with 182 units coming on stream this year.

The City of London received $26,026,200 from the federal and provincial governments under the Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario (2014 Extension). 10% of the funding will be directed to affordable housing in Middlesex County. The IAH extended funding runs from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2020. The City has submitted a Program Delivery & Fiscal plan to the province for the six year duration of the program as follows:

Year 1 (2014 -15) Year 2 (2015-16) Rental Housing $2,528,100 Rental Housing $4,716,505 Administration $133,000 Homeownership $150,000 4

Ontario Renovates $100,000 Administration $261,395

Year 3 (2016-17) Year 4 (2017-18) Rental Housing $4,713,370 Rental Housing $4,760,330 Homeownership $150,000 Homeownership $100,000 Ontario Renovates $100,000 Ontario Renovates $100,000 Administration $261,230 Administration $261,070

Year 5 (2018-19) Year 2 (2019-20 Rental Housing $4,748,170 Rental Housing $2,258,470 Homeownership $100,000 Homeownership $50,000 Ontario Renovates $100,000 Ontario Renovates $50,000 Administration $260,430 Administration $124,130

The City currently is reviewing proposals for new rental affordable housing submitted under RFP 15-14. The rents charged are $540 & $619 per month for a one bedroom apartment with utilities. Some projects will have rents set at the ODSP or OW shelter rate. For further information contact the Housing Office at 519-661-5900.

8.2 Update from Steering Committee No further items presented for discussion.

8.3 LHC Memorial Committee – Brandon Agnew Brandon on behalf of the committee identified:  plans are underway to condense the memorial user guide  they are considering holding a candlelight vigil on October 8th leading into the World Homeless Day (October 10)

8.4 Updates from Other Committees that Members Serve On Housing Advisory Committee - Deb Peckham has been appointed as Vice Chair

9. General Announcements

9.1 CURA Conference – October 28 & 29, 2015 – Best Western Lamplighter Inn - Amanda Wright The Community-University Research Alliance (CURA2) is seeking submissions for presentations on issues and/or solutions related to poverty, social inclusion, and/or psychiatric survivor/consumers for the fifth annual forum. Deadline to submit is May 17, 2015.

For additional information contact: Amanda Wright [email protected] 519-685-8500 ext. 75896

9.2 Councillor Jessie Helm advised: i) Water consumption: There is support for individuals in a crisis situation as a result of water consumption. In addition, a grant program is administered by the Housing Stability Bank through The Salvation Army Centre of Hope ii) Distribution of Tax Burden: Affordable housing providers can apply for a lower tax rate for providing affordable subsidized housing.

5 10. Other Business 10.1 Financial Donation Policy http://londonhomeless.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Monetary-Donations-Policy.docx

The policy is to be revised to include consideration for how a donor will be recognized. The amended policy will be brought forward at the next meeting.

1. Date and time for next LHC General Meeting Monday, May 4, 2015 Central Library Stevenson & Hunt Room, main floor

2. Adjournment

London Homeless Coalition Steering Committee: Abe Oudshoorn, Grant Martin, Deb Peckham, , Melissa Hardy-Trevenna, Mirella Bryant, Susan Macphail, Shelley Yeo, Michelle Lynne Goodfellow, Justin Langille, Jan Richardson

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