CITY CLERK Clause embodied in Report No. 4 of the Community Services Committee, as adopted by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on May 21, 22 and 23, 2002. 1 Update on the Emergency Shelter System (City Council on May 21, 22 and 23, 2002, amended this Clause by adding thereto the following: “It is further recommended that: (1) the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to: (a) attempt to negotiate 24-hour access to the Fort York Armoury; (b) attempt to negotiate a waiving of the fees that would be charged for the use of the Fort York Armoury; and (c) attempt to secure access to the Fort York Armoury immediately, as negotiations are proceeding; (2) the first priority for the new beds in the Fort York Armoury, or any other beds, be for the users of the Council Fire Winter Program; and (3) the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to submit reports to the Community Services Committee on: (a) the feasibility of utilizing the former Denison Armoury as an alternative emergency shelter location to the Fort York Armoury; and (b) the results of research on how other Cities, such as New York, deal with their homeless population.”) (City Council on April 16, 17 and 18, 2002, deferred consideration of this Clause to the next regular meeting of City Council scheduled to be held on May 21, 2002.) (Clause No. 7 of Report No. 3 of The Community Services Committee, entitled “Update on the Emergency Shelter System) The Community Services Committee recommends: (1) the adoption of the report dated January 14, 2002, from the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services recommending: Toronto City Council 2 Community Services Committee May 21, 22 and 23, 2002 Report No. 4, Clause No. 1 “that the Chair of the Community Services Committee immediately request a meeting with the Minister of Community and Social Services concerning the shortfall of funding for hostel services in Toronto”; and (2) the adoption of the motion by Councillor Layton, seconded by Councillor Mihevc, contained in the communication dated March 14, 2002, from the City Clerk, with amendments to the operative paragraph, so that such motion now reads as follows: “WHEREAS City Council at its meeting held on March 5, 2002, has requested the Government of Canada to indicate formally that it would make armouries available, if asked by the City; and WHEREAS the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons is composed of a broad collection of homelessness experts including social workers, outreach workers, nurses, members of the faith community and homeless people, from across Canada; and WHEREAS more than 130 members of the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons came together at a special meeting on February 22, 2002, which focused on the shelter crisis and voted unanimously to recommend that a 200-bed shelter for single adults and couples be opened immediately; and WHEREAS there is no disagreement by any expert that more than 200 people are sleeping outside; and WHEREAS City Council has recommended that a new shelter be opened whenever shelters run at over 90 percent capacity; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and/or the Chair of the Community Services Committee immediately contact the appropriate federal authorities to ask that they allow the Fort York Armoury to be used on an emergency or ongoing basis for emergency shelter, subject to a due diligence review, and subject to the negotiation of satisfactory occupancy and other conditions and arrangements, as determined by the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Ward Councillor and the Chair of the Community Services Committee; and further that the Federal Government be requested to waive the rental fee.”. The Community Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, having: (a) directed that the Chair of the Community Services Committee be requested to contact the Federal Minister of Defence immediately to advise him of the Community Services Committee’s recommendations with respect to Fort York Armoury, which were adopted unanimously; and further that the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report directly to Council for its meeting on April 16, 2002, on the outcome of the discussions with the Federal Minister of Defence; Toronto City Council 3 Community Services Committee May 21, 22 and 23, 2002 Report No. 4, Clause No. 1 (b) directed that the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be requested to report to the Community Services Committee on the concerns raised with respect to tuberculosis in the shelter system, and the measures and plans taken to address the problem; (c) received the communication dated December 20, 2001, from Councillor Jack Layton, Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons; and (d) observed a moment of silence in memory of Ms. Joy Holmes, resident of Toronto, who passed away on March 26, 2002. The Community Services Committee submits the following report (January 14, 2002) from the Acting Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services: Purpose: This report provides an update on the single adult and youth and family shelter systems. Financial Implications and Impact Statement: There are no financial implications as a result of this report. Recommendations: It is recommended that the Chair of the Community Services Committee immediately request a meeting with the Minister of Community and Social Services concerning the shortfall of funding for hostel services in Toronto. Background: This report brings Community Services Committee up to date on the current capacity and occupancy levels in the emergency shelter system. The Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons at its December 14, 2001, meeting requested City Council to endorse the following action: “that Toronto City Council authorize City staff to immediately open a temporary emergency shelter at either City Hall or Metro Hall to ensure that people out on the street have a safe and warm place to sleep during the winter months.” This report also responds to the above motion. Comments: (1) Status of the Single Adult and Youth Shelter System: Occupancy levels in the single adult and youth shelter system have consistently been over the Council directed 90 per cent target since May 2001. (See Appendix A – Occupancy Levels in the Single Adults and Youth System in 2001). To address this situation, the Shelter, Housing and Support Division has increased capacity by adding new beds through permanent bed Toronto City Council 4 Community Services Committee May 21, 22 and 23, 2002 Report No. 4, Clause No. 1 development, expanding existing shelter capacities, and supporting winter-only programs. As of October 1, 2001, there were 2,904 beds in the system for single adults and youth. Since that time, the Division has added permanent new shelters with 213 permanent new shelter beds, and 51 winter-only for a total of 264 beds. In addition, a nightly average of 189 spaces are to be provided through the Out of the Cold Program. (See Appendix B - Single Adults and Youth Winter Line-Up) A report outlining the impact of the additional beds introduced into the shelter system on the occupancy level in the single adults and youth system was submitted directly to Council for its meeting on December 4, 5 and 6, 2001. The report indicated that, as some of the additional shelter beds were introduced into the system the occupancy level decreased by 4 percent for the week of November 5 to November 11, 2001. The occupancy level for the subsequent weeks increased to 94 and then 95 percent. The occupancy level then dropped to 92 percent for the week of December 17 to December 23, 2001, and then dropped again to 91 percent for the week of December 24 to December 30, 2001. The reduction in occupancy levels can be attributed to additional beds continuing to come on stream, as well as the holiday season resulting in a decreased number of people requiring shelter assistance. The Division will closely monitor the occupancy levels in the weeks following the holiday season to determine if this trend continues. The most recent statistics available from Hostel Services are for the week of December 30 to January 6, 2002, when the capacity of the single adult and youth system was 3,069 and the occupancy level was 92 percent. There were an additional 160 spaces available through the Out of the Cold Program. (See Appendix C – Statistical Report for the Week of December 30 to January 6, 2002). Although the new shelter beds that have recently been added to the system are reducing the occupancy level towards the 90 percent Council-directed target, it should be emphasized that on any night this means the City is still sheltering approximately 2,800 single adults and youth. Homelessness, among these client groups, is therefore still a serious issue in Toronto. (See Appendix D – Capacity and Occupancy Levels for Single Adults and Youth in 2001). (2) Status of the Family Shelter System: The number of families staying in shelters has more than doubled since 1993. Family shelter bed usage climbed to a peak of over 2,000 individuals per night during the summer of 2001. Usage has dropped significantly over the last two months. The latest figures for the week of December 31, 2001 to January 6, 2002, show family shelter bed usage at 1,450 down 726 from the peak of 2,176 in the week of September 24 to 30, 2001. In November 2001, 39 percent of individuals in the family shelter system were refugee claimants.