Report to/Rapport au:
Community
and Protective Services Committee
Comité des services communautaires et de protection
and Council / et au Conseil
09 July 2009 / le 09 juillet 2009
Submitted
by/Soumis par:
Steve
Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint, City Operations /
Opérations municipales
Contact Persons/Personnes ressource :
Janice Burelle,
Acting General Manager, Community and Social Services Department
Aaron Burry, Interim
General Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
(613)
580-2424 x/poste 43081, janice.burelle@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
|
CONTINUATION
OF FUNDING TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES |
|
|
OBJET :
|
That the Community and Protective
Services Committee recommend Council approve the continuation of $3.19 million
in funding to community agencies.
Que le
Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande que le Conseil
approuve le maintien du financement d’un montant de 3,19 millions de dollars
accordé aux organismes communautaires.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In July 1998, the federal government introduced the National Child
Benefit Supplement (NCBS) which resulted in municipal savings, as the NCBS was
deducted from social assistance benefits (claw-back). In October 1998, the
Region of Ottawa-Carleton approved the overall plan for the reinvestment of $2M
(annualized) in municipal savings.
These savings were to be reinvested in programs and services, as
directed by the Province and approved by Council, which addressed the following
priorities:
1.
Prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty
2.
Promote attachment to the workforce
Since 1998, this funding has supported non-profit agencies, such as
Community Houses, Food Programs; Children’s Programs, etc. to provide essential
services directed at families living in poverty. Services that are funded
include family support programs, mentoring programs, youth programs, recreation
programs, to families and children in local neighbourhoods. This funding has also allowed families and
individuals receiving Ontario Works to access recreation and culture, bus
passes to search for employment and opportunities to participate in employment
programs and receive support through job retention programs.
In 2008, 60 agencies, delivering a range of
essential community services, employment and childcare programs, received
$3.19M and provided services to 426,187 adults and children. The investment
represents $7.48 per client served.
The NCBS funding is an important component of
each agencies’ annual budget representing on average 6% of their total revenue.
On May 14, 2008, Council approved recommendations and a report from the Community and Protective Services Department. The report informed Council about two important and related changes directed by the Province: one was to no longer deduct the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) from social assistance cheques, and the second was to upload a portion of benefits paid to children of parents who are on Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) through a new program called the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB).
The new Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) program
was introduced in July-August 2008 with implementation continuing in 2009. With the implementation of the new program
changes, the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) is no longer clawed back
from clients on social assistance. The NCBS, the new Ontario Child Benefit and
the Canada Child Tax Benefit are consolidated into one child benefit cheque
that is sent out to eligible, low-income families (including social assistance
clients) by the Canada Revenue Agency.
This new OCB program uploads some children’s
social assistance benefits to the Province with no 20% cost-sharing requirement
from municipalities. Municipal funding
that currently results from the NCBS claw back will instead be realized from
social assistance restructuring and the introduction of the new 100%
provincially-funded OCB.
The Canada Revenue Agency will be providing
the OCB to low-income families with children, regardless of their income
source, based on families’ completed tax return. For social assistance clients who are eligible to receive the OCB
but who are not receiving it, (e.g. because they have not yet filed their
income tax return for the previous year, they are newcomers to Ontario, or they
have a newborn who is not yet registered for the Child Tax Benefit) the
Province created a transition child benefit that is available to eligible
clients pending their receipt of OCB.
The Province's intention with social assistance restructuring and the
new OCB program is to change the way it provides benefits for children of
low-income families, regardless of source of income. Ultimately, families with children on OW will be slightly better
off and the programs will benefit all children of low-income families in
Ontario, whether the parents work or receive social assistance. Also, the OCB will help families make the
transition from social assistance to employment because parents will continue
to receive the OCB even after they begin working.
RÉSUMÉ
En
juillet 1998, le gouvernement fédéral a créé le Supplément de la prestation
nationale pour enfants (SPNE), ce qui a entraîné des économies pour les
municipalités, celui‑ci étant déduit des prestations d’aide sociale. Au
mois d’octobre suivant, la Région d’Ottawa‑Carleton a approuvé le plan
global concernant le réinvestissement (annualisé) de deux millions de
dollars ainsi économisés.
Tel qu’il est prescrit par le gouvernement de
l’Ontario et approuvé par le Conseil, les gains réalisés devaient être
réinvestis dans des programmes et des services qui touchent les priorités
suivantes :
1.
prévenir la pauvreté chez les enfants et en réduire
l'ampleur;
2.
faciliter l’intégration au marché du travail.
Depuis 1998, ces fonds ont servi à soutenir des
organismes sans but lucratif, comme des centres d'activités communautaires, des
programmes de lutte contre la faim et des programmes pour enfants, afin de
fournir des services essentiels aux familles qui vivent dans la pauvreté. Les
services subventionnés comprennent notamment des programmes d'aide à la
famille, de soutien à la jeunesse, de mentorat et de loisirs destinés aux
familles et aux enfants de divers quartiers. De plus, ce financement a permis à
des particuliers et à des familles touchant des prestations du programme
Ontario au travail (programme OT) d’avoir accès aux loisirs et à la
culture, d’obtenir des laissez-passer d’autobus afin de chercher un emploi, de
participer à des programmes d'emploi et de recevoir du soutien par
l’intermédiaire de programmes de maintien de l'emploi.
En 2008,
60 organismes qui fournissent une gamme de services communautaires
essentiels ainsi que des programmes d’emploi et de garde d’enfants ont touché
3,19 millions de dollars et aidé 426 187 adultes et enfants.
L’investissement équivaut à 7,48 $ par client.
Le financement du
SPNE est un élément important du budget annuel de tous les organismes, car il
représente en moyenne 6 p. 100 de leur revenu total.
Le 14 mai 2008, le Conseil a approuvé des
recommandations et un rapport de Services communautaires et de protection,
lequel visait à l’informer de deux changements importants et connexes apportés
par le gouvernement de l’Ontario : le premier consistait à cesser de
déduire le SPNE des chèques d’aide sociale, et le deuxième, à le prélever
plutôt des prestations versées aux enfants dont les parents bénéficient du
programme OT ou du Programme ontarien de soutien aux personnes handicapées
(POSPH) aux termes de la nouvelle initiative appelée Prestation ontarienne pour
enfants.
Le nouveau programme
POE a été instauré en juillet et en août 2008 et sera entièrement mis en
œuvre d’ici 2011. Grâce aux modifications ainsi apportées, le SPNE n’est
plus récupéré auprès de personnes touchant des prestations d'aide sociale. Le
SPNE, la nouvelle POE et la Prestation fiscale canadienne pour enfants sont
consolidés en un chèque unique de prestations pour enfants envoyé par l’Agence du revenu du Canada aux familles à faible revenu admissibles (y
compris les prestataires de l’aide sociale).
Ce
nouveau programme POE transfère
le paiement de certaines prestations pour enfants à la
Province sans que les municipalités soient tenues d’en assumer 20 p. 100
des coûts. Le financement municipal, qui découle actuellement du transfert du
SPNE sera plutôt assuré par une restructuration de l’aide sociale et la mise en
œuvre de la nouvelle POE sera entièrement financée par le gouvernement
provincial.
L’Agence du revenu du Canada versera la POE aux familles à faible revenu
qui ont des enfants en fonction de leur déclaration de revenus, quelle que soit
la source de leurs revenus. Pour les prestataires de l’aide sociale qui sont
admissibles à la POE mais ne la reçoivent pas (par exemple, parce qu’ils n’ont
pas encore rempli leur déclaration de revenus de l’année précédente, sont
nouvellement arrivés en Ontario ou ont un nouveau-né qu’ils n’ont pas encore
inscrit à la prestation fiscale canadienne pour enfants), le gouvernement
ontarien a créé la prestation transitoire pour enfants (PTE), qui est
offerte aux clients admissibles en attendant qu’ils touchent la POE.
Par la restructuration de l’aide sociale et le
nouveau programme POE, le gouvernement de l’Ontario veut changer la façon de
fournir des prestations pour les enfants de familles à faible revenu,
indépendamment de la source de revenu de celles‑ci. En définitive, les
familles avec enfants qui participent au programme OT se trouveront dans une
situation un peu plus avantageuse qu’auparavant et les programmes profiteront à
tous les enfants de familles à faible revenu de la province, que les parents
travaillent ou qu’ils reçoivent de l’aide sociale. De plus, la POE facilitera
aux familles le passage de l’assistance sociale au marché du travail, car les
parents continueront à recevoir la POE même après avoir trouvé un emploi.
With the introduction of the OCB and
resulting social assistance restructuring, the province expects municipalities
to "maintain and build on local programs for families and children in need
that are currently supported by NCBS reinvestment dollars. Since social assistance is being
restructured, and the OCB is funded 100% by the province, local programs for
families and children should not be negatively impacted by these changes". (Province of Ontario, Q&A, Dec. 21,
2007).
The Community and Social Services
Department supports the continued investment of $3.19 million to the 60
community agencies that deliver essential programs that provide social services,
children’s services, access to recreation and culture and access to employment.
These programs support the reduction of child poverty in our community,
increase attachment to the labour force, reduce reliance on social assistance,
and provide a range of social, health and recreational
activities that improve the social, emotional and physical well-being of
targeted groups. These programs include
employment preparation supports;
community capacity building; Success by Six; Healthy Babies, Healthy Children
Program; Community Health and Resource Centres; Community Houses; Child Care
Programs.
The services
are delivered through community partners, ranging from neighborhood-based
agencies such as Community Houses to agencies providing specialized services
such as counseling and personal support and community wide multi-service
agencies such as Community Health and Resource Centres. Please refer to Annex 1
for a detailed list of the organizations receiving funding.
Maintaining this
funding program is consistent with Council’s support
for the development of a Poverty Reduction Strategy as well as Council’s
commitment to the Community Development Framework.
There are no financial
implications associated with this report.
This report supports the following City Strategic Directions:
E.
Sustainable Healthy and
Active City:
4. Upload
the cost of social services, social housing and public health while retaining
responsibility for local administration to reflect the needs of the community.
7.
Ensure that cultural and recreation programs are offered across a range
of levels of activity such that every resident, and in particular, every child,
has a chance to participate.
Document 1: List of Agencies Funded in 2008
Community and
Social Services Department will action any direction received as part of
consideration of this report.
Document 1
NCBS Funding
NAME OF ORGANIZATION |
NCBS FUNDED PROGRAM
& SERVICE |
2008 $ |
Banff
Avenue Community House |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Big
Brothers/Big Sisters of Ottawa |
Meet
You In School Mentoring Program |
$61,689 |
Blair
Court Community House |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Boys
and Girls Club of Ottawa |
Children
in Shelter Program & Britannia Club house |
$73,512 |
Britannia
Woods Community Association (Community House) |
House
coordination |
$10,210 |
Canadian
Mothercraft of Ottawa-Carleton |
Birth
and Parent Companion |
$30,630 |
Carlington
Community and Health Services |
Cool
Aid program |
$24,384 |
Centre de ressources communautaires de la
Basse-Ville (CRCBV) |
Club
de devoirs/Homework Club and youth Sport Activities |
$145,626 |
Centre de ressources communautaires
Orléans-Cumberland |
Young Families |
$70,074 |
Centre de ressources communautaires Overbrook-Forbes |
Jeunesse entraide/Youth support |
$59,364 |
Centre des services communautaires de Vanier (budget
is 2007 audited) |
Family
Support Groups |
$53,749 |
Centre des services communautaires de Vanier - Partage Vanier |
Food
Cupboard |
$2,336 |
Centretown
Community Health Centre |
Outreach
to isolated families |
$90,638 |
Christie
Lake Kids |
STAR
Program |
$76,909 |
Christmas
Exchange of Ottawa-Carleton |
|
$1,889 |
Confederation
Court Community Organization (Community House) |
House Coordination |
$20,420 |
Coopérative AMI-Jeunesse |
Food
Distribution |
$26,546 |
Debra
Dynes Family House Inc. |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Dovercourt
Recreation Association |
Special
needs Rec |
$25,525 |
Eastern
Ottawa Resource Centre |
Youth
and Student Assistance |
$19,545 |
Family Services à la famille Ottawa |
Families
and School Together |
$24,960 |
FOCUS Vanier - Action Anti-drogue |
Drug/Drinking
Prevention |
$27,567 |
Foster
Farm Family House |
Hamper
Program |
$10,210 |
Lowertown
Good Neighbours Community House |
Clothing
Distribution and Family Outings |
$10,210 |
Manotick
Co-operative Nursery School |
Nursery
Program |
$1,029 |
Nepean
Community Support Services |
Baby
Cupboard |
$75,006 |
Ottawa
Children's Treatment Centre |
Caution:
Parent Learning (special need parent) |
$51,050 |
Parent Resource Centre |
Growing
up Downtown |
$70,449 |
Patro
d'Ottawa |
Youth
Sports Program |
$14,832 |
Pinecrest-Queensway
Community Health Centre |
Leaping
Lizards and United Sisters |
$45,576 |
NAME OF ORGANIZATION |
NCBS FUNDED PROGRAM
& SERVICE |
2008 $ |
Pinecrest-Queensway
Community Health Centre Re: Morrison
Gardens |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Pinecrest-Queensway
Community Health Centre Re: Pinecrest
Terrace |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Russell
Heights Community House |
House
Coordination |
$19,118 |
Social
Network For Youth of Ottawa-Carleton |
Recreation
for Francophone youth |
$9,189 |
Somali
Centre for Family Services |
Counselling
for Youth |
$69,428 |
South-East
Ottawa Community Health Centre |
Community
Connections Play & Learn |
$40,840 |
St.
Mary's Home |
Outreach
to Pregnant Teens at Risk |
$39,819 |
The
Children's Welcome Centre |
Operational
expenses |
$10,210 |
The Door / La Porte |
Youth
Program |
$41,134 |
The
Ottawa Food Bank |
Food
Cupboard |
$43,238 |
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre / Centre de
ressources communautaires d'Ottawa West |
Youth
Kanata and Bully Prevention |
$57,759 |
Other
- NCB Funding |
|
$80,700 |
Total NCB Community Funding |
|
$1,586,420 |
Success
by Six - Payable to United Way/Centraide (funds go to 19 agencies) |
|
$350,000 |
Fee
Subsidy for Recreation and Culture |
|
$320,000 |
Childcare
|
|
$180,352 |
Employment |
|
$758,714 |
TOTAL NCBS Reinvestment |
|
$3,195,486 |