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1. ENDORSEMENT OF THE HOUSING NETWORK
OF ONTARIO DECLARATION APPUI DE LA
DÉCLARATION DE PRINCIPES DU RÉSEAU ONTARIEN SUR LE LOGEMENT |
Committee Recommendation
That Council endorse the Housing Network of Ontario’s declaration, dated June 3, 2009,
in support of a strong Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy for Ontario, as outlined in Document 2.
Recommandation DU Comité
Que le Conseil appuie la
déclaration de principes du Réseau ontarien sur le logement, en date du 3 juin
2009, en soutien à une Stratégie de logement abordable à long terme agressive
pour l’Ontario, tel qu’il est énoncé au Document 2.
Documentation
1.
Health and Social
Services Advisory
Committee’s report dated 20 November 2009 (ACS2009-CCV-HSS-0001).
Report
to/Rapport au:
Community and Protective Services Committee /
Comité des services communautaires et de
protection
and Council/et au Conseil
20 November 2009 / le 20 novembre 2009
Submitted by/Soumis par: Health and Social Services Advisory
Committee/
Comité consultatif sur la santé et les services
sociaux
Contact/Personne-ressource: Melinda Aston,
Committee Coordinator/coordonnatrice du comité
consultatif
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Ref N°: ACS2009-CCV-HSS-0001 |
SUBJECT: ENDORSEMENT
OF THE HOUSING NETWORK OF ONTARIO DECLARATION
OBJET: APPUI DE LA DÉCLARATION DE PRINCIPES DU RÉSEAU ONTARIEN SUR LE
LOGEMENT
REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
The Health and Social Services Advisory
Committee recommend that the Community and Protective Services Committee
recommend Council endorse the Housing Network of Ontario’s declaration, dated
June 3, 2009, in support of a strong Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy for
Ontario, as outlined in
Document 2.
Le Comité consultatif sur la santé et les
services sociaux recommande au Comité des services communautaires et de
protection de recommander à son tour au Conseil d’appuyer la déclaration de
principes du Réseau ontarien sur le logement, en date du 3 juin 2009, en
soutien à une Stratégie de logement abordable à long terme agressive pour
l’Ontario, tel qu’il
est énoncé au Document 2.
The mandate of the Health and Social Services Advisory Committee is to advise on policies, programs and service delivery in the area of provision and support of social, health and related services.
At its 22 September 2009 meeting, the Health and Social Services Advisory Committee discussed a declaration drafted in June 2009 by various social housing advocates and advocacy groups under the Housing Network of Ontario banner, and the Health and Social Services Advisory Committee approved the following motion:
The Health and Social Services Advisory Committee
recommends that the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend
Council endorse the Housing Network of Ontario’s declaration, dated June 3,
2009, in support of a strong Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy for Ontario
(appended).
DISCUSSION
The Health and Social Services Advisory
Committee provides the following points for consideration in support of the
recommendation:
· The Ontario government, via the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, is currently developing a new, long-term housing strategy – intended to improve access to adequate, suitable and affordable housing for all Ontarians. Consultations are intended to provide a framework for the next 10 years
· The government is seeking opinions from its partners and stakeholders on affordable solutions; Provincial consultations have been underway, and written input is invited until December 31, 2009
· Arising from its own City Housing Strategy, and its adopted role in facilitating development of and access to housing for all residents of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa is an important partner and stakeholder in facilitating availability and affordability of housing for residents in this community.
· Due to limited resources, the City has struggled to meet its own housing targets in recent years
· The Housing Network of Ontario, a network of organizations dedicated to one goal – stable and affordable housing for all Canadians – has drafted a Declaration with respect to these consultations, intended to speak to the provincial framework's vision, principles and goals.
· The Declaration is available at: www.stableandaffordable.com
· Many of the City's community partners (in providing affordable housing, supports and supportive housing and assistance to those who are homeless) have already signed the Declaration, including: the Alliance to End Homelessness, Options Bytown, Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), the Council on Aging of Ottawa, the Social Planning Council of Ottawa, the Ottawa Child and Youth Housing Advocacy Initiative (OCHAI) working group, Barrhaven Non-Profit Housing, Action Logement, Interval House, Family Services à la famille Ottawa and the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW).
· Rather than being a political Declaration, the stated priorities embedded within the Declaration are oriented towards policy outcomes – policy outcomes that have already been identified by the City as priorities.
· Signing the Declaration would add the City's voice to others across the Province pursuing affordable and appropriate housing for all residents; the fulfillment of priorities and principles stated within the Declaration will better enable the City to meet its own targets as established in the City Housing Strategy
The Housing Network of Ontario Declaration reflects the direction set in the City’s Housing Strategy as well as the key messages framing the City’s input into the Provincial Government’s Consultation on a Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy that are being prepared for Council consideration.
Conclusion
Staff support endorsing the declaration from the HNO and supports the Health and Social Services Advisory Committee’s recommendation to Committee and Council.
LEGAL/RISK
MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:
There are no Legal/Risk Management impediments to implementing the recommendation in this report.
No financial implications.
No rural implications.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 – Extract of Health and Social Services Advisory Committee Minutes – 22 September 2009
Document 2 – Housing Network of Ontario Declaration – 3 June, 2009.
City Clerk's staff to forward Council's endorsement in a letter to the Ontario Housing Network.
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Health and social
services advisorycommittee Extract of minutes
28 22
september 2009 |
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comitÉ
consultatif sur la
santÉ et les services sociaux Extrait
du procès-verbal 28 le
22 septembre 2009 |
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DOCUMENT 1
4. DISCUSSION
– DECLARATION FROM THE HOUSING NETWORK OF ONTARIO
DISCUSSION – DÉCLARATION DU RÉSEAU ONTARIEN DE L’HABITATION
Members Bulthuis
Member Bulthuis spoke to the Housing
Network of Ontario’s (HNO) declaration, which was written by various advocacy
groups in the province. A copy of the
declaration is kept on file in the City Clerk’s office pursuant to the City of
Ottawa’s Records Retention and Disposition By-law. Member Bulthuis suggested that HSSAC make a recommendation to
Council to endorse the declaration. No
other municipality in the province have endorsed the declaration, but staff
were comfortable supporting HSSAC’s decision to make a recommendation.
Moved by M. Bulthuis,
That the Health and Social Services
Advisory Committee recommend that the Community and Protective Services
Committee recommend that Council endorse the Housing Network of Ontario’s
declaration to end homelessness.
CARRIED
ACTION: Coordinator to relay the motion to
the appropriate staff and to work with Member Bulthuis to prepare a draft
report.
ACTION: Coordinator to finalize the report
and submit it to the City Operations and Community and Social Services
departments for final department and financial comment before transmitting it
to the Community and Protective Services Committee and Council for
consideration (anticipated dates of consideration are unknown at this time).