The Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited at its meeting held on December 5, 1997, had before it a report (November 24, 1997) from the General Manager advising that the Board of Directors adopted the proposal, entitled "Metro Access to Social Housing: A Proposal for Co-ordinated Access in Metropolitan Toronto" at its meeting in October, 1996; that this proposal was in response to a directive from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing that all provincially funded social housing providers must participate in a co-ordinated access system for social housing in their communities; that over 100 social housing providers, community information centres and housing help agencies endorsed the MASH proposal; that in May, 1997, the Ministry approved MASH as the co-ordinated access plan for Metropolitan Toronto: providing an update on the implementation phase of MASH, together with various documents pertaining thereto; and recommending that:

(1) the Board of Directors endorse the implementation phase of Metro Access to Social Housing (MASH) as described in this report;

(2) staff be authorized to continue participating in the implementation of MASH, the co-ordinated access system for social housing in Toronto; and

(3) this report be forwarded to the Council of the new City of Toronto with a request to endorse the implementation of MASH.

The Board of Directors adopted, without amendment, the aforementioned report.

(Report dated December 5, 1997, addressed to the

Board of Directors, The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited,

from the General Manager)

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

Purpose of Report:

This report provides an update on the implementation phase of Metro Access to Social Housing (MASH) and recommends that The Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Limited (MTHCL) Board of Directors endorse the work that is currently underway to implement a co-ordinated access system for individuals and families applying for social housing in the new City of Toronto.

Background:

At its October 4, 1996, meeting, the MTHCL Board of Directors adopted the proposal, entitled AMetro Access to Social Housing: A Proposal for Co-ordinated Access in Metropolitan Toronto.@ This proposal was in response to a directive from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing that all provincially funded social housing providers must participate in a co-ordinated access system for social housing in their communities. The MASH proposal was developed with the active participation of MTHCL staff and many housing providers and community partners. Over 100 social housing providers, community information centres and housing help agencies endorsed the MASH proposal. In May 1997, the Ministry approved MASH as the co-ordinated access plan for Metropolitan Toronto.

The main features of this co-ordinated access system are:

The MASH co-ordinated access system will use the existing applicant intake resources and expertise within MTHCL and MTHA=s amalgamated Housing Registry and Cityhome. Smaller housing providers currently contribute staff time and in-kind donations to MASH. It is anticipated that they will continue to play an important role after the start-up date (June 1, 1998) by distributing MASH materials and assisting individuals with their applications to particular waiting lists. Providers will continue to have autonomy in selecting new tenants from their specific waiting lists. Dozens of existing community information and referral agencies, housing help centres, and emergency services throughout the new City are also integral to the MASH network. They will assist the public and their clients with the application for social housing and housing choices. The proposal recommends using the computer technology which exists within The Housing Registry to maintain the application and project information database.

Common Application Form:

A common application form for use by all social housing providers has been developed and field-tested by agencies across Metro. The form allows applicants to apply for one or more social housing projects, removing the need for applicants to approach dozens of different organizations when applying for social housing. Final revisions to the application are currently underway.

Building the Information Database:

MASH is gathering comprehensive information about each housing provider in the MASH network through a AHousing Project Profile Questionnaire.@ More than 60 percent of housing providers have completed the questionnaires with the remaining forms expected to be returned within the next few weeks. The information will be added to The Housing Registry=s existing project database. From this database, a AGuide Book to Social Housing@ will be produced as will on-line and electronic data files for the convenience of housing providers and information centres wishing to locate information quickly by computer.

Policies, Procedures and Governance:

Drawing on the expertise and experience of MTHCL staff and other housing providers in the MASH network, a policy and procedures document is being drafted to guide the work of MASH staff and participating housing providers and community agencies. A draft of this manual will be reviewed in detail with the MASH network of providers and agencies through focus groups in January and February 1998, and at a public meeting in February.

The MASH steering committee recently passed a motion to endorse the concept of an Advisory Council governance structure. The Advisory Council will be composed of representatives from the municipal non-profit housing agency, MTHA, the supportive housing, co-operative and private non-profit sectors, community information and advocacy agencies, as well as consumers. The proposed structure recommends that representatives from the new City Council, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and CMHC sit on the Advisory Council as ex-officio members.

Developing a Network of Access Centres:

To ensure a broad based network of access centres, MASH is currently doing extensive outreach to encourage community agencies such as shelters, drop-ins, housing help centres, and information centres to be access points in the MASH system. MASH identifies the need for different types of access points in different areas of the new City as key to ensuring MASH is accessible to all individuals who need to apply for social housing, including individuals in shelters and the chronically homeless. Final decisions about access points are expected by March 1998.

Summary:

During this implementation phase, MASH continues to receive positive feedback and support from housing providers in the co-operative, non-profit, and supportive housing sectors as well as from agencies who help their clients find housing. With over 200 housing providers operating 700 - 800 buildings in the new City, MASH will make it easier for social housing applicants to obtain comprehensive information about housing choices and to apply to waiting lists of their choice. Components of the MASH system, such as centralized waiting lists, information resources, and a common application form will assist social housing providers in filling their units, information-sharing, and maintaining up-to-date waiting lists. Full implementation of this system in 1998 will demonstrate support for Ministry and municipal directions towards improving access to publicly funded services and facilities.

Attached to this report are materials providing more detailed information about the work of MASH during the implementation phase.

(A copy of the material, referred to in the foregoing report, was forwarded to all Members of City Council with the agenda of the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee for its meeting on January 15, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)