The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council thank the more than 450 volunteers and the 278 Team Leaders who participated in the 2009 Street Needs Assessment and made it a success.

2.         City Council thank the Street Outreach Steering Committee for supporting the successful implementation of the 2009 Street Needs Assessment, and reaffirm the Committee’s important role in the Streets to Homes program.

3.         City Council direct that the 2009 Street Needs Assessment report be forwarded to:

a.         the Prime Minister of Canada, the Federal Minister of Finance, the President of the Treasury Board, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, reconfirming Council’s request that federal funding for initiatives to end homelessness, at a minimum, be doubled and made permanent and that staff provide data to accompany the City’s request to document the total homeless costs to the City which are attributable to federal government policy;

b.         the Premier of Ontario, the Provincial Minister of Finance, the Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister of Health and Long-term Care, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the Minister of Community and Social Services and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing reconfirming Council’s request that an ongoing sustainable source of funding be identified to provide the supports necessary to help people who were homeless and have found permanent housing to keep their housing; and 

c.         the Chairs of the Toronto Local Health Integration Networks for information.

This report outlines the results and key findings of the April 15, 2009 Street Needs Assessment, which provide a better understanding of the service needs of homeless individuals in Toronto. The results are also compared to the findings of the 2006 Street Needs Assessment to determine any changes in the characteristics and service needs of homeless people since that time.

The detailed results are documented in a stand alone report (“results report”), attached to this staff report.  An overview of key findings is presented in this staff report with reference to the relevant page or pages in the results report as appropriate.

In 2005, City Council made a commitment to end street homelessness in Toronto.  On April 15, 2009, the Street Needs Assessment demonstrated clear progress on this objective, with an estimated outdoor homeless population of 400.  This represents a decrease of 51% over the 2006 outdoor homeless population estimate of 818.

In those service areas that are directly administered by the City of Toronto, street outreach and emergency shelters, there were an estimated 4,390 homeless individuals on April 15, 2009, a 1.7% decrease since 2006.

Continued implementation of the Housing First approach throughout all housing and homelessness services provided by the City, including in shelters and through the Streets to Homes program, is needed to build on the clear progress that has been made and to continue to assist homeless people to find and keep housing with supports appropriate to their needs.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council consent to the sale by Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) of  20 houses, as listed in Appendix A, to Wigwamen Incorporated, and consequent adjustment to TCHC service level obligations, in accordance with the City’s shareholder direction to TCHC, subject to approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

2.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to amend the TCHC Operating Agreement to adjust funding and service level obligations as a result of the sale and enter into any agreements and ancillary documentation deemed appropriate in connection with the sale and purchase of the houses on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3.         City Council request that prior to the disposal of any further units the Toronto Community Housing Corporation:

            a.         continue to pursue options for partnerships to ensure that 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes continue to be part of a social housing portfolio in the City of Toronto; and

            b.         report to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on opportunities, or lack thereof, prior to recommendations to Council for the disposition of units.

4.         City Council request the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation to work with Wigwamen Incorporated to identify if there are any “clusters” of single family homes that may also be suitable for Wigwamen Incorporated.

5.         City Council formally thank the staff of the Affordable Housing Office, the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation for their work in making this sale to Wigwamen Incorporated possible.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee requested the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to report directly to City Council on the following:

-           the market values of the homes proposed to be sold;

-           the remaining balances on the mortgages; and

-           alternative costs which would be avoided, timelines and any other issues associated with replacement of the units, including costs.

The purpose of this report is to request Council consent to the sale by Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) of 20 houses to Wigwamen Incorporated (Wigwamen), in accordance with the City’s Shareholder Direction.

TCHC’s Real Estate Asset Investment Strategy identified 47 houses in the single family portfolio to be sold.  This report deals with the proposed sale of 20 of these single family homes to Wigwamen.  The remaining 27 single family homes are to be subject to a request for expressions of interest to community agencies who deliver housing and support services to low-income or vulnerable populations in Toronto.

The proposed sale of TCHC’s houses to Wigwamen aligns with Council’s ten year affordable housing plan, Housing Opportunities Toronto and provides a unique opportunity to invest in the houses and address homelessness in the Aboriginal community in Toronto.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the 2010-2014 Child Care Service Plan, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (April 9, 2010) from the General Manager, Children's Services, including amending principle "e. to include the words "including those with special needs" after "children" so that the principle now reads:

"e.        recognition that child care services provide developmentally appropriate beneficial care for children, including those with special needs, as well as important family and community support".

2.                  City Council instruct the General Manager, Children's Services, to forward the plan to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and to incorporate it into subsequent provincial and municipal budget submissions from the Children’s Services Division.

3.                  City Council instruct the General Manager, Children's Services, to use the 2010-2014 Child Care Service Plan to direct the planning, development, management and delivery of programs in a system of services for children during the next five years.

This report seeks approval for the City of Toronto 2010-2014 Child Care Service Plan. The Plan has been developed in accordance with principles and motions adopted by Council in December 2008. It gives direction to the Children's Services Division on operating policies, strategic directions and service priorities for the next five years. This Service Plan is particularly important as it governs a time of significant transformation in the child care sector as it transitions to an integrated early learning system. 

At its March 31/April 1, 2010 meeting, Council requested a status report on the Port Lands Sports Centre project be submitted to the April 23, 2010 Community Development and Recreation Committee.  The project consists of the development of a multiple ice pad facility to be built in the Port Lands, in the area south of Commissioners Street and west of the Don Roadway on the lands known municipally as 85 and 95 Commissioners Street.

This report provides a summary of the project-related activities to date.  A further report will be provided to Council in July with recommendations concerning the number of pads, total project cost, preferred financing, operations framework, construction management and timeline, and will seek required authorities. 

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to sign a renewal agreement with Service Canada for the Youth Employment Toronto (YET) program for up to $562,500 gross and $148,500 net, dependant on City and federal budget approval processes.

To seek authorization to renew an agreement with Service Canada for the Youth Employment Toronto (YET) program for an amount of up to $562,500 gross and $148,500 net.

The YET program is an on-going cost shared program providing a city wide mobile employment assessment, referral and case management service to unemployed, out of school youth 16 to 29 years of age.  The current contract with Service Canada for the YET program ends on June 30, 2010.

The Toronto Fire Services participates in the Toronto Child Safety Seat Coalition with the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Transportation to install child safety car seats.  The car safety seat clinics are held four times per year to assist with an efficient means to coordinate the installation of car seats.

Toronto Fire Services, as part of the Toronto Child Safety Seat Coalition, has participated in the installation of 584 car seats in 2009 compared to 330 in 2008.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the Fire Chief and General Manager to participate in Federal training opportunities provided in relation to heavy urban search and rescue, as described in the report (April 9, 2010) from the Fire Chief and General Manager.

2.         City Council  delegate authority to the Fire Chief and General Manager to negotiate and enter into any agreements, in a form which is satisfactory to the City Solicitor, as required for the Federal Department of Public Safety to provide reimbursement to the City for all costs associated with the City’s participation in Federal training opportunities related to heavy urban search and rescue, and that the Fire Chief be authorized to execute any required agreements or related documents on behalf of the City.

Toronto Fire Services has a Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) team that can respond to large-scale structural collapse and other urban emergencies in an organized and timely way. Currently, the Province pays for equipment and training to respond to emergencies in Toronto and throughout Ontario, as needed. City Council has authorized an agreement for the deployment of the City's HUSAR team, outside of Toronto, on a full cost recovery basis by the Federal Government and Province.  This report seeks authorization for the HUSAR team to participate in Federal training opportunities on a full cost recovery basis, resulting in increased training opportunities for the City's HUSAR team at no cost to the City.

Council’s approval of the recommendations will ensure the HUSAR team will receive the training opportunities available to the Vancouver, Alberta, Manitoba and Halifax teams.

The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the Fire Chief and General Manager to exercise the previous annual increment in the contract of $200,000.00 net of GST not exercised in 2008.

2.         City Council grant authority to amend and increase Sole Source Contract 47010203 to MSA Canada Inc. up to a value of $1,659,300.00 net of GST and to extend the contract expiry date to December 31, 2013, with annual expenditures as required, based on projected spending of $850,000.00 net of GST from the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2013, representing an increase of $59,300.00 net of GST over the currently approved authorization to the end of 2012 approved in 2005.

The purpose of this report is to request Council approval for Toronto Fire Services ("TFS") to amend and increase sole source contract 47010203 with MSA Canada Inc. to provide parts and service for Fire Services’ Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) until 2013, at which time Fire Services will issue a competitive call for a vendor to replace the existing equipment.

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus is crucial fire fighting equipment that allows the fire fighter to enter into a burning building and face fire, toxic smoke, and hazardous chemicals and is used in confined space rescues and Hazmat calls.  As a result, the equipment is subject to strenuous tests in emergency operations, resulting in excessive wear and damage caused by fires, leading to accelerated deterioration and must be maintained or replaced.

The purpose of this report is to advise on the over expenditure of Contract No. 47008074 issued to Superior Air Systems Ltd. for HVAC Services for various City of Toronto locations in the amount of $607,313.29 bringing the total expenditure for this contract to $637,313.29 net of GST and Contract No. 47009183 issued to Direct Construction Co. Ltd. for Minor Building Repairs for City of Toronto locations in the West District, in the amount of $530,173.70 bringing the total expenditure for this contract to $980,173.70 net of GST. These increases are a result of additional expenditures incurred by various divisions for work required under these contracts. The amendments are now required to correct the contract amounts and to reconcile the actual spending for the various expired contracts in the City’s Financial Information System.