TAMRMS#: B06
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Enhanced Housing Options
Notice given by: Mayor Heron
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
recommendation
Move that the unfunded business case “Enhanced Housing Options” be funded for $60,000 from the growth assessment pool if there is money available or if not from the Stabilization reserve
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POSTPONED MOTION ADMINISTRATIVE BACKGROUNDER
Administration’s Understanding of Intent Motion:
Administration understands the intent of the motion is to fund the business case “Enhanced Housing Options” from either the growth assessment pool or the Stabilization reserve. All assessment growth revenue for 2020 has been either allocated to business cases or against the base tax requirement. This motion, if passed would be funded from the Stabilization reserve. This is an appropriate funding source given that the business case is one-time only for 2020.
Operational or Organizational Impacts if Motion is Approved:
By funding this business case, the timelines and objectives established by project 5.4 and the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness can be achieved. It will provide the necessary resources needed to support the development of recommendations to address affordable housing/homelessness, which will be presented to Council in Q2 of 2020.
Financial Implications of Motions:
$60,000 will be required from the Stabilization reserve.
Stakeholder Consultations:
If the motion is approved, stakeholders involved with the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness will be notified of the continuation of resources to support their work.
Background:
Both project 5.4 and the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness require administrative support beyond the capacity of existing resources; while Community Services reallocated funding in 2019 to meet these demands, one-time support for part of 2020 is required to complete the established objectives and timelines.
The number of homeless individuals in St Albert doubled from 2017 to 2018 from 83 to 168 people. St. Albert has not been successful at securing
Provincial or Federal funding to address these needs, not for lack of effort but rather because we are not one (1) of the seven (7) big cities that currently receive Provincial funding, and yet we are considered too large and too close to an urban centre to be able to secure funding from the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN). It is anticipated that strong, dedicated work on project 5.4 and the Task Force will contribute to the identification of new ways to secure funding to support some of our most vulnerable residents. Additionally, the new provincial government is looking for innovative pilots to fund, and recommendations from the Mayor’s Task Force can be linked to such opportunities.
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Report Date: November 21, 2019
Author: Catriona Gunn-Graham
Department: Community Services
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble