TAMRMS#: B06
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Mayor's Task Force to End Homelessness-Social Housing Specialist
Notice given by: Councillor Hansen
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
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That the recommended operating business case Mayor’s Task Force to End Homelessness-Social Housing Specialist be funded in the amount $82,000. Funding Source - Assessment Growth.
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Administration’s Understanding of the Intent of the Motion:
Administration’s understanding of the motion is that, should it be approved, a Social Housing Specialist would be hired in 2021, funded from the Assessment Growth fund. This role would advance social housing supports for all vulnerable groups in St. Albert, and the youth supportive housing capital project as per the recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force to End Homelessness.
Operational or Organizational Impacts if Motion is Approved:
The Social Housing Specialist position was one of the recommendations from the Mayor's Task Force to End Homelessness. This position would fill a gap that exists regarding social housing. It would coordinate and implement actions and strategies to address the social needs of vulnerable residents, improve housing stability along the housing continuum from homelessness to social housing. Adding this position would provide vulnerable groups who are under-served in our community the support that is missing to address an increasing number of homeless individuals in our community. This position would have a preventative component as well, including evidence based upstream strategies that identify and address factors that contribute to homelessness. The City’s current staffing component does not have the capacity to provide this function.
Addition of a Social Housing Specialist would assist in addressing Council strategic Priority #5 Housing and Social Well-being: Enhance housing options and social supports. Specifically, this would address the following planned activities under this priority:
• To explore options for an enhanced, integrated, and coordinated network of social services to meet the basic needs of residents and address emerging trends and issues.
This position would work closely with the City of St. Albert Affordable Housing Liaison position in the Planning Department. The Affordable Housing Liaison position focuses on housing from a development perspective, implementing strategies and actions to improve housing diversity and affordability through changes to the housing supply in partnership with the development industry and housing affiliated organizations in St. Albert and Edmonton region. This position concentrates on the social aspect of housing and homelessness.
Financial Implications of Motions:
2021: Expense of $82,000 for the position, effective April 1, 2021. There is no revenue source attached to this position.
In 2022 the expense would be $121,000 and in 2023 $127,000.
Although the motion specifies Assessment Growth as the funding source which is technically ongoing revenue, there is a large portion of the 2021 budget that is utilizing temporary service reductions and one time reserve transfers to somewhat artificially lower the tax rate. Policy C-FS-05 Budget and Taxation Guiding Principles standard 17.c states "One-time revenues and surpluses and unpredictable revenue shall not be relied upon to fund ongoing expenditures, unless otherwise noted in the Financial reserve policy/schedules. This could result in annual expenditure obligations that may not have adequate funds available for future years." Given the uncertain financial future, the addition of new ongoing services should be considered carefully.
As part of the 2021 budget Administration has recommended that the remaining assessment growth of $544,400 be applied against the base taxes (standard policy would direct these dollars to be transferred to the growth stabilization reserve for the following year). If this motion passes, there will only be $462,400 available to apply against the base which will increase the tax rate unless further reductions are found to offset the impact.
Stakeholder Consultations:
There was extensive stakeholder consultation undertaken as a part of the Mayors Task Force to End Homelessness, Final Report June 1, 2020. These stakeholders included local social profit agencies that were providing supports to those that were experience homelessness, various provincial agencies that provide support to individuals living in S. Albert, local school boards and Edmonton Region agencies that provide supports to those who are homeless in Edmonton. No further consultation is needed before implementation at this stage.
Background:
The Mayor’s Task Force to End Homelessness was formed in January 2018 in response to increasing numbers of homeless people living in St. Albert. In 2019, the St. Albert Food Bank & Community Village recorded 167 homeless people in St. Albert including families, as well as individuals, from seniors to youth.
The Task Force had three recommendations, one of which was a recommendation to establish a Social Housing position within the City. This position would be responsible for advancing homeless prevention strategies for all vulnerable groups in St. Albert.
St. Albert has very little in the way of affordable housing. In 2019 the Food Bank distributed 3, 631 food hampers. 57% of families attending the Food Bank & Community Village are spending more that 50% of their monthly income on rent. Residents are often forced to leave St. Albert when their circumstances change and they can no longer to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table. The Social Housing Specialist would work to help fill the gaps that exist for our more vulnerable residences and move St. Albert closer to its goal of being welcoming and inclusive regardless of income level.
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Report Date: December 1, 2020
Author: Linda Knoblauch
Department: Community Services
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble
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