Report from the Social Services Department, County of Wellington on the provision of social services in Guelph and Wellington County be received for information by the…

1:43:51And Louisa I think is coming, making her way down.

1:43:59Louisa has actually just become,

1:44:00I think in the last several, just a several months,

1:44:03not too long social services administrator

1:44:06for the county of Wellington.

1:44:08So thank you again for being here with your colleagues

1:44:13and staff and CAO and chair and warden.

1:44:17Thank you very, very much for coming and joining us today.

1:44:21This is, if you recall,

1:44:23there's a little bit of my own context.

1:44:25Last, I think it was July, last July,

1:44:28council unanimously passed a motion

1:44:31requesting the county to come and actually report

1:44:35in a presentation style with the ability for us

1:44:38to do some Q and A if required about how things are going.

1:44:42And so this is in my view a very great first step.

1:44:47We just had our own sort of transparency report

1:44:49if we call it that, that we had for what we control.

1:44:52Now we're having an outside board

1:44:54or an outside agency like the county that we pay into

1:44:59and does a lot of the services for our city.

1:45:01Come and present now as well transparently.

1:45:04And it gives us an opportunity

1:45:06and our citizens an opportunity to learn more

1:45:08and also for us to do the same

1:45:10to understand what's happening.

1:45:12So thank you very, very much for coming

1:45:14and I will turn it on over to you.

1:45:18Good afternoon, your worship and counselors.

1:45:21As Mayor Guthrie said, I'm Louisa Tuso

1:45:25and I'm the social services administrator

1:45:27at the county of Wellington.

1:45:28With me in the audience today

1:45:30is Wellington County Council warden Andy Lennox,

1:45:33the chair of social services committee,

1:45:35County Councillor David Anderson,

1:45:37Wellington County's CEO, Scott Wilson

1:45:40and our three social services directors,

1:45:43Mandy Kroniak and Mark Post and Stuart Boomer.

1:45:47Thank you for allowing us time in this meeting

1:45:49to provide a brief orientation of our services

1:45:52to help with the understanding of the data

1:45:54that has been submitted in the key performance indicators

1:45:58report in your agenda package.

1:46:01The performance indicators in this report

1:46:03are taken from the county's 2022 budget and 10 year plan

1:46:07and staff continue to update the indicators

1:46:10and data on an annual basis.

1:46:12The plan reflects the county's current strategic plan

1:46:15and action items, which is also under development.

1:46:19That includes people as a priority,

1:46:22making the best decisions,

1:46:24providing the highest level and best quality of services,

1:46:27planning for and providing physical infrastructure.

1:46:31I will provide a brief overview

1:46:33of the social services department

1:46:35in relation to these indicators

1:46:37and the directors will help answer

1:46:38any program specific questions

1:46:40you might have following the presentation.

1:46:42I've been advised that I have 15 to 20 minutes

1:46:45so I will do my best to stay within that timeframe.

1:46:48However, I'm continuing to pair this down

1:46:51as much as I can without losing its context.

1:46:53So I apologize if I go over.

1:46:56As mentioned in the report,

1:46:57the county of Wellington is a designated,

1:47:00consolidated municipal service manager

1:47:02for the delivery of social services

1:47:04for the Wellington service delivery area,

1:47:06which includes the county of Wellington

1:47:07and the city of Guelph.

1:47:09Like land ambulance provided by the city of Guelph,

1:47:12the county is accountable to the province of Ontario,

1:47:15sorry, it should have been,

1:47:17to the province of Ontario to ensure the funding

1:47:19and delivery of social services programs

1:47:21are delivered in accordance with the agreements

1:47:23with various ministries,

1:47:25and they're up on your slide there.

1:47:27Our department is accountable to county council

1:47:29with reports first being approved

1:47:31by the county social services committee

1:47:33that includes the mayor of Guelph as a voting member.

1:47:37The social services department oversees

1:47:39the planning, management and implementation

1:47:41of the following three provincially mandated programs,

1:47:44children's early years, housing services and Ontario works.

1:47:50The Sir Leadership team, you see them here in person.

1:47:53Mark Post on the left of the picture

1:47:55is the director of housing services,

1:47:58Mandy is the director of children's early years

1:48:00and Stuart is the director of Ontario works.

1:48:03Together alongside our managers and supervisors,

1:48:06we lead the work of 235 frontline workers

1:48:09who on average touch the lives of just over 36,000 people

1:48:13in our communities annually.

1:48:16While excellent customer service

1:48:18that's delivered by our frontline staff

1:48:20and by contracted local community agencies

1:48:22is at the forefront of our work,

1:48:24the department must also uphold ministry requirements

1:48:27which include the development of evidence-based service plans

1:48:30that are designed to support the unique strengths

1:48:33and needs of each municipality in our service area,

1:48:36service system monitoring, financial and data reporting,

1:48:40compliance reviews and financial audits.

1:48:44And then move into each division.

1:48:46So the overall mandate of the children's early years division

1:48:49is to support the provision

1:48:51of high quality licensed childcare

1:48:53as well as child and family support programs

1:48:56that are equitably available, accessible

1:48:58and affordable to all families.

1:49:01In all of our social services divisions,

1:49:04it is imperative to understand the importance

1:49:06of community engagement and collaboration

1:49:09to ensure optimal service delivery.

1:49:12Our children's early years division is mandated

1:49:14by the province to take a community approach

1:49:17in planning for the childcare and early years system

1:49:20and specifically with publicly funded school boards.

1:49:23For our area, we consult with local agencies

1:49:26through the growing great generations

1:49:27community planning table.

1:49:29The growing great generation members shown here

1:49:31on this slide are the agencies

1:49:33that we have a purchase of service agreement with

1:49:35to deliver a variety of mandated services.

1:49:40As stated in our report,

1:49:41the key functions of children's early years

1:49:43is to perform service system planning

1:49:46that addresses local priorities

1:49:48and the matters of provincial interest

1:49:50as outlined in the Children's Early Years Act 2014.

1:49:54This slide shows the program areas of the division.

1:49:58Much of this division's work relates to public services

1:50:02where there is no eligibility criteria

1:50:04for the people they serve.

1:50:06Only childcare subsidy is similar

1:50:08to Ontario Works and Housing Services

1:50:10in providing financial supports to families

1:50:13based on an eligibility criteria set by the province.

1:50:18With the exception of Ontario Works,

1:50:21the work of each division has a set budget to work within.

1:50:25So really our performance measures are a summary

1:50:27of what we've been able to achieve

1:50:29with the funding that we have to work with.

1:50:31Funding for all levels of three divisions

1:50:33is complex and complicated,

1:50:35but we wanna provide you with a general sense

1:50:37of how each division is funded

1:50:38from the three levels of government

1:50:40on a percentage basis using our 2022 budget.

1:50:44While the federal funds for early years flows

1:50:46through us, to us from the province,

1:50:49we wanted to highlight the federal investment

1:50:51of the new Canada-wide early learning system

1:50:54that will continue to grow over the years.

1:50:57So as an example, you will see this is 2022

1:51:00and in 2023, you'll see that the federal funding

1:51:03as the Canada-wide early learning and childcare

1:51:06moves to approximately $10 a day by 2026

1:51:09for childcare spaces for children ages birth to five years.

1:51:13This monumental system continues

1:51:15and as this monumental system continues to be implemented,

1:51:19the federal percentage of the childcare

1:51:21and early learning budget will continue to increase.

1:51:25So relative to the key performance indicators,

1:51:28this division on page 310 of your agenda package,

1:51:33it is anticipated that the number of licensed childcare spaces

1:51:37both in center-based and home-based childcare

1:51:39will increase in the coming years

1:51:41as the Seawalk system continues to gain momentum.

1:51:45However, it may also result in a decrease

1:51:47in the number of families being supported

1:51:49by childcare subsidies as the cost of childcare

1:51:52reduces year after year.

1:51:56In relation to the number of available spaces,

1:51:58this slide shows the percentage of the number

1:52:00of childcare spaces that are available

1:52:02for the population of children birth to four years

1:52:05as of March 2023.

1:52:07The province's rate for the provincial ratio

1:52:09of spaces to children aged birth to five is 37%.

1:52:16If we're able to associate this as a percentage locally,

1:52:20you can see that some areas in our service delivery area

1:52:23are doing okay, while others,

1:52:25we have lots of work to do in them.

1:52:28That said, the county has no authority

1:52:30over who opens childcare spaces and where they choose to open,

1:52:33but we have some leverage on the distribution

1:52:36of public funds to support the operation

1:52:38of childcare programs.

1:52:39The number of available licensed spaces primarily lies

1:52:43in the interest of the not-for-profit

1:52:45and for-profit sector.

1:52:47Some good news is that under the ministry's

1:52:49directed growth plan under the Seawalk system,

1:52:52our area has been given the target

1:52:55of creating 1,721 new spaces by 2026,

1:53:00and there will be funding to support

1:53:02the operation of those spaces.

1:53:05While we support school boards to plan

1:53:07for the availability of school-age childcare,

1:53:10the responsibility for school-age spaces

1:53:12rests with the publicly funded school boards.

1:53:17In 2018, the province transferred the oversight

1:53:20and funding of early-on centers to service system managers.

1:53:23These centers are 100% funded by the province

1:53:26and are open at no cost to families

1:53:28with children ages six years and under.

1:53:31Since being transferred, the number of municipalities

1:53:34with early-on centers has increased from three to seven,

1:53:37with Guelph maintaining two centers

1:53:40with the Guelph Community House Center and Family Gateway.

1:53:44As our key performance indicators of 2,817 participants,

1:53:48which has dramatically grown since 2018,

1:53:52we aim to increase the number of participants

1:53:54year after year,

1:53:56barring that there's no provincial reductions in the funding.

1:54:00In the same year, the ministry mandated services to managers

1:54:03to dedicate a portion of their funding

1:54:06to capacity building of the childcare workforce.

1:54:09A new team within the division,

1:54:11as well as the early years Professional Resource Center

1:54:13was created to provide inclusive and collaborative support

1:54:16to enhance reflective practice

1:54:18and strengthen the pedagogy of childcare

1:54:21in early years programs.

1:54:22The team offers on-site coaching, mentoring, resources,

1:54:25and a variety of professional learning opportunities,

1:54:28both in-person and virtually.

1:54:30One of the core functions of this team

1:54:32is to provide resilience training

1:54:34to both licensed childcare and early-on centers.

1:54:37And this training accounts for a large percentage

1:54:39of the key performance indicator

1:54:41in the number of participants in professional development,

1:54:44as well as the number of participants in early-on centers.

1:54:47We also run the Bounce Back and Thrive resilience program

1:54:52for parents, and as a service manager

1:54:55for our early-on centers, it's mandated that those programs

1:54:59provide that training to families on an ongoing basis.

1:55:04The direction of Children's Early Years

1:55:07is a continued implementation of the Seawalk system

1:55:10with increasing reduction for families,

1:55:13the growth expansion of childcare

1:55:14and associated capital funding.

1:55:17And we also are anticipating a new funding formula

1:55:19and transition to a cost recovery model

1:55:22for childcare providers enrolled of the Seawalk system.

1:55:26So it's very difficult to plan for a system

1:55:28when we're quite unsure as to how much we're being funded

1:55:32and how we are able to deliver those funding sources

1:55:36to the community.

1:55:39Moving on to housing services,

1:55:41the overall mandate of housing services

1:55:43is to support people to find and maintain

1:55:46an appropriate, safe, and affordable place to call home.

1:55:50Much of the work with Housing Services Division

1:55:52isn't possible without our numerous partners

1:55:54in the homeless, housing, and healthcare systems,

1:55:57many who receive funding from housing services.

1:56:00They are essential in providing wraparound services

1:56:03as we all work together to help individuals obtain

1:56:06and sustain a place to call home.

1:56:09Together, our community has had great success

1:56:11and has been publicly acknowledged by the ministry

1:56:14in keeping our number of people experiencing homelessness

1:56:17to 137.

1:56:19As you can see in our housing performance indicator

1:56:22on page 312 of your agenda package,

1:56:26that said, one person experiencing homelessness

1:56:28is one too many.

1:56:33This is our slide shows our housing continuum.

1:56:36It represents our mandated services to be housing focused

1:56:39and helping to move individuals through this continuum

1:56:42and stabilize them somewhere in this continuum.

1:56:46With the majority of our services and supports

1:56:48ranging from emergency shelters

1:56:50to government funded affordable rental housing

1:56:54in those areas of that this continuum.

1:56:57The two core functions of Housing Services Division

1:57:00is supporting individuals who are at risk

1:57:02or are experiencing homelessness

1:57:05and supporting the maintenance and growth of community housing.

1:57:08Our housing stability team is responsible

1:57:10for the provision of housing outreach workers,

1:57:13emergency shelters, diversion from homelessness efforts,

1:57:17and stabilizing housing for those experiencing homelessness.

1:57:21Within the community housing are two components.

1:57:23The first component is government funded

1:57:26permanent affordable housing.

1:57:28This funding supports the capital costs of units

1:57:30to which landlords are committed to charging

1:57:32no more than 80% of the average market rent

1:57:36that is set by the province for our area.

1:57:39The second component is rent subsidies,

1:57:41also referred to as rent geared to income and social housing.

1:57:45This provides financial support towards rental costs.

1:57:48This includes funding to landlords

1:57:50and maintains the housing units

1:57:52as well as providing funds directly to tenants

1:57:55in the private market.

1:57:57This program uses the methodology of renting and geared

1:58:01to be no more than 30% of an individual's income.

1:58:05In total, the division is responsible

1:58:07for funding and oversight of 3,500 housing units

1:58:10in Wellington and Englal.

1:58:15Oops, slides are a little mixed up.

1:58:23I apologize.

1:58:28This map shows the location of properties

1:58:31that make up the community housing.

1:58:33Some of these units can be government funded

1:58:35affordable housing that also has rent subsidies layered

1:58:39on to help individuals acquire

1:58:41and maintain a place to call home.

1:58:43For some units, funding is contracted

1:58:45to a number of agencies to provide supports to individuals

1:58:48to help them maintain their tendency

1:58:50that is over and above the affordability of the unit.

1:58:54This makes up a bulk of our 2022 performance measures

1:58:58in the numbers of households in government

1:59:00funded affordable housing, transition and supportive housing

1:59:04as well as the number of households accessing rent

1:59:07subsidies supports.

1:59:09For more detailed information on the activities

1:59:11and the outcomes, June committee and council agenda package

1:59:15will include an annual update to the housing

1:59:17and homeless service plan.

1:59:19It is a good read that I highly recommend.

1:59:23Now I need to backtrack a little bit.

1:59:30This slide shows that while the province sets a minimum

1:59:34for rent subsidy units for service system managers,

1:59:38it relies heavily on municipal contributions

1:59:40to fund the operation and in the maintenance

1:59:42of rent subsidy units.

1:59:44The minimum that has been set for us is 2,342

1:59:51and we currently have 2,508.

1:59:54The provincial investments are key contributors

1:59:58to supporting those at risk or experiencing homelessness

2:00:01as well as providing capital grants

2:00:03to create and maintain community housing.

2:00:08You will see that this in 2023,

2:00:10we wanted to look ahead to that to share

2:00:14that contrary to what we showed you in children's early years,

2:00:16you'll see that the 2023 funding at this time

2:00:19has been decreased resulting in an increase

2:00:22of a municipal percentage of our housing budget.

2:00:26However, not all allocations have been announced

2:00:28so we're hoping that the provincial

2:00:30and perhaps federal funding will increase in 2023.

2:00:35This chart is being shown to you in some of our reports,

2:00:38you might see that there is financial reports

2:00:41that includes the affordable housing line.

2:00:44These financial reports are relevant to the county only.

2:00:48As the county has invested in government funded

2:00:52affordable housing stock of 135 units

2:00:54in the county of Wellington.

2:00:56These projects leverage one time provincial grants

2:00:59and county reserves for capital costs

2:01:01and operating costs are funded through the tax levy.

2:01:04To date, the county has invested $18 million

2:01:07in the development of affordable housing.

2:01:14This chart shows the measures for housing services in 2022

2:01:18and you'll see that we've supported over 3,600 individuals

2:01:22within community housing.

2:01:29Ultimately, the only true way to address experiences

2:01:32with homelessness is to stay housing focused

2:01:35and to develop more affordable options across each community

2:01:39and to support people to stay housing, to stay housed

2:01:42both from a financial and wellbeing perspective.

2:01:46The term it takes the village to raise a child

2:01:48can be replicated that it takes everyone to house everyone.

2:01:51Staff will continue their important work

2:01:53in making gains on the goals and objectives

2:01:56that are outlined in their housing and homeless plan

2:01:59that has been developed with community agency partners.

2:02:03Our community knows how to end homelessness

2:02:05in the most effective way possible,

2:02:07both from a service perspective

2:02:09and a financial perspective.

2:02:11We simply need to take more initiatives and funding

2:02:15and advocate to all levels of government

2:02:17to increase levels across the housing continuum.

2:02:23And finally, Ontario Works.

2:02:26The Ontario Works division is mandated to support

2:02:30newcomers and low income individuals and families

2:02:32in meeting their unique and complex needs

2:02:35so that they can achieve their goals

2:02:36related to the wellbeing and self-reliance.

2:02:40Many of the grants supporting low income

2:02:43and other vulnerable residents across Wellington Guelph

2:02:46are managed through the Ontario Works division

2:02:49on behalf of the social services department.

2:02:51This allows social services to work collaboratively

2:02:54as a community to better meet the needs

2:02:56of vulnerable residents in Wellington County and in Guelph.

2:03:01The intent of Ontario Works program is to help people

2:03:05in temporary need of financial assistance

2:03:07find sustainable employment and achieve self-reliance

2:03:11through the provision of employment services.

2:03:13Life stability supports and financial assistance.

2:03:17Social assistance, eligibility and rates

2:03:19are provincially determined.

2:03:21Once an individual is receiving assistance,

2:03:23they are provided with employment and case management supports

2:03:27to assist them in addressing their immediate needs

2:03:29and to support them in finding employment.

2:03:33This slide shows that similar to the Children's Early Years

2:03:35pie chart, a high percentage of the budget is provincial,

2:03:40is provided by the province of Ontario.

2:03:43Unlike Children's Early Years and Housing divisions though,

2:03:45Ontario Works does not have a set budget

2:03:48for benefits to eligible clients

2:03:50as we reconcile expenditures with the province

2:03:52on a monthly basis.

2:03:54It does however have a set budget for administration.

2:04:00This next slide shows what Ontario Works recipients

2:04:03are expected to live on on a monthly basis.

2:04:06To notice the shelter maximum to which in no way

2:04:09pays for rent being charged locally,

2:04:11so many of our Ontario Works clients

2:04:13are also eligible for housing benefits.

2:04:16Given the low financial support,

2:04:18additional benefits are extremely important

2:04:21to those individuals in receipt of Ontario Works.

2:04:24And this slide shows the many benefits

2:04:26that we provide both Ontario Works recipients

2:04:29as well as those in the community

2:04:31that are not Ontario Works recipients,

2:04:33but we have deemed them eligible for some support.

2:04:38This chart shows the performance measures

2:04:40for Ontario Works in 2022.

2:04:43The key performance indicators on this chart

2:04:45of the number of cases exiting employment,

2:04:48which has much to do with all of the staff's work

2:04:50to help prepare clients for employment

2:04:53and to help them find jobs in their local community.

2:04:56Exits to employment remain below the provincial average,

2:05:01but a higher percentage of Ontario Works recipients

2:05:04in Wellington-Gwell report income from employment

2:05:07compared to the province as a whole.

2:05:10Ontario Works is also presenting a report

2:05:13on the OWC profile at the County's Committee and Council

2:05:18in June.

2:05:20And so that's also another read that you'd like to know.

2:05:23It does a lot deeper into the people

2:05:25that we serve in the area that we're from.

2:05:28I just wanted to note that I've added the monthly case

2:05:30though to this chart to provide an understanding

2:05:33of the number of people that we serve in Ontario Works

2:05:36on a monthly basis.

2:05:38And that is 1,900 individuals a month.

2:05:42Overall, in 2022, we had 3,098 Ontario Works recipients

2:05:49that we provided services to with 2,000

2:05:54and 481 being from the city

2:05:57and 617 being from the county.

2:06:03Future directions for Ontario Works,

2:06:06there's a lot of change happening in that division.

2:06:09We have Employment Services Transformation,

2:06:11so that's a new services to manager,

2:06:13which is a for-profit agency to take over administration

2:06:16of employment supports by January 2024.

2:06:20Results with social assistance modernization

2:06:23and that centralized intake risk-based eligibility

2:06:26determination, automatic granting,

2:06:28paperless strategy and enhancing online tools.

2:06:32There's an anticipated caseload growth

2:06:35of about 8.3% to a monthly average

2:06:40of 2,064 cases by early 2024.

2:06:44There's also financial pressures for clients,

2:06:46significant gaps between social assistance rates

2:06:49and the poverty line and rapid increase market rates

2:06:52making it increasingly difficult

2:06:53for Ontario Works recipients to find, maintain housing

2:06:57and meet basic needs.

2:07:00And that is my presentation

2:07:03and happy to answer any questions.

2:07:06Well, thank you so much.

2:07:08And I'll go to start with Councillor Goller, please.

2:07:12And then O'Rourke.

2:07:16Thank you, through your worship to Mr. Tissel.

2:07:18Thank you for your presentation, very informative.

2:07:22To start the last few comments that you made

2:07:26in terms of Ontario Works.

2:07:29So the employment services transformation

2:07:31is that just the part to help people find jobs

2:07:35that is being moved to the private sector?

2:07:39I'll ask Stuart to jump in, but yes,

2:07:42but you can perhaps add more information, Stuart.

2:07:47Sure, through you, Mr. Mayor, to that Councillor Goller.

2:07:50The employment services transformation

2:07:52is a provincial project that's been rolled out

2:07:54in a number of ways, waves rather.

2:07:57We're in the second wave.

2:07:59We're part of a service area that includes Waterloo Region,

2:08:02ourselves in Wellington, Dufferin County,

2:08:04as well as the County of Simcoe.

2:08:07So you can see it's a large area.

2:08:09In each of those areas,

2:08:10the province has undertaken a competitive process

2:08:12to identify a service system manager

2:08:15who will be responsible for receiving provincial funds

2:08:18through the Ministry of Labor,

2:08:20Immigration Training and Skills Development

2:08:22to then fund the entire Employment Ontario system

2:08:26within the area.

2:08:28The way that this impacts Ontario Works

2:08:30and social assistance is that a portion

2:08:33of the employment dollars that we receive

2:08:36are being transferred to that system.

2:08:38So we'll have a decrease in our administrative budget.

2:08:41And also some of our responsibilities

2:08:43related to providing employment services

2:08:45are moving to the Employment Ontario system

2:08:48and we'll rest with them.

2:08:50We will still be involved in supporting Ontario Works clients

2:08:53with life stabilization supports

2:08:56and also in making active referrals

2:08:59to that employment system through linked technology

2:09:03and through shared case management systems

2:09:07within both the Employment Ontario program

2:09:10and the Ontario Works program.

2:09:13In our area, the selected service manager is Circo Canada.

2:09:17Circo operates a number of services around the world.

2:09:23They offer employment services in the UK.

2:09:26In Ontario, their footprint is probably best known

2:09:31as operators of the Ontario Drive Test Centers.

2:09:35So there's one up on Woodlawn Road.

2:09:39In each catchment area,

2:09:41a different selections were made

2:09:45around who the service manager would be.

2:09:47So in some cases, it's for-profit corporations.

2:09:50In other cases, it's been municipal collaborations.

2:09:54And in other places, it's been not for profits.

2:09:57In one area, there's a college.

2:09:59So it just sort of depended upon who the ministry selected

2:10:03and in our area, it's Circo.

2:10:04So I hope that gives you a bit more information

2:10:06about what's happening.

2:10:07Thank you.

2:10:08And just so that I understand on the ground impact

2:10:10with local agencies like Luther Wood and Second Chance

2:10:14and are those still going to be received the funding

2:10:18or is that funding going from them to Circo

2:10:21to deliver those services?

2:10:24So through the mayor to the councillor Goller,

2:10:28Circo has assumed the contracts with those agencies

2:10:31as of May 1st.

2:10:33And so now the provincial funding goes from the ministry

2:10:37of immigration labor training skills development to Circo.

2:10:41Then contracts out with those same agencies

2:10:44to provide the same range of services.

2:10:48In 2023, the direction from the province

2:10:51was just to assume those projects without making changes.

2:10:56And then moving forward, Circo will be able to work

2:10:58through ministry processes to actually do some service

2:11:01planning with engagement of local communities

2:11:05around what those employment services,

2:11:07how they're structured and what they look like.

2:11:09Thank you very much for that.

2:11:11Explanation, I really appreciate that.

2:11:13Through your worship, I had a couple of questions

2:11:15about the housing services section.

2:11:19It picked my interest.

2:11:20You mentioned that Wellington County

2:11:22has invested 18 million in building.

2:11:25Could you tell me a little bit about what was built

2:11:28and the locations of those units

2:11:30so that I understand where those housing is going?

2:11:38Thank you.

2:11:39Through you, Mayor Guthrie to councillor Goller.

2:11:42So those are units that were specifically invested in

2:11:46by the county of Wellington,

2:11:48in the county of Wellington, the Townsend Townships.

2:11:51So there are two large projects that were built

2:11:54in the town of Ferguson, sorry,

2:11:57center Wellington in the town of Ferguson.

2:12:00There has been a project built in Mount Forest,

2:12:02another project in Palmerston.

2:12:05And then the rest of the funding is in a reserve right now

2:12:10for future considerations on the affordable front.

2:12:12So those are the projects right now

2:12:15that are county specific.

2:12:17Thank you.

2:12:18And so that I understand is that rent gear

2:12:20to income housing or is that shelter space?

2:12:24What has been built?

2:12:27Through you, Mayor Guthrie to councillor Goller.

2:12:30That is affordable.

2:12:32It'll be the 80% of average market rent.

2:12:36And in some cases there is a layer of RGI

2:12:40thrown on top depending on the needs of the households

2:12:43inside the units.

2:12:45Okay.

2:12:45And so thank you for that.

2:12:47So now, if you can help me understand,

2:12:49there is the social services committee that works

2:12:52within Wellington County.

2:12:54How does the funding for that work?

2:12:55I'm trying to understand how does Guelph jump in on that?

2:12:58How do we set aside 10 million in the budget

2:13:01and say we need social housing built in Guelph

2:13:04or rent gear to income housing?

2:13:05So can you tell me what that process looks like

2:13:08from the county?

2:13:08Is it that the social services committee

2:13:11makes a recommendation?

2:13:12We've noticed that there is a need in center Wellington

2:13:15and then the township of center Wellington

2:13:17sets the money aside or what would that process be like?

2:13:24Through you, Mayor Guthrie to councillor Goller.

2:13:27So that is a pro the county's had this affordable housing

2:13:30reserve since 2002.

2:13:32And it's fed by the seven towns and townships

2:13:36of the county of Wellington.

2:13:38There have been reserve contributions growing

2:13:44ever ever since 2002.

2:13:47And priorities are set as opportunities come up,

2:13:52priorities communities are set.

2:13:54And as funding is made available and they look to develop

2:13:59in those towns and townships as the opportunities arise.

2:14:03Operationally though, there is the county has opted to have

2:14:09all of the properties that free.

2:14:11So the county is paying for all the costs upfront

2:14:16so that there's no mortgages,

2:14:17which means that the properties have are operationally viable

2:14:22and they have, there's no debt costs.

2:14:24So the projects are paying for themselves.

2:14:27And then the leftover money that comes from revenues

2:14:30are going to build other projects as well.

2:14:33So if you can help me understand the structure

2:14:37because you are our housing services manager,

2:14:41does that work that setting aside of those reserve funds?

2:14:45Does that happen and could you as our social services

2:14:48manager do that for the city of Guelph

2:14:51if we were to start allocating a percentage of money

2:14:55from every budget just so that I'm trying to see

2:14:57how do we get from this point where we have,

2:15:01I think it is, I saw a 58% increase

2:15:05in the wait list for social housing

2:15:07in Guelph and Wellington County.

2:15:09I'm thinking I'm seeing the projects happening

2:15:10in the county and understand that it's because

2:15:13you're funding it, how do we get to a point

2:15:15where we start allocating funds?

2:15:18Is it that the social services committee says,

2:15:22we need X amounts of dollars

2:15:24and then the townships put it aside?

2:15:27How does Guelph insert into that process?

2:15:32Because when we generally, when we have asked our staff,

2:15:36the answer is well, Wellington County

2:15:38manages social housing.

2:15:40So we don't have the staffing to say,

2:15:43this is how much money we should be setting aside,

2:15:46these are the need in Guelph.

2:15:49So I'm trying to understand how we get

2:15:51that relationship happening.

2:15:56So maybe I'll go to actually our staff.

2:15:58If you don't mind, maybe we'll just,

2:16:00we'll go back and forth a little bit here.

2:16:02But Pauline, I want you to correct me if I'm wrong,

2:16:06but that already exists.

2:16:11So we have an affordable housing reserve.

2:16:13Every budget we put $500,000 into it or whatever we wish.

2:16:19And then about two or three years ago,

2:16:22council said all of the decision-making

2:16:26around how that funding is used will always rest

2:16:29with the in-house experts, which is the county.

2:16:35And so depending on how much we have and give on a budget

2:16:40into the affordable housing reserve,

2:16:43that is the funds then that would be leveraged

2:16:46for proponents that are stepping up to the plate

2:16:50to actually build things.

2:16:51Do you worship this?

2:16:52Am I understanding your question right?

2:16:53This is different because as I understand

2:16:55that the county is doing the building,

2:16:58we, the funds that the city sets aside

2:17:01is for private proponents to come and say,

2:17:04I need some funding.

2:17:06I'm going to ask for the funding.

2:17:07It goes to the county.

2:17:08It goes to the private, the nonprofit sector.

2:17:11But the city of Guelph is not doing any building

2:17:14of social housing like the county is.

2:17:17So that's what I'm trying to understand.

2:17:19How do we get to the point?

2:17:20All that our deputy CAO,

2:17:22the only thing I would just mention is

2:17:24there is a dollar cash amount that can be given.

2:17:29But don't not forget that we also gave,

2:17:31like we also helped with a building,

2:17:34Delhi as an example as well.

2:17:36So it's not always just cash, right?

2:17:39To help with these types of things.

2:17:40Colleen?

2:17:41So through you, Mr. Mayor.

2:17:42So I think a couple of points.

2:17:44So yes, the mayor is correct in his encapsulation

2:17:46of the affordable housing reserve.

2:17:47The only slight nuance that I would say

2:17:48is that ultimately council still holds

2:17:50the decision making authority.

2:17:51What we did ask the county to do

2:17:53with through that process was to make the recommendation,

2:17:55but you do still ultimately hold the funding decision

2:17:57for how that affordable housing reserve money gets spent.

2:18:01And yes, that affordable housing money has been spent

2:18:05funding third party projects.

2:18:07There would, I mean, there could be city policy decision

2:18:10that we take away and consider,

2:18:12but I do want to pass it back to Ms. Artuso

2:18:15because there are county supportive housing projects

2:18:18that exist within the city boundary though, correct?

2:18:21I don't want to leave anyone with the impression

2:18:23that there are not county built and operated housing

2:18:26within the city of Guelph boundary because there is.

2:18:29There's a number of them.

2:18:29I will make a mistake if I try to list them all.

2:18:31So I'm going to pass it back to my right.

2:18:35Arthur, you Mr. Mayor.

2:18:37That is the slides and the data that we provided to you.

2:18:40So there's a lot of that's for the majority

2:18:43of the city funding is going.

2:18:46When we're talking about affordable housing,

2:18:48the profit and mark can correct me if I'm wrong.

2:18:51The provincial and federal government comes,

2:18:53sometimes comes out with capital investments to say,

2:18:56here's a project that some funding

2:18:59that you can initiate a new capital project.

2:19:02That's where then we put it in our P process to say,

2:19:05does anybody want to, is interested

2:19:08in building affordable housing?

2:19:10Anyone can really step up to do that.

2:19:12So, and I believe that, not for profits,

2:19:15for profits can do that.

2:19:17In the case of the county, they decided to step up

2:19:19and say that we're going to leverage our reserves

2:19:23in order to become and to increase the level

2:19:26of government funded affordable housing that they have.

2:19:29Every municipality, when it comes

2:19:31to the non mandated services in funding

2:19:34and maintaining the social housing units

2:19:38that we are required by the province to do

2:19:43in every municipality, it looks different.

2:19:46So, in, we do, for instance, Grace Gardens,

2:19:51there was a rapid housing initiative

2:19:53that the county applied for.

2:19:55And then we were successful in that application

2:19:58and gave it to Grace Gardens.

2:19:59And then I believe the city of Guelph also gave funding.

2:20:02So it is, there's no one simple solution in housing.

2:20:06I've, I thought children's early years was complicated.

2:20:09Housing is definitely much more complicated,

2:20:12both in how you actually create things, right?

2:20:15There's a multitude of individuals and levels

2:20:19of government that need to come together

2:20:21to make one project come alive.

2:20:25And in the case of these 135 units in the county,

2:20:29the county indicated that they are going to create this.

2:20:35It was a council decision.

2:20:37And that is county council or township?

2:20:39County council decision.

2:20:41Okay, so if I'm not mistaken, last year you set aside

2:20:451.3, 1.4 million to your affordable housing reserve.

2:20:49How is that number selected?

2:20:51Just so I understand the process to selecting the,

2:20:54because we put in 500,000,

2:20:56but I have a feeling that that is an insufficient amount.

2:20:59So I'm trying to understand how do you get to your,

2:21:01the amount that you set aside for your reserve?

2:21:05If you may, Guthrie, I think we may defer that.

2:21:07We will need to consult with our treasurer

2:21:09who will be able to provide that answer.

2:21:11And unfortunately he's not here today.

2:21:13That would be very much appreciated.

2:21:16Councillor, I have a lot of other,

2:21:18Councillor, how many more questions do you have?

2:21:20I have a couple more in your worship.

2:21:22Let's just get right to the question.

2:21:23Okay.

2:21:24You had a 10 year plan, 2011 to 2021.

2:21:28Well, what is happening after the 10 year plan

2:21:31to end homelessness that finished in 2021?

2:21:38Through you, Mayor Guthrie, to Councillor Goller.

2:21:41Our 10 year plan actually started in 2015.

2:21:45And we did a five year update that was complete in 2019

2:21:49that goes from 2020 until the end of 2024.

2:21:54That was the annual report that

2:21:57Louisa was mentioning earlier.

2:21:59We present our annual report on the progress

2:22:04towards all the goals that were set by the community

2:22:06in that five year update every June.

2:22:09So we're just, unfortunately,

2:22:11it's like the end of this month

2:22:13that report goes to our council.

2:22:16But we have, that will be shared from the county

2:22:20when that's approved.

2:22:22And it looks at all of the goals.

2:22:25So there's eight main objectives, strategic objectives

2:22:28on the housing and homelessness plan,

2:22:2947 recommended activities.

2:22:32And it looks at our progress.

2:22:34So the overall numbers that Louisa's presented today

2:22:36as well as our progress towards

2:22:37each of those 47 recommended activities.

2:22:40So thank you.

2:22:42And Mr. Poser, you mentioned that that was set by the community.

2:22:44So there was public engagement with the constituents

2:22:48in the county to set those targets.

2:22:51Is that how it worked?

2:22:53Three America, three two, Councillor Goller.

2:22:55No, this is a community, this is city and county.

2:22:57This is the county,

2:22:58Ballington service area for housing services.

2:23:01Okay. So this is inclusive of the city of Gowl.

2:23:04Okay. Thank you.

2:23:05So what I'm trying to understand this,

2:23:09I have constituents who have been on the wait list

2:23:11for social housing for 10, 12,

2:23:13I've heard up to 13 years for some members.

2:23:16So how do we actually start closing that gap?

2:23:20Because what I'm seeing is that the gap is growing.

2:23:23So what is the plan to go back the other way?

2:23:27We had a presentation recently

2:23:30when we were looking at housing

2:23:31and they told us we have been under building housing.

2:23:34So housing is getting more expensive,

2:23:35more people are being priced out of housing.

2:23:38We have population growth and immigration

2:23:41that is driving up that need.

2:23:43So I'm just trying to understand,

2:23:45looking at the next five years,

2:23:47what is in place to bring down the wait list?

2:23:53Arthur, you Mr. Guthrie to Councillor Goller.

2:23:56It's, we are working on a plan

2:23:58that will hopefully be ready in the fall of 2023,

2:24:02hopefully in advance of the budget cycle for 2024.

2:24:07As I indicated across the housing continuum,

2:24:11we need funding for all aspects of that.

2:24:15With the amount of acute mental health and addictions,

2:24:19our shelter system is at its peak.

2:24:23We understand that the whole impact of COVID

2:24:28is not going to really come to fruition

2:24:30until five years from now.

2:24:32So we have to stabilize our shelter system.

2:24:35We have to ensure that the individuals supporting

2:24:40those shelter systems are well trained

2:24:42and well paid for the work that they do.

2:24:44Otherwise that system will crumble.

2:24:46So that's one key factor.

2:24:49Then we look at, we need transitional housing

2:24:52which is coming on board in 2024.

2:24:54So we're quite excited about that.

2:24:56And so we will see that more as a triage

2:24:59as to understanding the needs of the individuals

2:25:01providing some supports that they need.

2:25:03Can they go into permanent housing with minimal supports?

2:25:06Can they just go into permanent housing

2:25:08or do we need to put them in support of permanent housing?

2:25:12And then we have these supportive housing projects

2:25:15that the capital is there, but the operating's not there.

2:25:19And then we have the variety of government funded

2:25:23affordable housing that we need.

2:25:26So we're trying to maybe come up with some recommendations

2:25:28of what we feel every municipality might need in that respect.

2:25:32And then there's the market

2:25:34where you need a variety of different,

2:25:38housing options for individuals

2:25:40so that if they are a working family,

2:25:42chances are hopefully that they can afford the rent

2:25:44with minimal perhaps rent subsidies.

2:25:47And then we can provide them with some subsidies market-based.

2:25:51So there's a role here for everyone.

2:25:56And we've included government funded affordable housing

2:25:59to be different than affordable housing

2:26:00because we know that municipalities

2:26:02as a whole are working on affordable and attainable housing.

2:26:04We don't wanna confuse that.

2:26:06When we're talking about affordable housing,

2:26:08when it comes to the social services budget,

2:26:09we are talking about the 80% of the market rate

2:26:13that is funded by the government,

2:26:15that they received some sort of government grant

2:26:18to have that capital project come to fruition.

2:26:22So answer is we need a little more

2:26:26than of everything right now.

2:26:29And we're trying to present a picture

2:26:31as to what that actually should look like.

2:26:33And hopefully there will be some dollars attached to that.

2:26:38And it'll be for every municipality right across

2:26:41in our service delivery area,

2:26:42both in the County of Wellington and the city of Guelph.

2:26:45And that provides at least some goals, some pictures,

2:26:48like what does this look like, what's needed.

2:26:50And hopefully that'll help with some decision-making.

2:26:52Perfect.

2:26:53And so that I understand that for the next budget process,

2:26:57usually we have the county come,

2:26:59you tell us how much is needed to pay a portion

2:27:02of maintaining the stock of social housing.

2:27:05Will there be a request for funding

2:27:07to add new government-built social housing

2:27:13in the city of Guelph at this time?

2:27:15Or what would that process need to look like?

2:27:18Through you, Mayor, I think it'll be more of a picture

2:27:20of what's needed in order to address homelessness and housing.

2:27:25And at this point, I don't think we're ready to say

2:27:29that there will be a specific funding request,

2:27:31perhaps for the shelters,

2:27:33because we are mandated to provide those shelters.

2:27:36And so that's where we have to very much ensure

2:27:39that there is that service being provided.

2:27:41And so that's where I feel

2:27:43that there will be a funding request for shelters.

2:27:48And then when it comes to the other portions

2:27:49of the housing continuum, it might be some recommendations.

2:27:53I hope that helps.

2:27:55I would appreciate that, because I think for us,

2:27:58it would be helpful to see how much we should be putting aside

2:28:01if we want to start closing that gap

2:28:04and reducing that wait list.

2:28:07Yeah, thank you.

2:28:08Thank you, I look forward to seeing that report.

2:28:10And in September, I think you said, or in the fall?

2:28:13Fall of 2023.

2:28:14Okay, sometimes in the fall,

2:28:17because I think that's commentary, I'll leave it for later.

2:28:20Thank you.

2:28:21Thank you, Your Worship.

2:28:22Thank you.

2:28:23Okay, we've got to keep moving here folks.

2:28:24We've got a big agenda

2:28:25and I want to respect other councilors' time.

2:28:27So, O'Rourke and then Alt please.

2:28:31Thank you, Margarit.

2:28:32I have one on housing,

2:28:32the piggyback on Councillor Goller.

2:28:34And then I have a question about childcare.

2:28:36So through you to Ms. Artuso,

2:28:39on June the 1st, we had a joint city and county council meeting

2:28:43about ambience service.

2:28:45And we had a really good picture of the state of the facilities,

2:28:48potential funding that'll be needed,

2:28:50some of the challenges and offload delays.

2:28:51And it was a really clear picture of what is needed

2:28:54in each of the individual towns and townships in the county.

2:28:58And so I don't get that same sense of what is needed in Guelph

2:29:03in terms of housing from the presentation.

2:29:06I'm seeing high level stuff, which I appreciate.

2:29:08And I've seen really, really granular stuff before as well.

2:29:12But is there a document that shows

2:29:16this is how much is currently being provided in Guelph?

2:29:20And are there recommendations?

2:29:21So at that meeting on June 1st, our Chief of Paramedics,

2:29:26they have a plan for how we move forward to correct that,

2:29:29right, as the service provider.

2:29:31So will the county in the fall report

2:29:34come and say to the city of Guelph, like here are real gaps,

2:29:36like here's the big picture, here are the gaps,

2:29:39and here's how we're in it together.

2:29:40Is that what we're gonna see in the fall?

2:29:43You may go through to Councillor O'Rourke.

2:29:45Yes, we can do that.

2:29:47The plans really talk about the key performance indicators

2:29:51and the future directions that we do have.

2:29:56But I hear what you're saying,

2:29:57and we can definitely do something like that in the fall.

2:30:00So I appreciate that.

2:30:01Thank you.

2:30:02Through you Mayor Guthrie,

2:30:03because Councillor Gullar asked about my questions.

2:30:05I mean, I think we hear the urgency in the community.

2:30:07We hear the urgency around the horseshoe on housing.

2:30:10So we'll read the June report

2:30:11and we'll be happy to see you in the fall.

2:30:14My next question is about childcare.

2:30:16Wow, they really need a different acronym.

2:30:19But what can residents in Guelph expect to see

2:30:22with that new Canada-wide early learning childcare system

2:30:26or the $10 a day?

2:30:27Will we see more spaces?

2:30:28We've talked a lot about that coming out of COVID,

2:30:31availability of childcare.

2:30:32So what will that look like in Guelph a year,

2:30:35three years, five years from now?

2:30:41Through you, Mr. Mayor.

2:30:43So the County of Wellington and City of Guelph

2:30:47have received an allocation,

2:30:48as Luisa mentioned, of just over 1,700 new childcare spaces.

2:30:54And these are to be created,

2:30:58these targets have been set for our area

2:31:00to be created up to 2026.

2:31:05So while we are awaiting some final guidelines

2:31:09from the province related to the startup rounds

2:31:12that will be associated with this space creation

2:31:15made available to new childcare providers

2:31:19that are interested in expanding or opening such spaces,

2:31:25we will, I am anticipating that there will be growth,

2:31:30there'll be some concentration of growth

2:31:31within the City of Guelph.

2:31:33But that will be a fair application process

2:31:37and so it will remain somewhat to be seen

2:31:40the interest in developing those spaces

2:31:42both in the City and in the County.

2:31:45But we will be making, of course, every effort

2:31:47to achieve those targets.

2:31:49Thank you.

2:31:50Mayor Guthrie, just a final question through you.

2:31:54Both on housing and on childcare,

2:31:58how are those targets keeping pace

2:32:00with the population growth that we're experiencing

2:32:03that's gonna be even more accelerated now in the 10 years?

2:32:05So how do you figure that out?

2:32:14Through you, Mr. Mayor.

2:32:16The province has actually set a access ratio goal

2:32:22of 37% for childcare.

2:32:25In our planning documents that we are currently creating

2:32:29that will support potential operators

2:32:32in applying to enter the system

2:32:36and access these startup grants.

2:32:39We have included some population projections.

2:32:41So we are aware of various of the County

2:32:44where we are anticipating significant growth

2:32:49and we'll make every effort to support providers

2:32:53in opening in those areas.

2:32:58It's a challenge.

2:33:03From the housing perspective side of it,

2:33:05go ahead, does anyone know about that?

2:33:08Through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor O'Rourke.

2:33:12Sorry.

2:33:13Yes, so a lot of the work that we're doing

2:33:18in terms of maintaining the buildings

2:33:19and everything like that,

2:33:20we're keeping up with it that way.

2:33:21We are delivering and developing the provincial monies

2:33:27that we get provincial and federal dollars

2:33:29for affordable housing through the different programs.

2:33:33But the city of Guelph does have an affordable housing strategy

2:33:37and a financial incentives program

2:33:40around affordable housing,

2:33:41which I know is in the process of being updated,

2:33:44which is an important document to help support that work

2:33:48because it talks about Guelph specifically

2:33:52on the affordable housing front

2:33:54and helps keep track of that,

2:33:56keep that affordable housing on track

2:33:58because ultimately what happens with social housing today

2:34:03is social housing is realistically

2:34:06built form affordable housing with layered subsidy on top.

2:34:11Those affordable housing projects have to be getting built.

2:34:16The federal and provincial governments

2:34:17are coming to the table with different pots of money,

2:34:19with different debts, sorry, different debts,

2:34:23with different debt finance programs

2:34:25like the Co-investment Fund to support projects

2:34:28that are being built,

2:34:29but all levels of government have to come to the table

2:34:32and that is why the affordable housing strategy

2:34:34is really important.

2:34:36Bringing in additional funding

2:34:38such as the Canada and Ontario Housing Benefit

2:34:40helps with the subsidy support for individuals.

2:34:47Sorry, just this past year,

2:34:49we brought on an additional 180 rent supplements

2:34:56to the Canada and Ontario Housing Benefit

2:34:59and those are the projects that we need to do in connection

2:35:04with affordable built form housing in the community.

2:35:07So again, so it's a layered approach.

2:35:12It takes all different groups to kind of keep up

2:35:14with that work and keep up with that growth of the population.

2:35:21Thank you.

2:35:22Alt, then Klaus and then Kate.

2:35:24Thank you very much Ms. Artuso

2:35:27and the staff that are present

2:35:29as well as the other members of the county staff

2:35:33and political body for being here.

2:35:36This is actually being close to a workshop in my mind

2:35:39as I've learned a lot,

2:35:41but it has laying out some questions for me.

2:35:45I'm gonna start, I hope with the easy one.

2:35:48A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,

2:35:51many of these programs were promised to be revenue neutral.

2:35:55How far away from revenue neutral are we now?

2:36:00You Mr. Mayor, all three, like all-

2:36:04I was like, I believe it was supposed to be revenue neutral

2:36:07that we would be getting contributions from the province

2:36:10that would be comparable to what the province put into housing

2:36:15in approximately 1997 and would of course change over the years

2:36:22with inflation, et cetera.

2:36:23So specific to housing, I'll let Mark take this one.

2:36:27Through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Halt.

2:36:31If I think I understand the question.

2:36:35So over time, a number of the programs had mortgages

2:36:39associated with the projects,

2:36:40and correct me if I'm wrong with this,

2:36:44but Pat Devolution, a lot of those projects had mortgages.

2:36:49Over time, those mortgages would expire,

2:36:52which would change the relationship.

2:36:53We call that end of mortgages for the provincially reform

2:36:58projects and that helps to put new social housing funding

2:37:04that was originally going into mortgages back into the system

2:37:08that can help projects either help to fund their capital costs

2:37:15in the buildings, but could also help to expand the system

2:37:20as well once those mortgage savings were starting to be received.

2:37:23So, sorry, Mayor Guthrie, is that where you were speaking to?

2:37:28No, but I learned something new.

2:37:30So thank you.

2:37:31No, what I was really looking at was provincially,

2:37:33I was chair of the housing authority at that point.

2:37:36And one of my concerns is that when the whole program

2:37:40was transferred to the county,

2:37:42there was going to be revenue neutral.

2:37:44In other words, it wasn't going to cost the county

2:37:46or the city anything at all.

2:37:48We would accrue as much as we would lose,

2:37:51but from the graphs that I saw,

2:37:53that doesn't seem to have been the case.

2:37:59They're not up there now.

2:38:00Okay, through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Halt.

2:38:05I wasn't a part of devolution at the time,

2:38:10but I'm not sure if that had to do with the offsetting

2:38:15other programs that went up to the province

2:38:17and came down from the province over offsetting.

2:38:20So I couldn't speak to that number.

2:38:22My apologies.

2:38:23That's fine.

2:38:24I appreciate the comment with regards to triage.

2:38:28One of the things that struck me is you made mention

2:38:31of $18 million for housing or too so.

2:38:34That's for the 135 units.

2:38:41Through you, Mayor Guthrie.

2:38:42That's for the hundred, sorry, for the 135 units

2:38:44plus monies that are in the reserve for future developments.

2:38:48So am I correct to assume that to address the housing

2:38:53concerns that we have countywide,

2:38:55we're looking at a lot of money, well beyond $18 million.

2:39:02Do you Mr. Mayor, that's correct.

2:39:05That's all I needed to know.

2:39:06Thank you.

2:39:08Okay, Councillor Fawcett and Kate and now Boosentil.

2:39:13Yes, through you Mr. Mayor, thank you

2:39:16to the county for the presentation.

2:39:17I appreciate it's a very complex issue

2:39:19and I'm learning a lot.

2:39:22I have two questions and these might be takeaways

2:39:24because they're related to data.

2:39:26So I'm curious about the data.

2:39:29I just looked at the housing services performance measures

2:39:33for 2022 and the numbers.

2:39:34And I wonder if we have available any data about the need.

2:39:41I've just looked at a few different housing assessment tools

2:39:44and I appreciate the continuum of,

2:39:47I think housing continuum is the correct language.

2:39:50I appreciate that it's complex to identify.

2:39:53But I was just curious if that's something

2:39:55that is accessible.

2:40:00Through you, Mayor Guthrie, to Councillor Klosson.

2:40:04On the county's website, so wellington.ca,

2:40:10slash housing, on our housing services page,

2:40:12there's a button at the top of the page

2:40:15that's called policies and planning.

2:40:18And in there we have copies of our housing and homelessness

2:40:21plan, our annual reports against the housing

2:40:22and homelessness plan, all the data around

2:40:26our homelessness initiatives and everything like that.

2:40:29So a lot of that need data is can be found there

2:40:34in the housing and homelessness plan

2:40:35and the other documents that are in that part of our portal.

2:40:40Also noting that our housing and homelessness plan

2:40:43was completed in 2019.

2:40:45So the information there is slightly at a date,

2:40:49but we do it every five years.

2:40:51So that is up for being renewed

2:40:54and will be in place for 2025

2:40:57and go through approvals at the end of 2024.

2:41:02Okay, then perhaps my next question

2:41:04might be similarly answered.

2:41:06I just had a question with regard to the increases

2:41:08in the availability of full-time spaces

2:41:11for childcare from previous years.

2:41:14Is there data that shows if there's an increase

2:41:17against the need or vice versa?

2:41:20And maybe that's found in the same policy section

2:41:23on the website?

2:41:28Through you, Mr. Mayor.

2:41:31That information can actually be found

2:41:33in our recent childcare and early years service system plan

2:41:39which has recently been approved by council

2:41:42and is currently undergoing accessibility remediation

2:41:48and will be available soon.

2:41:51Okay, thank you.

2:41:54And now I am going to Kate and then Bustel.

2:42:02Through you to the Wellington County staff.

2:42:04I just have a couple of questions about accessibility.

2:42:08Do you know what our unmet need is

2:42:10for fully wheelchair accessible low-income housing?

2:42:13Like what is the length of our wait list?

2:42:21Through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Kannon.

2:42:24I don't have those numbers on hand.

2:42:27Apologies.

2:42:28We do have the number

2:42:30within our centralized waiting list system,

2:42:32but I don't have those on hand.

2:42:35Thank you.

2:42:36Is there a way to grab this from you later?

2:42:40Through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Kannon.

2:42:43Yeah, we can definitely make sure

2:42:44that those are passed along.

2:42:46Thank you.

2:42:48Through you, Mayor.

2:42:49So do you have any plans for accessible housing

2:42:52for people who have severe environmental disabilities

2:42:55like multiple chemical sensitivity?

2:42:57I know that they require different build structures

2:43:00than typically get used in housing.

2:43:13Thank you, through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Kannon.

2:43:16We don't have anything at this time.

2:43:18We do look at the materials that we're using

2:43:21as we're creating,

2:43:22but nothing that has been set specifically

2:43:25for that accessibility demographic at this time.

2:43:29Thank you.

2:43:30And last couple of questions through the Mayor.

2:43:33So for the ones that currently exist

2:43:36in terms of accessibility,

2:43:37do we ensure that we're using unscented products

2:43:41for cleaning the common areas

2:43:43for housing units that have those

2:43:46in shelters?

2:43:46Are we making sure that everything is unscented?

2:43:53Through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Kannon.

2:43:55I know that we pay particular attention to it

2:44:00when there's been a,

2:44:05when someone has brought forward a concern about a sense

2:44:07and we definitely switched to unscented at that time.

2:44:10And if I know we've started to switch to unscented

2:44:13through the different products that we use,

2:44:16I can only really speak to the products though

2:44:19that the county itself uses in our buildings.

2:44:22We have a number of housing providers

2:44:25and shelter providers and health providers

2:44:27that we work with that we fund

2:44:29that would all have different,

2:44:32would have different approaches to sense.

2:44:36I hope that's helpful.

2:44:38Yes, it is.

2:44:39Is there a way to have that kind of pushed forward

2:44:43as they're both an environmentally safe option

2:44:48and help towards emissions goals

2:44:52as well as make sure that certain people

2:44:55who might be avoiding the shelter system and sleeping rough

2:44:58because they know it's not safe for them.

2:45:00A lot of people don't feel like they can ask

2:45:02for those accommodations.

2:45:04Is there a way to just make them blanket accessible?

2:45:13Thank you, through you, Mayor Guthrie to Councillor Kannon.

2:45:16Yes, we can definitely bring those forward

2:45:18to our shelter partners if that's a identified need.

2:45:23And if there's people that are looking

2:45:27to bring forward concerns to a partner

2:45:32or they feel like they can't,

2:45:34they can always come bring those concerns to the county

2:45:38and we can bring those things up forward

2:45:40to our community partners in a way

2:45:42that protects their privacy.

2:45:44Great, thank you very much.

2:45:45If they have concerns.

2:45:47Perfect, thank you.

2:45:50Thank you, Councillor Bouschill.

2:45:52Yes, thank you.

2:45:53And through the mayor, welcome, Ms. Artuso.

2:45:56Thank you for the presentation.

2:45:57That was great.

2:45:58Two very quick questions.

2:46:00The first one is I have been following

2:46:02the employment transformation

2:46:04and it's very linked to employment supports

2:46:07and addressing the barriers to employment

2:46:10and the Ontario Works caseload.

2:46:13My question is where did you end up?

2:46:17The ability to fund and address employment barriers

2:46:20for the caseload for Ontario Works

2:46:22and then I have a very quick housing question.

2:46:27So through you, Mr. Mayor, to Councillor Bouschill,

2:46:33most of the core, what I would call core employment functions

2:46:38that are currently options to deliver within Ontario Works

2:46:42will no longer be there for our staff

2:46:46as of January of 2024.

2:46:50We will have, we are working with the province

2:46:52to understand our ability to use funding

2:46:55to provide what are deemed participant supports.

2:46:59These can be used to help someone

2:47:04in other aspects of their life.

2:47:05So it could be, for example,

2:47:08funding to help with transportation costs.

2:47:11We have agreements to provide low-cost counseling

2:47:14through Compass, one of our community partners

2:47:17to provide some therapeutic counseling

2:47:19when we can't access in a timely way through here 24-7.

2:47:25It could be some funding to provide childcare costs

2:47:30while they participate in a program.

2:47:32However, the expectation will be on the employment

2:47:37Ontario system to be able to provide

2:47:40more traditional employment support,

2:47:42such as any training dollars, anything linked to

2:47:47starting a job.

2:47:49Sometimes you were able to help people with funding,

2:47:51for example, for clothing or for some initial start-up costs.

2:47:57We were having conversations with Circle

2:47:59about how that works and with our community partners,

2:48:02such as Second Chance and Luther Wood

2:48:04and Anishinaabe Beck out, Rachie and Guelph.

2:48:07To make sure we're clear about who can pay for what.

2:48:12But I wanna be clear with folks

2:48:14that we are seeing a 22% reduction

2:48:18in our administrative funding

2:48:19and it will definitely impact staff that we have

2:48:23that are able to support folks in the area of employment,

2:48:25as well as the actual participant benefits

2:48:31that are available to us.

2:48:34Thank you and that local context is really important

2:48:37in connecting there.

2:48:38And then my last question is around housing.

2:48:42Just in the update of the plans,

2:48:45I have a lot of conversations with refugee sponsors,

2:48:48immigrant services and so on about affordable

2:48:51not-for-profit housing for larger families

2:48:56that we are not able to meet in the type of housing

2:49:01for families.

2:49:02Can you speak to that or how that will be attended to

2:49:06maybe in the next iteration of the plans

2:49:08and those conversations?

2:49:11Thank you through you, Mayor Guthrie,

2:49:13to Councillor Boussutil.

2:49:16Sorry, I hope I get that right.

2:49:19Yes, we've definitely noticed the growing size

2:49:25of some families in the community.

2:49:28For housing services specifically,

2:49:29our county-owned buildings,

2:49:31we've been looking at opportunities where we have,

2:49:33we have a number of fully detached homes

2:49:35throughout the community in Guelph specifically.

2:49:38And we've looked at opportunities where we can expand,

2:49:42where safe and appropriate into like basements

2:49:45to gain more bedrooms and more bathrooms and units

2:49:48to make them bigger for some of the larger families

2:49:50that we're seeing in the community

2:49:53that are in need of the programs.

2:49:55And we definitely, we have members,

2:49:59numerous members on our,

2:50:01in social services on our management team.

2:50:05We have policy analysts on the local integration

2:50:08partnership and the immigrant services community tables

2:50:18that have been bringing those forward.

2:50:19And we're certainly seeing those.

2:50:22I think when we're looking to prioritize

2:50:25future affordable housing builds,

2:50:29there is opportunities to kind of highlight

2:50:30some of that needs to different proponents

2:50:32that are coming forward with affordable housing ideas

2:50:36and identifying that as a need for sure.

2:50:39And that will likely be something that would be seen

2:50:42in future need and demand studies through our,

2:50:44like I said, our housing and homelessness plan update.

2:50:48Thank you very much.

2:50:52Great, thank you.

2:50:54I have no more questions from anybody.

2:50:56And so I will just leave it at that

2:51:01other than to say, on behalf of council and community here,

2:51:05thank you very much for the work that you do.

2:51:08Just want to make sure I'm seeing everybody, all the staff

2:51:11and thank you for coming and answering all of our questions.

2:51:15I would imagine just being the first time

2:51:17there's like lots of these new questions that are coming out.

2:51:20So they've been pent up, you know,

2:51:22and we want to ask these questions.

2:51:23So thank you for taking the time

2:51:26and looking forward to whenever the next times are

2:51:29and all the reports, you know, fall-ish 2023,

2:51:32we'll hold you to a date about some of this other stuff

2:51:35that's coming forward as well.

2:51:37And oh, you know what?

2:51:39I actually do have one quick question.

2:51:41I'm sorry.

2:51:42And maybe it's just a nod at the head to both you

2:51:44and to Colleen Clark-Busch or WCAO.

2:51:47So we, or maybe it's to you deputy homes is that

2:51:54the update of our affordable housing strategy

2:51:58is it in conjunction with the county?

2:52:00Like you guys are working together on that, right?

2:52:03Yes, okay.

2:52:04Heads are not in good.

2:52:06Just didn't want to make that an isolation, so that's good.

2:52:09So thank you very, very much again

2:52:10and to the warden, to the chair and to the CAO as well.

2:52:14Really appreciate your presence here today.

2:52:16Thank you.

2:52:17And with that then, I'm just looking for a recommendation

2:52:21just to receive the information.

2:52:22So Boussatil is good and a goer.

2:52:26Thank you as a seconder.

2:52:27Anything further on that?

2:52:30All right, don't hear or see anything.

2:52:31So I'll call the vote.

2:52:32Anyone against the receiving of this information?

2:52:36Again, I don't see or hear anybody.

2:52:37So that's unanimous vote of council.

2:52:40So thank you very much.

2:52:43Just councillor Alton said to leave the meeting early today.

2:52:47Has regrets for the rest of the meeting.

2:52:50Okay, we're going to,