Guelph City Council endorse in principle pilot structured encampment shelter model within the City of Guelph and respectfully ask the County of Wellington as the Consolidated…

3:38:44I don't know what's it called? Warning

3:38:48Before we

3:38:50Before we kick things back off. Okay

3:39:50Okay, I'm going to call the meeting back to order in open session as a summary

3:39:55We received information under the title and the agenda item as disclosed

3:40:01There was no direction at all given

3:40:04And we just as I said, we just received information from uh from staff. So now we're back out here in open session

3:40:13So we've heard from our delegations. We have some opportunities for

3:40:18Discussion now in front of us as a council

3:40:21I'm going to look to counselor

3:40:23all to maybe if the clerks can get ready

3:40:27the

3:40:28motions that

3:40:30were prepared

3:40:32that I sent

3:40:35And counselor all is willing to move them for me. Um, and I believe it's seconded by counselor galler

3:40:41Uh, it is quite a long

3:40:44motion

3:40:46Uh, and I think of the importance of it though. It'd be nice to have it read out loud counselor. Oh, would you mind doing that for us?

3:40:53Or would you like me to

3:40:56Okay, you go ahead. Uh, thank you very much mayor guthrie. Uh moved by all seconded by galler

3:41:03The following five motions is a package that wealth city council endorse in principle the need for a time

3:41:10home shelter model within the city of guelph and respectfully ask the county of wellington as the

3:41:16Consolidated social services manager to consider how this model may fit within the housing continuum moving forward

3:41:24number two that city staff in alignment with the report titled mayoral direction b3

3:41:30Strategic real estate partnership on underutilized city owned assets be directed to continue working to identify the potential

3:41:37for city owned lands to be used for the development of temporary or permanent housing

3:41:42Or to review other non owned city lands that come forward for consideration and report back as required by q1

3:41:512025 as part of the city of the planned citywide land inventory evaluation

3:41:56While taking under consideration the upcoming county of wellington homelessness winter response plan

3:42:02The opening of the delhi street supportive housing units and additional shelter and transitional housing units

3:42:08Contained within the gordon street stepping stone renovations

3:42:13Number three that staff be directed to forward a copy of this report to the joint social services and land ambulance

3:42:19committee for information if this could be brought up the screen please at this point

3:42:23I've got a black line in front of everything

3:42:26Uh, I'm then i'll read from there. This is will be my eye test number four that city council

3:42:31Respectfully requests that the joint social services and land ambulance committee

3:42:35For the estimated costs including any federal and provincial funding that will be required to temporarily house any individuals

3:42:42From the by name list not accommodated through other shelter locations as part of the winter

3:42:4920 24 25 homelessness response to city council for consideration at the september

3:42:5724 2004

3:42:59Guelph city council meeting and number five that

3:43:02Guelph city council respectfully requests immediate funding allocation and criteria for the federal government funds to address

3:43:10encampments and homelessness in our community through the federal government

3:43:16The federal budget thank you. Thank you

3:43:23Thank you very much. Mayor guthrie and I promise i'll stay within my time

3:43:26I'm moving these motions because as many of you will recollect the last meeting

3:43:30I did not support the recommendation that came before us

3:43:34And I think that it's very important for us to appreciate what's on the floor here

3:43:38There are in my opinion three major issues one is the crisis in housing

3:43:43Much of it exacerbated by cost and our potential to actually put housing in the ground two

3:43:47There is a mental health and an addictions issue and three

3:43:51In my opinion, there is a time to reevaluate what the housing continuum should be to alleviate human misery

3:43:57Whether it is for those that are under housed or those who are not housed at all

3:44:02Homelessness as we are all aware is a national health and housing crisis affecting businesses

3:44:08Personal well-being neighborhoods and it's exacerbated by designer drugs. We see that around us in guelph

3:44:14We see that in downtown guelph

3:44:16We have before us good broad enabling resolutions

3:44:20They don't identify parkland, which was a major sticking point for my support in the last recommendations

3:44:26And we've heard that people are alienated and they are fearful to move into shelters or into supportive housing or transitional housing

3:44:33This is an option that allows us to be in the forefront of changing the paradigm on what we consider to be the housing continuum

3:44:41By adding to that which may allow those who have difficulty accessing supportive housing or transition housing

3:44:48Something else on the continuum. I thank all the delegates that came before us. I thank my council colleagues for listening to me so far

3:44:57Great, thank you

3:44:59I think I have an amendment coming from counselor downer

3:45:03So let's get that on the floor so we can discuss and uh and vote on that. I'll turn the floor over to counselor downer

3:45:10Hi, so I would like to

3:45:13Why I said that?

3:45:14Are you all?

3:45:16We've had a break. Hi everybody again. We're back

3:45:21So um, so I have amendment um and if

3:45:25Let's go put it up. So it's a well city council endorse in principle

3:45:29So I would I want to change it to a pilot structured encampment because that's what we're talking about

3:45:35We're talking about a pilot. We're talking about a structured encampment

3:45:38Um, you know, these can be and an encampment shelter as well

3:45:43I want to make sure that that's what it says in there as well

3:45:46So, I mean, I'm envisioning these to be the

3:45:49The tiny homes or container homes or whatever you want to call them but rather than identifying them

3:45:55as tiny homes and I think we're

3:45:58Let's get back to what you know, what our first term was for this was a pilot structured encampment

3:46:04And it's a shelter. I don't think we need to ask the county to try to fit this on the continuum

3:46:10So if we want to do that I then I'd put that as a separate motion, but not for me because

3:46:16um

3:46:18As we heard from the one of the co-founders of the better tent cities is the continuum didn't matter

3:46:25In this they they were able to build it regardless of the continuum is a model that the feds in the province has put together for their

3:46:32service providers, so it's not for

3:46:35um this type of a

3:46:37model however

3:46:40I would see this as a shelter

3:46:42Uh much like the Norfolk Manor is a shelter now. That's 24 hours 20 24 7 care and people there

3:46:50and it's

3:46:51And and they're you know, and and it's they've got there's people can keep their stuff there

3:46:56So it must be fitting in somewhere for the county as it is

3:47:00So I don't think we need to ask them to do that. We can have that maybe that discussion

3:47:05sometime at the

3:47:06Joint social services committee, but I think I think we just need to

3:47:11endorse in principle that we we want to entertain the pilot

3:47:15Structured encampment shelter within our city

3:47:17Just let's just concentrate on that that that wording amendment. I think we can get past that pretty quick. I believe

3:47:24So um if we could just get it up on the

3:47:27On the screen one more time. It's been seconded by councillor Richardson

3:47:32And so we're just kind of taking out the word

3:47:34Tiny homes. I believe it's that's what it said originally

3:47:37Um a tiny homes model. I think it was what was there and now it's piloted to structured encampment

3:47:42So how that looks can be determined later on doesn't have to be so scoped to the wording of tiny homes

3:47:48So that's what the amendment is. Is there any questions on just this amendment of wording change before we call the vote?

3:47:55No, okay. I'll call the vote is anyone against this amendment

3:48:00Nobody says unanimous. Thank you councillor downer

3:48:03So we're back to the main motions now as amended

3:48:06I'd like to ask if there's any questions of staff if not I can move through them

3:48:13Okay, I will move through does anyone require them to be

3:48:18Separated by any means

3:48:22I only asked that because you mentioned it councillor downer

3:48:25I just want to respect respect what you said there. So giving you an opening

3:48:30I

3:48:31You know, I doesn't matter if it stays in we could ask them

3:48:33My guess is they're going to come back and they're going to what they're going to say that

3:48:36Yeah, I think that the continuum is for the feds in the province and you know, it's it's not going to

3:48:43You know make a difference. So I think if you could put the motions back up there clerks

3:48:48If you don't mind as amended the way I worded it. I believe I purposely put in there the word may

3:48:54And I I hope that can kind of give some comfort to you councillor downer

3:48:58Um, especially in the first line how this model may fit within the housing. Okay. Okay. So

3:49:07I did that on purpose so

3:49:10Okay, it looks like uh, I'll call. Oh, sorry councillor billings. You hide your hand up. Go ahead

3:49:19question about clause four

3:49:21Yes, absolutely. Go ahead

3:49:22Okay, so whether it's to to you because you sit on the committee or staff

3:49:28In clause four so the county's coming any ways

3:49:31In in september because in the report it said

3:49:35That there is a significant anticipated increasing costs

3:49:40From from the county for housing and homelessness response. So this

3:49:46anticipated increase

3:49:47I assumed was for the winter 24 25 homelessness response

3:49:53But is it not or can you just give me some clarity, mr. Mayor?

3:49:59I look to my um colleagues that are on the joint social services committee to back me up if I'm saying the wrong thing

3:50:06But I believe there has actually already been incurred extra costs to date

3:50:12Not yet including what may be costs for the winter plan

3:50:20Okay, so these significant costs do not include the winter 24 25

3:50:25In september that you already know

3:50:29Correct that that is my understanding of my recollection from being on that the joint social services committee

3:50:35I believe a couple of meetings ago. I'm trying to remember there was some uh

3:50:42Data and some discussion given that there's already

3:50:47Costs overrun

3:50:49In regards to these issues already keeping in mind as a reminder council

3:50:55We already gave them an extra

3:50:57Over almost three million dollars in the budget already, which is climbing to almost 4.6

3:51:04million dollars, I believe

3:51:07In a go-forward basis. So correct and that's why mr. Mayor. I just assumed and I'm glad I asked

3:51:12I thought this would just be to help for winter 24 25

3:51:16So are you allowed then to tell us?

3:51:19What these extra costs are at this point or do we have to wait until september?

3:51:25And this doesn't include winter 24 25

3:51:29Oh, I if I knew if I knew I would tell everybody right now

3:51:32I just I just don't know what the number is I have I'll call lean is putting up her hand

3:51:37I will go do our deputy ceo

3:51:39Maybe she can help me and I hope she does go ahead

3:51:42So the mayor may not be exactly the help that you're looking for we will get the county's q2 update very shortly

3:51:47which will be included in our

3:51:49September committee of the whole package

3:51:51So you will see the county's q2 variance as part of your september committee the whole package

3:51:56Which will then help to inform that

3:51:59Report that you have requested of the county that will be coming at the end of the month

3:52:03So you will have all of that information wrapped together through both of those meetings in september

3:52:08Which will hopefully then guide your decision that you that uh motion number four

3:52:14Specifies that you would like to be doing at that september 24th city council meeting

3:52:18So you'll have the variance report from the county earlier in the month

3:52:21And then they're going to report on their winter homelessness plan later in the month with these additional costs laid out for you

3:52:28Okay

3:52:35Thanks, councillor billings

3:52:37Okay, I was good to call the vote, but it looks like I have uh another quite is it a question councillor work

3:52:43Okay, go ahead

3:52:45Thank you margoth 33 a staff

3:52:47I don't have anywhere else to ask the question around

3:52:51The validity of the data that we have and how we get our arms around the scope of the problem

3:52:55Right, so I'm I'm wondering

3:52:59um

3:53:00If through you margoth three

3:53:02like

3:53:03How does that work? We can't provide direction to those 15

3:53:08Front door agencies if I'm getting the terminology correctly

3:53:12um

3:53:14And the county has a process for their binameless, but it feels to me like we really need to get our heads around

3:53:20In terms of budgeting and planning and how much land and how much right well, what what are the optimal plans?

3:53:27Uh, so through margoth three can staff just help me understand. How can we get?

3:53:32at better scoping of the size of the problem

3:53:37So through the mayor to councillor work it is it is a challenge

3:53:41And I'm not sure we're ever going to have an exact accurate number because we are talking about a population that is transient

3:53:48And so on any given day we know exactly how many encampment locations we are tracking in the city

3:53:55And we gather that data through a number of different sources

3:53:58Certainly we rely on what individual citizens are reporting into us what our bylaw officers are seeing

3:54:05What gulf police services may be reporting into us? We have a very robust gis tracking system where we internally keep

3:54:13Uh, a map of where all of those locations are so that we make sure we are then connecting in

3:54:20With our social service agencies

3:54:22And we go through the county who then has the stepping stone social service partners go out to make sure they are visiting all of those

3:54:30encampments and trying to make sure that individuals are on the by name list as you heard tonight

3:54:36There are lots of other

3:54:38Harm reduction workers mental health workers various agencies and individuals who are all providing services into individual encampment locations

3:54:48Lots of them we are trying to have a better coordinated approach so that they are reporting that information in

3:54:54Through that one so the door agency model so that it is getting reported into the county's hyphous system

3:55:00So that we are tracking it

3:55:02but it isn't

3:55:04It it's it were were I think as it was dany mentioned some individuals are moving around

3:55:10Um as of this morning, we knew of 24 locations here in the city

3:55:15But those don't always necessarily have people in them when we go and visit

3:55:19Or there might be people in them one day, but not the next day. And so

3:55:24I don't think and I think it was mr. Mark alonga who said it

3:55:28I don't know that actually debating what is the exact number is necessarily helpful because it takes away from

3:55:34We know there's a problem. We know there's a crisis and whether it is

3:55:4062 or 49 or 73 in

3:55:4324 encampments or 18 encampments

3:55:45I don't I'm not trying to be flippant. I'm just simply trying to say we know there's a problem and we know there's a crisis

3:55:51We absolutely need to keep doing a better job making sure that the agencies are as coordinated as possible

3:55:58Partly so our data is accurate and partly because we also want to make sure that

3:56:03Every single person living in an encampment is getting as much support as they can

3:56:07And so we want to make sure that we have that coordinated approach as best we can

3:56:11So that was a long way away a round of saying we are continuing to work

3:56:17Collectively with the city with the county and with all of the various

3:56:22organized social service agencies as well as the more informal

3:56:26Network of people who are going out and providing service into the encampments

3:56:30But the the the the best

3:56:33Thing that I will keep sort of encouraging everyone to do is making sure that we are collecting that data

3:56:39Through that consolidated hypha system that the county has and making sure that people are captured on the by name list

3:56:46So that we do have as good

3:56:49As possible a list of individuals in our community

3:56:52So that we are tracking that data point

3:56:55Even if on a given day the total number of encampments may be variable depending on who's in which location on which day

3:57:04Right. So so through you migratory just to be sure I understand

3:57:08So mr. Louis came and talked about how he goes around all these encampments to help the people which is wonderful

3:57:16Does he have a mechanism?

3:57:18to

3:57:19To encourage those people to be on the by name list

3:57:22Is it through referring from an agency like it feels like a problem we could solve

3:57:28Right like the data the data problem. It feels like we could get closer on data

3:57:34And and obviously we know there's a challenge, but there's also a number of units coming on line this fall

3:57:40So I'd like to know how big that gap is because ultimately it will drive the next decisions on types of housing or solutions. So

3:57:48Um, and we heard a delegate say she didn't know how to get on the by name list

3:57:54So can you I just want to have the conversation in this context?

3:57:58Because it's not going to come up again

3:58:01How do we get a better handle on?

3:58:04The the number of people who need help so that we can help them more effectively

3:58:09So there's there there is also you'll hear here referred to the point in time count

3:58:13Which is mandated by the federal government that only happens every so often the next one is happening this fall

3:58:19And that's a very coordinated effort by a number of different social

3:58:23Service agencies and the county to do a point in time count of individuals

3:58:30living in homelessness in our community

3:58:33But what we need to do in terms of

3:58:36Individuals to get to make sure that individuals are on the by name list

3:58:41The best way for that to happen is to get connected in through what's called a door agency

3:58:47So there are a number of door agencies and we can make sure people are connected in

3:58:51Anyone working in an encampment situation if they contact us through our by-law team

3:58:57We connect in through stepping stone because that is our pathway

3:59:01And then stepping stone makes sure that the individuals get connected through the county's hyphous system

3:59:07Which is their program for accurate data counting? I don't remember what the acronym of hyphous stands for

3:59:14It's hfis

3:59:16But it is their tracking system that they use and that is where they they accurately

3:59:22Track the homelessness stats and that's also how we get people on the by-name list because they do the assessment

3:59:30And so that is the best way

3:59:32And so we're certainly continuing to encourage anybody who's out working or volunteering their time and working with people living in encampments that they are

3:59:43Connecting people through one of those door agencies so that we can make sure that we're capturing that data

3:59:48So that that by-name list is as accurate as possible and that we're tracking that data so that we have the best information

3:59:54But again the information is important

3:59:56But what's really important is make sure nobody's falling through the the proverbial cracks and that we're making sure

4:00:01We're aware of of everyone and making sure that they're getting the supports that are available

4:00:07Thank you. So merga theory to another question. That was a data question the next question is about funding so through you to staff

4:00:15Um, are we aware whether the housing accelerator funding or potentially some of the funding streams announced in the last federal budget?

4:00:22Could be applied to a project like this

4:00:26through the mayor to council or work

4:00:28The housing accelerator fund is more by agreement and the city is working to meet its obligations right now

4:00:34Which are focused for us more around affordable housing and the creation of additional affordable housing units

4:00:40But there was a tremendous amount of money announced in the last federal budget

4:00:44And we expect more details about that over the summer and into the fall

4:00:47And so our hope is to work with the county to determine

4:00:51The eligibility and the appropriate projects to bring back both to city council and the joint social services and land to ambulance

4:00:58committee as appropriate

4:01:03Great. Thank you

4:01:05With that, I'll just wrap up before I call the vote myself if you don't mind

4:01:09I just wanted to say thank you publicly to you know, the tiny home coalition

4:01:14And a bunch of stakeholders that have been coming forward over the last

4:01:18Many months in trying to rally, you know, this this issue. So I just want to fully acknowledge that publicly

4:01:25Um, I also want to in the same breath say that I appreciate an organization

4:01:31That also understands. Hey, maybe we need to

4:01:35You know, maybe we need to pause for a little bit here as we get the right

4:01:38A right site or a right model or a right governance or a right like all those things too

4:01:43So it takes just as much guts to start something as it does to have guts to come like on on the 11th hour almost and say

4:01:50Hey, we know everyone's working hard. We acknowledge all of that

4:01:54But we also want to make sure we do it right

4:01:56So I just appreciate that positioning that that's been brought forward today for us to consider as the decision makers too

4:02:04And then when it comes to sites, I just want to say very publicly

4:02:08Look, I know that our staff we know that our staff have done an excellent job

4:02:13In in this and in working with, you know, the tiny home coalition as an example

4:02:18But I wanted to speak directly through, you know now to those in the private sector

4:02:24You know those that

4:02:26May have an opportunity to come forward with an option of a site as well

4:02:32You know, those types of options. I know are very

4:02:37Those types of options are very welcome to be discussed by our staff

4:02:43And so any type of conversations that you want to bring forward

4:02:47I would just encourage the private sector to consider doing that

4:02:52Through to our professional staff and they can you know, that door will be open to have those discussions

4:02:57To see what what could fit what might not fit where we could go with that

4:03:01And so I just want to make sure that that is really stated out loud as well

4:03:07And as much as uh, you know, I was kind of hoping that we could try to move something forward

4:03:13You know a little bit. I think it is the right way of

4:03:17Making sure that if we do move something forward, it's done in the right way

4:03:20And um, so I also want to put a lot of emphasis on just very publicly on the county

4:03:26I'll just say it out loud for their winter

4:03:29uh, response program

4:03:31I am really waiting. I'm sure my colleagues are

4:03:35To figure out what they have in store for that september meeting at the county

4:03:41Uh, and for that conversation to flow into this chamber as well

4:03:46For how they are going to be looking to address that

4:03:49Um, because

4:03:52That is a highly important issue for all of us

4:03:55And then the final thing I'll just say is is that the ontario big city mayor's caucus just dovetailing on what council

4:04:01Or work just brought up. We did pass a motion

4:04:04In regards to the federal funding which is in I think it's about 150 million dollars if I recall

4:04:11in the budget for specific for encampment and and

4:04:16And uh homelessness urgent issues for this coming winter

4:04:21And so we passed a motion specifically asking the federal government tell us what is going on

4:04:28Tell like how much or how much are municipalities or their social service managers getting

4:04:33Tell us now so we can do the planning now

4:04:37And so the continual kind of waiting although we're very pleased that that was in the budget is not helpful

4:04:43We need to actually plan and so and when I say the word we I mostly mean in collaboration with the county

4:04:50So I I would really hope that there's that that that call from the ontario big city mayor's caucus and us now

4:04:56That's that's our last motion that we had

4:04:59Is is also heard by them because we really need to know how much

4:05:03And and the what around that so that we can plan for that. So I appreciate that as well

4:05:09um with that I'll call uh the vote

4:05:13And is anyone against those motions that were read out earlier as amended

4:05:19That's unanimous. Thank you. I have one extra motion that's going to come forward as an additional from councillor downer. So I will

4:05:27Ask her to table that for us

4:05:30Thank you. So I don't know who's going to second this

4:05:34but um

4:05:35It's that city council request through the county

4:05:39Through wellington county that the housing and health community planning table investigate the prioritization of providing

4:05:45Individuals living in encampments with health and housing supports as part of as part of their work plan

4:05:53We got as part of twice but um

4:05:57In discussions with the county staff and the material they've sent it's it's uh

4:06:03Not clear in their criteria when they're placing people on the by name list

4:06:08um

4:06:09Whether it's not actually it's not there that that that is being prioritized people living in unsheltered encampments

4:06:17um

4:06:18That that they're not being prioritized through that process

4:06:23And so I know that that's something they're looking at discussing at that table

4:06:27But I think this sort of just formalize it. This is something we'd like them to look at

4:06:31So that this group of people on the by name list are actually

4:06:37prioritized

4:06:39Okay, thank you and councillor work had put up her hand just to second

4:06:43Your ward made also kind of jumped out there. So I think there's a few people that would be happy to

4:06:47To do that. Uh, let's have some questions in regards to this specific motion. Councillor Allt

4:06:52Thank you very much. Mayor guthrie through you to the mover

4:06:57There's a couple of issues that i'm struggling with one is if we prioritize somebody who's in an encampment

4:07:03Do we not

4:07:05De-prioritize someone who might equally be needing changes in housing? The other issue is

4:07:11Will the county be requested to consider whether there's any

4:07:15human rights

4:07:16Impacts on this

4:07:17So this is a an investigation that this is an investigation request at this time

4:07:23That's not going to the county. It's going to the housing and health community planning table

4:07:27So we'll have the health partners there and the housing partners there

4:07:31And and it it's about for me. It's about making it as part of the criteria that's already prioritizing people for different

4:07:42Permanent housing or supportive housing

4:07:49Okay

4:07:51Is there anything further on that? Uh, tabled motion

4:07:54Okay, uh, not hearing any i'm going to call the vote on that is anyone against that motion

4:07:59Okay, thank you councillor Downer. That's unanimous

4:08:04Okay, uh, that brings us to the end of that item. Thank you very much everyone. We do have some bylaws