City of Surrey Homelessness Fund within an Existing Foundation

1. City of Surrey Homelessness Fundwithin an Existing Foundation Council Presentation – Monday, July 24, 2006

2. Background • Surrey has seen a significant increase in homelessness. In fact, between January 2002 and March 2005, the homeless population increased from 160 to 371 or by 132%. • One of the major barriers to addressing homelessness in Surrey is a lack of matching and seed funding, which can be used to leverage senior government and other funding.

3. Purpose • In early 2006, the Mayor appointed a Task Force co-chaired by Councillors Gill and Villeneuve. • This Task Force was asked to examine different mechanisms to raise, leverage and distribute funds to address homelessness and housing related issues in Surrey.

4. Membership • Government: City of Surrey, BC Housing, Fraser Health Authority, Service Canada • Business/Development Associations: Surrey Chamber of Commerce, Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, Cloverdale BIA, Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, Whalley BIA • Labour Associations: CUPE Local #402, Surrey Firefighters Association • Development Industry: Parklane Construction, Polygon Group Ltd., Progressive Construction Ltd., Qualico Development • Foundations and Funders: Coast Capital Savings Foundation, The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, The Surrey Foundation, The United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancity Community Foundation • Educational Institutions: Kwantlen University College, Simon Fraser University • Faith Organizations: Surrey Pastors Network, Surrey/White Rock Ministerial Association

5. Membership … Continued • Homeless Associations: Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness, Surrey Homeless and Housing Task Force • Social Service Organizations: Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre of SACS, Options: Services to Communities Society, Pacific Community Resources Society, Phoenix Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Education Society, South Fraser Community Services Society, Vibrant Surrey, YMCA • Others: Whalebone Productions Ltd.

6. Surrey Homelessness Fund • The Task Force met on three occasions and unanimously agreed to recommend to Council the establishment of a City of Surrey Homelessness Fund within an existing Foundation. • Some of the reasons for recommending a Fund within an existing Foundation included: • Ability to leverage new dollars by way of matching and seed funding. • Ability to receive charitable donations. • Ability to achieve a good rate of return on all investments, thus maximizing the dollars available for grant making. • Ability to achieve low administration fees and be accountable to funders. • Ability to be non-partisan and neutral.

7. Benefits • Leverage private, senior government and other funding in support of addressing homelessness and housing related issues in Surrey. • Demonstrate the City of Surrey’s commitment to addressing social issues and to act as a model for other jurisdictions. • Enable citizens, businesses, community groups, faith organizations and others a means to make a charitable donation to address homelessness and housing related issues in Surrey. • Assist in achieving the goals as contained in the Plan for the Social Wellbeing of Surrey Residents, particularly in the areas of housing and homelessness. • Provide matching and seed funding to get new and innovative projects off the ground. • Contribute to reducing homelessness and related issues which negatively impact the image of Surrey.

8. Other Examples Other jurisdictions which have implemented similar mechanisms include: • Calgary Homeless Foundation, which has a broad partnership base and charitable status. It has raised and leveraged considerable funds to address homelessness in Calgary. • Edmonton Housing Trust Fund, which is a public fund started with seed money from a number of contributors, including the City of Edmonton. It has raised and leveraged considerable funds to build non-market housing for low and moderate income households. • Victoria Housing Trust Fund, which will be administered and managed by an existing community foundation and which will attract donations and raise funds to develop affordable family and youth housing in Victoria.

9. Recommendations The Task Force recommends that Council: • Approve the establishment of a City of Surrey Homelessness Fund within an existing Foundation. This Fund will be used to address homelessness and housing related issues in Surrey by: • raising monies and investing them wisely; • providing a mechanism for business and community members to make charitable donations; • leveraging private, senior government and other monies; • facilitating collaborative partnerships; • distributing funds to projects and programs that assist or enable individuals to exit or avoid homelessness.

10. Recommendations … Continued • Appoint an interim Advisory Board to oversee the establishment of the City of Surrey Homelessness Fund. • Authorize the use of the funds within the City of Surrey’s Affordable Housing Reserve Fund to establish the City of Surrey Homelessness Fund.