Shelter Policy and Social Development Impacts

1. Seabird Island |Alexis Grace| March 2014 Shelter Policy and Social Development Impacts

2. Seabird Island Band Seabird Island Band has become and maintained Centre of Excellence status by providing Income Assistance programming and services to the Seabird Island Community; in addition to, mentorship supports for neighboring Nations, Enhanced Service Delivery and First Nations Job Fund partnership with 6 neighboring Nations. Programming and services are Client focused and Community driven, built upon “the principal of fairness and transparency” (December 2011 Shelter Agreement).

3. Shelter Policy Impacts “A shelter allowance may only be issued to meet actual, documented shelter costs (up to a maximum shelter variable) if the following conditions apply:…evidence of actual costs, in the form of billings, receipts for fuel, utility, etc., and rental agreements, is produced for the administering authority and maintained on the client file” (August 2004 Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual Vol.1, Shelter Allowances 5.1) “Rent may only be considered an eligible component of shelter allowance when: • rent is customarily charged for the accommodation and is not being charged simply because the occupant is in receipt of social assistance • the amount of rent is reasonable in terms of family needs, size and condition of housing, and prevailing rental practices in the Community” (July 1999 Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual 355724 v3, Rent or Personal Mortgage Payments 5.4)

4. Shelter Policy Impacts Continued… “…rent may be issued to eligible social assistance recipients in an amount not exceeding the actual rent payment or provincial maximums, whichever is less, if an eligible social assistance applicant or recipient resides in one of the following:…” “a home that is privately owned (see Definition of Privately Owned later in this section), by another, rent may be considered…” “Definition of Privately Owned For the purposes of establishing the registered owner, and to determine eligibility for social assistance shelter allowances, private ownership means homes that are owned under: • Locatee or Certificate of Possession (CP) holdings • Cardex holdings • Custom holdings that are duly recognized in writing by council” (July 1999 Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual 355724 v3, Rent or Personal Mortgage Payments 5.4)

5. Mitigating Impacts Seabird Island Band Social Development Department, in partnership with Housing and Health, determined that safe and sustainable housing is paramount to the Health and Wellbeing of the Client and Community. Seabird Island takes pride in the condition of our homes and the care we provide for our Clients and Community Members. Seabird Island Band is proactive and creative in terms of problem solving. To maintain these healthy standards of living for all community members, not limited to those Income Assistance recipients, Rent payments on homes is required. Thus, Seabird Island Band would take action in pursuing acknowledgement “as the Landlord of housing units within Seabird Island Band” (December 2011 Shelter Agreement)

6. Partnership with Seabird Island Housing In order to be acknowledged as the Landlord and have “the ability to set rents on all of [our] units as [we] see fit, in a fair and equitable manner. Income Assistance and Housing committed to these “conditions applying solely to Seabird Island band...as an interim authority as a strategy for pursuing options for the development of a shelter policy” (December 2011 Shelter Policy) . As part of this “working group”, the Seabird Island Social Programming responsibilities as a Centre of Excellence and as an Administering Authority, are as follows (December 2011 Shelter Policy).

7. Conditions as an Interim Authority(December 2011 Shelter Policy) • Rental Agreements are required for all Band owned homes in order to meet the principal of universality, where all tenants are required to pay rent. The rental agreement will provide details on the monthly rental amount and a listing of all individuals occupying the home; • Any Changes to household occupancy, specifically, persons residing in the home must be updated on a monthly basis. Income Assistance eligibility is determined on a month to month basis and the monthly renewal process must be used to clearly outline shelter occupants, costs and eligibility for assistance; • Rental/tenancy agreements must include the monthly rent charge for all band owned homes and clearly outline both landlord and tenant responsibilities – security/damage deposits, rental payment amounts, default provisions, repayment of arrears and actions to be taken should agreement provisions not be met; • All maintenance and repair requirements on homes that have mortgages paid will be confirmed by band administration through regularly scheduled home inspections and all reports are to be maintained on both the housing and client file; • Rental revenues shall not be used for debt reduction or rental arrears;

8. Conditions continued… • For those homes that have mortgages paid (14) as reported on September 29, 2011, the monthly Income Assistance entitlement will include: • Basic support supplement based on unit size, • Shelter supplement to include fuel for heating and cooking, electrical/utility costs, telephone service, household insurance with receipts to support expenditures • The total shelter allowance paid cannot exceed the provincial maximum standard; • Shelter allowance applies to the house only and not the number of recipients or families residing in the home (NO shelter stacking); • A separate account must be established to reflect the revenue collected from the homes (mortgage paid). These accounts will be treated as restricted to be used for maintenance and repairs associated with each home and client file; • Funds accumulated from rental payments on homes where mortgages have been paid may be used for maintenance and repairs based on demonstrated and documented need of the member/tenant and their home. These funds can be used at any time and at the discretion of the Seabird Island band and will be supported by documentation as outlined in #4; • A separate account will be required to document the outstanding rents that have not been paid including repayment plans that have been developed and actioned.

9. Supporting Clients through Transition In the transition to Universality, clients required additional supports; • Understanding the transition; why and how this affects them • Determining the direct impact to the individual unit • Financial Impact to the client • Formulating and understanding next steps This required a great deal of communication and partnership between Housing and Social Development. Social Development was seen as the next step in understanding and outlining a comprehensive plan for each individual client and family unit

10. Community Analysis In order to successfully; transition, develop and implement a Comprehensive Personal or Family Plan, Social Development conducted a complete analysis of the Community. This Analysis would take into consideration; the individual concerns of the member, current rent costs, annualized estimate of utility costs, minimum additional shelter support required, estimated additional income, recommendations for personal planning and annualized cost to Band/Programs in terms of employment subsidies.

11. Community Analysis

12. Community Analysis

13. Results of Community Analysis Based upon the complete community analysis and planning recommendations, Seabird Island Departments and Programs worked to determine and craft employment opportunities in various areas for those individuals impacted by Universal Rent changes. These employment opportunities were not limited to Income Assistance recipients but all impacted Band and Community members.

14. Comprehensive Planning The next stage in Client and Community supports within the transition is defining individual Comprehensive Personal Planning. The Model for Comprehensive Personal Planning for those Clients and Community Members impacted by the universal rental regime is an Income Assistance driven partnership with Employment and each Department within Seabird Island Band Administration.

15. Comprehensive Personal Planning Following the Community Analysis and the establishment of casual, on call or part time employment opportunities throughout the Organization; The Comprehensive Personal Planning process was implemented to provide opportunities and supports to those impacted significantly and those who may require minimal/alternative support within the transition. • Clients will assess their current living and financial situations • Employment will assess all clients and determine strengths, barriers and a sustainable short/part term employment plan • Employment opportunities have been developed as a response to rental subsidies – this is in partnership with all of the Seabird Island Band Administrative Departments and Programs • Clients and Community members will receive ongoing employment opportunities and Financial Counselling • Triage to additional supports is in development – Financial Management, Cohabitation Counselling, Energy Management, Addictions Counselling. Transition to work...

16. Decrease Dependency With the ability to implement Universal Rents we are able to ensure the sustainability of our community with health and well being as paramount. Additionally, we have turned our challenges into positives, with the expectation that we now have the ability to decrease dependency within our community and increase empowerment. Our people will not receive monetary subsidies but longer term investments, employment opportunities to take ownership of their personal situation and become empowered to determine their own quality of life through means of; health, housing. support and employment.

17. Positive Impacts The Community Analysis and Comprehensive Personal Planning initiatives have produced positive, impactful, unanticipated and lasting results; • Disability Awareness • Mental Health Awareness • Personal and Family Empowerment • Discovery of Talents • Necessary motivation • Triage to support, previously unknown or unaware – suicide, family barriers, addictions… • Family Discussion and Planning • Awareness and Ownership of Personal Situation

18. Reference December 2011, Shelter Policy – Social Assistance Agreement Between Seabird Island Band and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Signed; Butler, Andy & Chief Seymour, Clem. August 2004 Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual Vol.1, Shelter Allowances 5.1 July 1999 Social Development Policy and Procedures Manual 355724 v3, Rent or Personal Mortgage Payments 5.4 Prepared by Alexis Grace Employment & Social Development Manager