Through Collaboration and Commitment

1. Through Collaboration and Commitment The story of Ottawa’s record investment in housing and homelessness We see a city where everyone has a place to call home

2. Agenda

3. Where we were... • 120-140 people unsheltered • Increases in shelter stays • 100-150 families in motels (overflow) • Increases in the number of households on the waiting list for housing

4. OPPORTUNITY Social Assistance Upload

5. Guiding Principles

6. Housing System Working Group Membership • Homelessness outreach services and shelters sector • Supports to housing sector, on and off-site • Social housing and affordable housing sector • Private rental housing sector • City staff

7. Roles • Contribute ideas and make recommendations • Disseminate information • Present information on specific topics • Share their expertise and knowledge • Act as a representative and liaison between their agency, the community and the Group

8. Three Priorities/Seven Envelopes Prevention Housing Supports

9. Emergency energy assistance for low-income households

10. Application for disability benefits

11. Supporting individuals and families to retain housing

12. I finally have an address! Providing supportive housing to homeless women

13. Supports for homeless men and women with complex needs

14. Helping homeless families retain housing Families First Program supports families with complex needs who are either leaving the shelter for housing or are housed but at risk of homelessness

15. Program at a glance • Uses a holistic multi-disciplinary service model • Specialized supports in mental health, addictions, children and youth and multicultural barriers • Provides case management to address needs and barriers to housing retention • Each member receives a personalized plan

16. Program at a glance • Practical supports and coaching in homes decentralized across the city • Supports clients to build effective relationships • Services last up to 9 months • Focus on family’s capacity to maintain housing and increase resiliency • Ottawa University to lead a two-year study

17. Helping people access and retain housing

18. Rent Supplements & Housing Allowances $250 for an individual and $50 for each additional family member Paid to tenant Client may stay on Centralized Waiting List Subsidy is portable within the City (follows the tenant) Can apply to rooming houses • Rent subsidized to 30% of income • Paid to landlord • Contract with landlord • Client removed from the Centralized Waiting List • Subsidy is attached to the unit • Unit must be self-contained

19. Canadian-Style Housing Allowances • Different from U.S. “section 8 vouchers” • Avoid challenges with landlord take-up • Take advantage of the current housing stock • Can be fixed or variable amounts • Does not inflate rents

20. Canadian-Style Housing Allowances • Can be issued quickly with low administrative costs • Private sector landlords or by tenants in market rent units within non-profit housing • Increase tenant choice • Avoid the need for a tenant move • Follows the tenant if they choose to move • Facilitates mixed income communities

21. Helping youth reach their potential Youth Futures • Leadership development, paid employment and post-secondary mentorship • Target: 60 youth Outcome • 41 youth remained in high school • 30 are planning to attend post secondary in 2013 • 12 attending university • 4 attending college

22. Helped me achieve my goals, increase my experiences and learn new things! Best program ever, best training, employment changed our lives ! Life changing, wouldn’t trade it for anything!

23. Protecting our investments

24. Increasing the supply of affordable housing

25. Coming Soon!

26. $14M Housing and Homelessness Investment Plan Impacts since 2011 Centralized waiting list over 5 years

28. Questions?