In July, there were promised future steps about tackling the housing crisis in Guelph, and we’ve now arrived at the next step. At this special meeting entirely dedicated to the housing crisis, council will hear about the research done about community needs, and how the City is going refresh its affordable housing strategy. For everyone in Guelph concerned about the issue, let’s just call this a must see.
NOTE #1: Delegates will be able to appear at this meeting or via tele-presense but you do have to register with the clerks office before 10 am on Friday September 8. You can also submit written delegations and correspondences for agenda items.
NOTE #2: This meeting will be live-streamed on the City of Guelph’s website here.
Review and Gap Analysis of Homelessness, Substance Use and Mental Health Services – There was a directive from city council last year to investigate where the gaps are in our current social service provisions for people who are homeless, and/or are suffering from mental health and addiction issues. The consultancy Collective Results did the research here focusing on the gaps, and specific program and service recommendations that can help fill them.
So what’s working? Understanding community need with programs like the By-Name List is a good example, and so are the community partnerships with the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy who work with the CMHA and Stonehenge Therapeutic Centre. The fact that many programs in Guelph are committed to best practices and using local data is also an asset. As for those “areas of opportunity”, there are long wait lists for programs and services, staff burnout is a concern, there are barriers to access for adults experiencing homelessness, and those services are not always equitable. It was also noted that that priority needs to be given to getting people housed first.
Collective Results developed 13 total recommendations, some of which are pretty straightforward like taking a human rights approach to housing, or advocating the provincial government to come up with an Ontario-wide housing strategy. Another recommendation asks the Chamber of Commerce to approach developers about the donation of land for housing needs and wraparound services, and another seeks the review of the governance model with Wellington County and updating service level agreements. None of these recommendations are on the table to be approved at the meeting necessarily, this is merely an information report.
Housing and Homelessness Plan – The formal report of this item was not included in the initial release of the agenda, but it will be a presentation led by Wellington County’s Social Services Administrator Luisa Artuso.
CLOSED MEETING:
1) Housing: Collective Results Interview Findings – In order to complete the report, Collective Results had to conduct interviews with community partners and people with lived/living experience (PWLE). Because this is a matter relating to “personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees” it has to be discussed in-camera under Section 239(2) (b) of the Municipal Act.
2) Potential Property Acquisition to Support Housing Supply – Since this is a matter relating to a “proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board” it has to be discussed in closed session under Section 239(2) (c) of the Municipal Act.
Affordability Strategy: Project Initiation – Since the City of Guelph passed its current Affordable Housing Strategy, housing prices for new homes have gone up 59 per cent, prices for resale homes have gone up 79 per cent and the average income has only increased by 31 per cent. The affordable benchmark for affordable rent has also jumped from $1,055 to $1,434 while benchmark for buying a home has leapt from $356,095 to $429,016. That last one means that you need to make $122,539 in order to afford a house here.
With all this in mind, the City of Guelph is now launching a revitalization of the strategy, which will hopefully get a better mix and supply of housing, protect exiting housing, and enhance support and capacity for affordable housing. The project will take a year to complete and will start with a review of gentle density and the housing affordability strategy. By the end of this year, public engagement will begin and some of the initial analysis and background studies will be completed.
Guelph Politico 