After a summer break, the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee will be meeting for something significantly smaller than their last gathering in June, but no less important. On this agenda, there’s winter! There’s also some money matters in all three areas of social services coverage and future plans for childcare funding in the new year. Plus, there will be some of the usual updates, so take a look at what’s coming up at the county!
NOTE: This meeting takes place at 1 pm in the Guthrie Room at the Wellington County Administration Building on Woolwich Street.
65 Delhi St. Transitional Housing Construction Project: Status Report #7 – A lot of the major work on the building is complete, or is nearly complete, and some the cosmetic work like painting is about to begin in the coming month. In any event, the project is on track for completion by the end of the year.
Financial Statements as of August 31, 2024 – There was no formal report in the agenda, but looking at the statements themselves it seems like most areas are on target for the two-thirds point of the fiscal year; areas of the budget – especially areas of the social services budget – that are showing a negative variances are being off-set by other areas that are showing a positive variance for the year so far.
Tender Award: Accessible Unit Conversions – This project will see five, two-bedroom, rent geared to income units, including three in Guelph, be converted into fully accessible units for people who use wheelchairs including doorway widening, bathroom renos and new appliances. The winning tender goes to Ritestart Limited in Burlington for $1.65 million.
Tender Award: Generators for Child Care Centres – The committee needs to approve the tender to install generators at three area Childcare and Learning Centres, one in Fergus, one in Mount Forest and the Willowdale Child Care and Learning Centre here in Guelph. The winning tender is MJM Electric Limited of Ariss for nearly $406,000.
New Child Care Funding Approach and Incremental 2024 Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Administrative Funding – A new funding guideline for childcare in Ontario will go into effect on January 1, part of the federal government-led effort to institute $10 per day childcare. Essentially, the report goes into the various granting systems that cover various types of daycare based on children’s ages or whether or not they have special needs, for the parents this means that base fees starting in January will be capped at $22 per day. The changing formula does mean that the municipal portion of childcare funding will be impacted, but not “significantly”; it seems that 2025 will be funded at 2024 levels. Staff hope to have more details in advanced of the 2025 budget.
Early Years Professional Learning Day 2024 – All childcare services providers, including the ones in Guelph, are going to have their own PA Day on Friday November 29. Half the day will be dedicated to a “community-wide professional learning opportunity” and the other half will be for “team-specific learning for programmes.” EarlyON service providers will be having their own professional development day on Wednesday October 23.
2020-2024 Wellington Service Delivery Area Ontario Works Caseload Profile Report – Obviously, it’s been a busy four years for Ontario Works, and this report offers a snap shot of who they’re helping and how long they’re helping them. Overall, the caseload is up only one per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, 80 per cent of OW recipients are in Guelph, and 35 per cent of all beneficiaries are under 18. Single people are the biggest category of recipients, 7.1 per cent have no fixed address, and 5.6 per cent are asylum claimants, which is double the rate compared to 2023. The average length that someone is on social assistance is 31.5 months, which is below the provincial average of 36 months. Looking ahead, staff are looking at a 15 per cent increase in the current caseload for 2024 over 2023, and note that the receipt of OW is not covering the cost of housing and other basic needs.
Property Tax Exemption for Clifford Non-Profit Housing Corporation – The corporation that owns this social housing paid off their mortgage in May, and they have now reached a new funding agreement with the County that will allow them to be exempt from paying property taxes on all units in that building. The total savings for the property owner will be $31,339 which can then be reinvested into the upkeep of the building.
Upbuilding! Non-Profit Homes (Guelph) Inc. Pre-Development Funding Request – Upbuilding! is planning an 18-unit expansion of their Fife Road property and are currently pursuing funding through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Fund, which requires detailed drawings and specifications. Upbuilding! is asking for some help with those pre-development costs, and County staff is recommending the offer of $50,000 through the Shared Housing Regeneration Reserve.
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Co-Investment Funds Renovation and Repair Programme Update – The Country received a $12 million commitment from the CMHC as part of their Renovation and Repair Programme and the money will go to the maintenance needs at County-owned housing units. The goal of the upgrade is to help reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions through new insulation, energy efficient windows and doors, roof repairs, new heating and cooling systems and more. The County will also be kicking in $14.5 million in additional capital spending, which will also require the hiring of two full-time staff members in order to implement.
2024-25 Winter Response Plan – Winter is coming, so we need to look at the Winter Response Plan.The budget for this year’s program is just over $662,000, the biggest portion of which will be reserved for temporary accommodation. Starting on October 1, individuals living rough will be offered temporary accommodation at the old Norfolk Manor, or a hotel, they will also be offered tangibles like tents, sleeping bags, tarps and other winter supplies. There’s also money budgeted for transportation, food and hygiene and the rental of storage lockers to secure belongs in a safe, secure and accessible location.
Correspondence from the Township of Centre Wellington from July 17, 2024 – A motion was passed at Centre Wellington Council asking for some help getting childcare built in Belwood and to hold off on any outdoor rec needs until the Parks and Recreation Plan is complete.
City of Guelph Council Resolutions Adopted July 16, 2024 – These were the motions that council approved back in July about the plan to create a temporary structured encampment with the Guelph Tiny Home Coalition, including some specific requests of the committee.
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