TBDSSAB Housing Services and Programs

Presented by: Ken Ranta, Director Housing Services

Thunder Bay District Mental Health and Addiction Network

February 14, 2018

TBDSSAB Service Area and Office Locations

Board Composition

❖ One (1) Representative for:• Manitouwadge/Marathon (Area 5)

• Terrace Bay/Schreiber (Area 4)

• Greenstone (Area 3)

• Nipigon/Red Rock/Dorion (Area 2)

• The Territory without Municipal Organization

❖ Three (3) Representatives for Area 1 (Oliver

Paipoonge/Shuniah/O’Connor/Conmee/Gillies/Neebing)

❖ Six (6) Representatives for Area 6 (City of Thunder Bay)

What is the TBDSSAB Responsible for?

❖ Financial and employment assistance delivery

(Ontario Works)

❖ Service manager for child care programs

❖ Service manager for social and affordable housing

❖ Direct operator of social housing

2000 2001/02 20051999

DSSABs Created by Ontario

Creation of TBDHC and transfer of Social Housing from Ontario

Amalgamtion of TBDHC with TBCH

Child care system transfer

TBDSSAB Timeline

2009 2017 - 2020

Implement new org policies. Implement Strategic Plan.

TBDSSAB becomes direct employer of Social Services staff

Move into new headquarters building

2010

Uploading of ODSP net cost

2012

TBDSSAB becomes direct employer of TBDHC staff

TBDSSAB Timeline

Housing Services Act, 2011

❖ Eligibility for social housing is based on financial need.

❖ “Rent-geared-to-income” assistance means financial assistance

provided in respect of a household to reduce the amount the

household must otherwise pay to occupy a unit.

❖ Focus on independent living.

❖ Does not include Supportive Housing, Retirement Homes, Nursing

Care Facilities.

Housing Services Division

Goals and Strategic Outcomes

❖ To effectively address the provision of Social and Affordable

Housing through Direct-Owned Properties, and relationships

with Housing Providers.

❖ To seek to meet the needs and well-being of tenants.

❖ To reduce homelessness and eliminate chronic homelessness.

Housing Numbers

❖ 2,490 social housing units directly operated within the District of

Thunder Bay

❖ 929 social housing units owned by 21 non-profit housing corporations

receive funding from TBDSSAB

❖ 600+ Rent Supplement units with private and non-profit landlords

❖ As of December, 2017 the centralized wait list has 1,030 applicants for

rent-geared-to-income (RGI) for the District

❖ 65% of applicants are non-senior singles

Rent Geared to Income Waitlist Profiles:

Current Snapshot

Housing Status on the waitlist is the only current statistical

indicator of “hidden homelessness”

Rent Geared to Income Waitlist Profiles:

Current Snapshot

76 per cent of demand in the District is for singles units

Housing Challenges

❖ Housing waitlist of 1,030 applicants

❖ High rates of domestic violence

❖ Increasing mental health and addiction issues

❖ Increased security costs

❖ Increase in damage repair

❖ Chronic Homelessness

Housing Challenges

Housing Challenges

Housing Challenges

Back to Table of Contents

All In A Day’s Work……

Tenant Barriers

❖ Violence within the home

❖ Accessibility of support services / wait times

❖ Youth services / vulnerabilities

❖ Tenant communication / literacy

❖ Financial barriers

❖ Mental Health

❖ Addictions

TBDSSAB Breaking Barriers

❖ CCAC/LHIN within seniors’ buildings

❖ Support agencies located at the properties

❖ One stop location for Ontario Works, Housing and Child

Care

❖ 10 Year Housing & Homelessness Plan

❖ Tenant Groups / Community Groups

❖ Housing First partnership

❖ Eviction Prevention Policy

Tenant Support Coordinators

❖ Tenant Support Coordinators (TSCs) assist tenants with a variety

of needs with the goal being to maintain successful tenancies.

❖ The work performed by the TSC is specialized and rooted in

social work.

❖ The emphasis is on referring tenants to community services and

assisting Property Management Officers (PMO) in resolving

tenant concerns.

Tenant Support Coordinators

❖ Referrals continue to increase and more supports are required in

the area of physical health and mental health.

❖ The referrals are mostly based on mental or physical health

related issue such as hoarding, addictions, dementia, abuse,

physical deterioration.

❖ Although we are unable to track the % of diagnosed or

undiagnosed mental health issues, most referrals may be related

to these issues.

Homelessness

❖ Extreme pressure on emergency shelters.

❖ Lack of supports for individuals on the street or in temporary care

environments.

❖Greater personal risks and more involvement with emergency

health care and the legal system.

E

The District of Thunder Bay Profile:

Emergency Shelter Comparisons 2004 - 2017

TBDSSAB Historical Homelessness

Prevention Expenditure

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Provincial Grants Net Municipal Cost

High Needs Homeless

Local Rule

❖ Board approved new Local Rule at the March 2016 Board

Meeting.

❖ Established a new prioritization category to Social Housing

Waitlist.

❖ Goal is to address the chronic over capacity within the

emergency shelter system.

Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool

(SPDAT)

❖ Used to assess a person’s ability to retain and maintain

housing without intervention.

❖ Identifies high needs persons in order to assist with

community supports that can lead to housing.

Home For Good (HFG) Partners

❖ TBDSSAB has partnered with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and with St. Joseph’s Care Group for tenant supports.

❖ The HFG program will identify individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, determine their individual needs for housing and supports, and address the unique needs of this population.

❖ A variety of housing models will be used, including independent living with basic supports, independent living with in-depth supports, and transitional supportive housing arrangements for those with the greatest need.

10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan

Partnerships

Reports

Needs

❖ Increased linkage with health care supports

❖ Referral mechanisms to fast-track services

❖ Relationship with tenants and preventive health system

❖ System navigation

Questions/Comments

TBDSSAB Communication & Engagement

Website:

tbdssab.ca

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