January 17, 2004, York Region looking for operator of new youth shelter in Georgina <?xml:namespa

NEWMARKET � The Regional Municipality of York�s Community Services and Housing Committee has recommended a Request for Expression of Interest (REI) be issued to identify qualified agencies interested in providing emergency shelter and transitional housing services for youth in the Town of Georgina.

In December 2002, York Regional Council authorized the purchase of a surplus school on Dalton Road in Sutton from the York Catholic District School Board for the purposes of operating a multi-purpose centre for youth. York Region is contributing $200,000 and the Town of Georgina is providing $50,000 toward the purchase. The Region will own the facility and use a major part of the building for emergency shelter and transitional housing for youth between the ages of 16 and 25. The Town of Georgina will operate recreation programs for youth and children in another portion of the building, as well as serve as property managers for the entire facility.

�This project contributes to the implementation of the Region�s Housing Supply Strategy by forming a close partnership with a local municipality to resolve a pressing community issue, while achieving benefits for the wider Region,� said Regional Chair and CEO Bill Fisch.

�The identification of a shelter operator in the early stages of project development will help ensure that the building�s design will best meet the needs of the clients to be served when it is in operation,� said Newmarket Mayor Tom Taylor, Chair of the Region�s Community Services and Housing Committee.

The REI is the first of a two-stage procurement process that will identify and pre-qualify potential operators who have the expertise and experience needed to provide services to a hard-to-serve client group. Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by a team of staff from York Region and the Town of Georgina.

The prequalification process will involve evaluating the submissions based on pre-set criteria that will include both service provision, particularly for youth, and a proven track record in facility management. Based on the evaluation results, the selected proponents from the first stage will be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) whereby complete program, staffing and management plans and a detailed budget program will need to be submitted.

�The project will provide much-needed youth services in the Town of Georgina,� said Georgina Mayor Robert Grossi. �The addition of shelter beds, particularly for female youths, will benefit all of York Region, as it will help fill a void in existing services.�

Capital funding for the renovation to the existing school building is being sought from a number of sources. An application has already been made to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation�s Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for 10 single room occupancy units. Funding for the shelter and office component will be sought from the Government of Canada�s Supporting Community Partnerships Initiative.

Eighty per cent of the operation of the emergency shelter beds, in the form of per diems, will be funding by the Province of Ontario. The transitional housing accommodation will be self-supporting through the budgeting of market rent revenue. Rent supplement funding, which is 100% provincially funded, will be sought in order to make the units affordable for low-income youth.

Pending York Regional Council approval, the REI will be released in February.

For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, the services we offer and links to our nine area municipalities, please visit our Web site at www.region.york.on.ca

Contact: Wendy Lewis, Corporate Communications Services, York Region

- (905) 830-4444 or (416) 297-9696, ext. 1238

- Email: wendy.lewis@region.york.on.ca