The Community Services and Housing Committee plays an important role in providing human services to York Region residents. Through Housing and Residential Services, Family and Children’s Services, Social Assistance, and Community Development and Investment, the Committee works to preserve and enhance the social and economic well-being of residents and build strong and caring communities. In 2002, the Community Services and Housing Committee achieved many goals.

Goal: Improve access to services for children.
Action:

Increased the monthly average number of special needs children served by Early Intervention Services by 69% between 1999 and 2002. Increased service levels for child care fee assistance to 53,098 subsidized days of care per month as a result of the full implementation of the Ontario Child Care Management System and a new service delivery model. Responded to over 16,000 calls on the KIDSLINE and enhanced community access to child care information through the distribution of 20,000 brochures written in English and other languages. Implemented the Child Care Translation Language Telephone Line, which offers translation in five different languages. In partnership with York Region Neighbourhood Services Inc., York Region implemented the Child Care Language Line to help those who do not speak English to register for Child Care Fee Assistance with support of a cultural interpreter.

Goal: Increase housing options.
Action:

Council passed the Housing Supply Strategy to provide wider housing options for people of low and moderate incomes. The Region also passed the Municipal Housing Facilities By-Law to offer incentives to developers of affordable housing. Embarked on what it hopes will be the first of several new, affordable rental communities to emerge over the next few years. The Newmarket Seniors Project will create 58 apartments for seniors and people with disabilities.

Goal: Address the risk of homelessness.
Action:

The Region funded nine projects that directly benefited homeless people in the community, including a pilot operated in conjunction with the Salvation Army that offered one-time-only assistance to low-income working families and individuals who were in immediate danger of losing their homes.

Goal: Improve access to education that leads to financial independence.
Action:

Helped participants obtain their Grade 12, or equivalent, education and access employment programs and improve their parenting skills by involving all 16 and 17-year-old parents in the Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) program.

Goal: Facilitate access to employment opportunities.
Action:

Achieved 125% of its target for Community Participation placements. This meant 1,099 social assistance clients were active in volunteer and paid-work placements. By exceeding the target, York Region earned $423,000 to reinvest in human service programs such as Ontario Works, child care and addressing homelessness.