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The Community
Services and Housing Committee achieved many results in 2003. The
committee plays an important role in enhancing the social and economic
well-being of residents through the delivery of services like Housing
and Residential Services, Family and Children’s Services, Social
Assistance, and the Community Development and Investment Fund Strategy.
Goal:
Facilitate access to employment opportunities
Achievements:
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Exceeded
Community Placement/Employment Placement targets by 30%, helping
Ontario Works participants to access voluntary and paid employment
opportunities, build skills, and support their communities. |
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Implemented
advanced case management training for staff to further increase
their skills in assisting Ontario Works participants with their
return-to-work activities. |
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Investment
returns exceeded portfolio benchmark by over 50 basis points
in 2003, the 5th year in a row results have exceeded the benchmark. |
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Began
development of a client support model to help Ontario Works
participants with return-to-work barriers associated with mental
health issues. |
Goal:
Improve access to services for children
Achievements:
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Increased
service levels for child care fee assistance to 53,102 days
of subsidized care per month. |
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Increased
the monthly average number of special needs children served
by Early Intervention Services by 22.3 percent over 2002. |
Goal:
Increase housing options
Achievements:
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Opened
Armitage Gardens, a 58-unit housing community for seniors and
people with disabilities, and began development of a three-storey
apartment building for singles and families, both in the Town
of Newmarket. |
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In
partnership with the City of Vaughan, commenced development
of a mixed-use seniors facility that will include up to 60 seniors’
residences. |
Goal:
Enhance the Region’s role in community capacity building
Achievements:
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Implemented
a Community Development and Investment Fund Strategy, directing
over $2.94 million to York Region agencies for the delivery
of community services to vulnerable residents. |
Goal:
Lead the development of York Region’s plan for meeting the
requirements of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
Achievements:
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Developed
Understanding Barriers: York Region’s First Annual Accessibility
Plan with input from each corporate department and through broad
consultation with York Region residents including individuals
and organizations that represent or provide services to people
with disabilities. |
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The
first York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) was
appointed; AAC members actively participated in the public consultation
on the draft Plan and provided advice on the development of
the Region’s final Plan. |
Goal:
Improve access to Regional community services
Achievements:
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Implemented
a “first-call” Contact Centre for residents seeking
program information, referral, and application services. The
Centre offers residents the experience of dealing with government
through a simpler, and many times single transaction. |
Goal:
Ensure the provision of emergency social services to residents
Achievements:
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As
part of York Region’s SARS emergency response, the Community
Services and Housing Department’s Emergency Operations
Centre served 2,152 households and 3,286 individuals in need
of emergency social services. |
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