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The
goal of the Community Services and Housing Committee is to enhance
the social and economic well-being of York Region residents. This
is accomplished through quality programs in Housing, Family and Children‘s
Services, Social Assistance, Community Development and Investment
and implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
The Community Services and Housing Department is made up of five
divisions: Family and Children's Services, Housing Services, Social
Assistance, Policy and Program Support Services and Business Services.
HOUSING
SERVICES
GOAL:
Increase
housing options and develop strategies to reduce homelessness.
achievements:
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Completed construction on the Sutton Youth Multi-Service
Centre which will provide emergency shelter and transitional
housing for young people, as well as programming and recreational
facilities operated by the Town of Georgina |
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Received a $3.5 million funding allocation under
the Federal/Provincial Affordable Housing Program for a 50-unit
low-rise rental apartment building in the Town of Newmarket |
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Developed a comprehensive inventory of the social
housing units modified for persons with disabilities to enable
eligible applicants to make more informed housing choices |
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Successfully implemented a new provincial funding model for
provincial reform housing providers. Discussions with the
Province resulted in direct savings to the Region in the amount
of $500,000 per year and indirect savings through Greater
Toronto Area pooling
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FAMILY
AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES
GOAL:
Improve
access to services for children and improve opportunities for families.
achievements:
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Co-ordinated and managed contracts for the delivery
of the Swim to Survive Pilot Program through partnerships with
school boards, all nine area municipalities and the Lifesaving
Society, as a result 2,227 grade 3 children in selected schools
learned basic swimming skills |
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Provided child care fee assistance to a daily
average of over 2,700 children, increased service levels in
Early Intervention Services by approximately 100 children with
special needs, and continued to administer funding for Family
Strengthening Programs with participation by 5,636 children
in 2,867 families |
ONTARIO
WORKS
GOAL:
Streamline
service and enhance skill development and job opportunities for Ontario
Works participants.
achievements:
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Streamlined the intake process for Ontario Works
applicants using the Department’s Contact Centre and local
Social Assistance offices |
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Provided training for Ontario Works staff to improve
skills in dealing with issues of family violence while promoting
links to critical resources for abused women |
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Enabled participants to access skills training
in a broad range of occupational areas from office to industrial
work |
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966 residents on Ontario Works found employment in 2005 through
education, training, volunteer opportunities and job search
supports
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COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
GOAL:
Enhance
York Region’s role in community development.
achievements:
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Partnered with community service agencies to implement
another successful year of the Community Development and Investment
Fund (CDIF) Strategy |
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Over 30,000 residents from across the Region benefited
from 60 projects carried out by the CDIF which helps agencies
work in collaboration with one another and creates a network
of community-based supports in York Region |
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Published Quality of Life in York Region brochure
based on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Quality
Of Life Reporting System. The purpose of the brochure was to
raise awareness of quality of life issues in York Region and
what residents can do to improve it |
ACCESSIBILITY
PLANNING
GOAL:
Continue
to lead the development of York Region’s Accessibility Plan and
fulfill obligations under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001.
achievements:
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Led the implementation of Moving Forward: York
Region’s Second Annual Accessibility Plan, resulting in
enhanced accessibility in five areas: Helping People Live Independently,
Making it Easier to Move Around the Region, Making Regional
Services More Accessible, Making it Easier to Participate in
Regional Government and Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
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The Province of Ontario showcased York Region's
accessibility planning process and established it as a best
practice to be shared with other organizations |
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York Region is the only municipality whose accessibility
planning process was developed into a case study |
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