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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.
housing
options
Goal: Increase housing options and develop strategies to
reduce homelessness
Achievements:
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Completed design and received Council approval to commence construction of Tom Taylor Place, a 50-unit low rise rental apartment building in Newmarket |
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Issued a two-stage Request for Proposal to private and non-profit housing developers to access funding available, for Affordable Rental Housing under
the Federal Provincial Affordable Housing Program |
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Provided agencies, such as Pathways, Rose of Sharon, Transitional and Supportive Housing Services of York Region and the Salvation Army Sutton Youth Multi Service Centre funding to assist homeless, or at risk individuals, and families to obtain and maintain housing |
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Approved participation in Social Housing Services Corporation’s Green Light Loan Program to fund energy efficient retrofits at two Housing York Inc. buildings |
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Initiated an asset management strategy to improve capital efficiencies for social housing projects, including Building Condition Assessments and Preventative Maintenance Plans for each project |
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 Program through partnerships with school boards, all nine municipalities and the Lifesaving Society. Through this Program, 2,827 Grade 3 children learned how to survive an unexpected fall into water |
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Increased service levels in Early Intervention Services by approximately 100 children with special needs, and continued to administer funding for family programs with participation by 5,777 children in 3,716 families |
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Implemented 1,030 new licensed child care spaces through the provincial Best Start Initiative |
ONTARIO
WORKS
Goal: Enhance skill development and employment opportunities for participants
Achievements:
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Implemented an outcome-based funding model focused on the achievement of participant’s earnings, employment, and increased employability |
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Enabled 350 participants to access skills training in a broad range of occupational areas such as construction, hospitality and call centre positions |
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Through education, training and job search supports, assisted 1,392 participants to obtain paid employment |
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Through education, training and job search supports, assisted 1,392 participants to obtain paid employment |
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Goal: Enhance the Region’s role in community development
Achievements:
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Through the Community Development and Investment Fund Strategy, the Region manages funding from municipal and provincial sources and allocates these funds to community service agencies across the Region. In 2006, over $2.5 million was allocated to 38 community service projects to help the Region’s most vulnerable residents. The Strategy has been successful in creating a network of community-based supports in York Region to meet the needs of the Region’s growing and changing population |
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In May 2006, the report Community Snapshots: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region was released. This report provides a socio-economic profile of recent immigrants, including demographics, employment, income, education, language and housing. It has played a key role in highlighting issues, such as the inequity in funding received by the Region for services for recent immigrants, and fostering discussions about how programs and services need to respond to the changing needs of
the population |
ACCESSIBILITY
PLANNING
Goal: Lead the development of York Region’s Accessibility Plan and fulfill obligations under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
Achievements:
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Successfully led the implementation
of Removing Barriers: York Region’s Third Annual Accessibility Plan which included 71 initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility for people
with disabilities in every Regional department as well as York
Regional Police. The Plan was developed with advice from the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee, which includes members from Regional Council as well as citizen members |
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Coordinated and led the Region’s activities for National Access Awareness Week. Activities included information sessions for staff highlighting the many accessibility enhancements that have been made by the Region |
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| Completed construction of Blue Willow Terrace, a 60-unit building for seniors in the City of Vaughan |
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Provided childcare fee assistance to a daily average of over 3,200 children
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Over 250 accessibility planning initiatives have been developed and implemented since the ODA was proclaimed, improving the Region’s programs and services |
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