Community and Protective Services Committee Advances Housing and Support Measures

The Community and Protective Services Committee advanced affordable-housing and fire-safety measures, approved $350,000 in funding for housing and homelessness organizations, and heard a proposal for a six-month neighbourhood-support pilot near 602 Queens Ave. The committee also approved air-quality monitoring equipment and deferred consideration of the Tolpuddle Co-operative transition until Nov. 30.

Topics Discussed

Affordable housing and tenant oversight

The committee unanimously approved consent items 2.1 through 2.4, covering affordable-housing delivery, housing-agreement renewals and related measures.

Staff said provincial funding is limited to projects that can begin construction within 120 days of signing an agreement. "The construction must start within 120 days of signing the agreement," Mr. Felberg said.

Staff identified the Xarn project, a county supportive-housing project and the Homes for Heroes development as projects moving forward. Homes for Heroes includes 25 units for veterans and was described as nearing completion.

Under the housing-agreement renewal framework, providers will verify tenant eligibility and submit annual reports, including rent rolls. "There will be a requirement for the housing providers to complete annual reporting requirements," Mr. John said.

Homelessness funding and encampment response

The committee approved reallocating $350,000 to housing and homelessness organizations through a staff funding framework. Councillor David Ferreira moved the motion, and Councillor Sam Trosow seconded it.

Councillor Anna Hopkins said the funding was necessary but insufficient. It's a step. It's accountability. It's not enough, but we've got to do something," Hopkins said. She also said municipalities could not address homelessness alone and referenced the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's advocacy on addictions, mental health and housing supports.

Councillor Ferreira directed residents to Section 2.2, "Systemwide Budget Pressures," on page 112 of the staff report. He said short-term and volatile funding was contributing to staffing shortages and limiting organizations' ability to plan long-term responses.

A delegate from Ark Aid Street Mission said, "Inconsistent and intermittent funding means that the board's focus has been shifted from strategic and visionary opportunities to end homelessness to tactics and operations just to meet current demand."

The committee moved Item 2.5 to delegation status to hear public and stakeholder input on the Housing Stability Services procurement and development delivery framework, including the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Initiative.

Queens Avenue neighbourhood pilot

London Cares proposed a six-month, $65,000 pilot for the Woodfield, Midtown and Old East Village neighbourhoods near 602 Queens Ave. The proposal would fund two full-time Community Impact Specialists.

Chris Moss of London Cares said the workers would engage with unhoused residents, respond to cleanliness and property-maintenance concerns, and connect people with social services. Moss emphasized that they "are not police officers, bylaw officers, or security guards."

London Cares also proposed an online complaint portal accessible through QR codes. Residents and business owners would be able to submit concerns and receive follow-up about actions taken. "When people have a concern, they want to know someone listened, responded, and followed up," Moss said.

Moss cited the city dashboard in reporting that 152 people had newly experienced homelessness in the previous month. He also pointed to a lack of daytime facilities, including washrooms and places to shelter from extreme weather.

Fire and environmental equipment

The committee approved the purchase of 25 software licenses for London Fire Department vehicles. Ms. Smith said 98% of frontline emergency-response vehicles already had the technology and that the additional licenses would cover fire-inspection and fire-education vehicles.

The committee also approved an allocation to purchase indoor and outdoor air-quality monitoring equipment under Item 5.1, the Eighth Report of the Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee.

Tolpuddle Co-operative

The committee deferred consideration of an additional submission concerning the Tolpuddle Co-operative transition plan until the next Community and Protective Services Committee meeting on Nov. 30.

Mr. Felberg said a staff report requested in April was already scheduled for release at that meeting. The referral followed the absence of the presenting delegate and Councillor Susan Stevenson.

Motions

• Consent agenda, Items 2.1–2.4: Passed unanimously, 5–0. The items addressed affordable-housing delivery, housing-agreement renewals and related measures.
• $350,000 homelessness and housing-services funding reallocation: Passed. The motion was moved by Councillor Ferreira and seconded by Councillor Trosow.
• Item 2.5 — Housing Stability Services procurement and development delivery framework: Moved from the consent agenda to delegation status; the procedural motion passed 5–0.
• Item 5.1 — Eighth Report of the Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee: Passed unanimously, 5–0, including the purchase of indoor and outdoor air-quality monitors.
• Tolpuddle Co-operative transition submission: Referred to the Nov. 30 Community and Protective Services Committee meeting; the motion passed 5–0.

Attendees

Councillors identified as present and participating:

• David Ferreira
• Anna Hopkins
• Elizabeth Peloza
• Sam Trosow

Councillor Susan Stevenson was identified as absent for the Tolpuddle Co-operative discussion. The source material does not identify the remaining committee member by name.