The Corporation of the City of Stratford
Social Services Committee
Open Session
AGENDA

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, June 26, 2023

Time:

7:10 P.m. - 8:10 P.m.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall

Committee Present:

• Councillor Henderson - Chair Presiding, 
• Councillor Briscoe - Vice Chair, 
• Mayor Ritsma, 
• Councillor Beatty, 
• Councillor Biehn, 
• Councillor Burbach, 
• Councillor Hunter, 
• Councillor McCabe, 
• Councillor Nijjar, 
• Councillor Sebben, 
• and Councillor Wordofa 

Staff Present:

• Joan Thomson - Chief Administrative Officer, 
• Kim McElroy - Director of Social Services, 
• Tatiana Dafoe - City Clerk, 
• John Paradis - Fire Chief, 
• Anne Kircos - Director of Human Resources, 
• Taylor Crinklaw - Director of Infrastructure and Development Services, 
• Tim Wolfe - Director of Community Services, 
• Chris Bantock - Deputy Clerk, 
• and Karmen Krueger - Director of Corporate Services 

To watch the Committee meeting live, please click the following link: https://video.isilive.ca/stratford/live.html

A video recording of the meeting will also be available through a link on the City's website https://calendar.stratford.ca/meetings following the meeting.

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1.

Call to Order

​The Chair to call the Meeting to Order.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires any member of Council declaring a pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof, where the interest of a member of Council has not been disclosed by reason of the member’s absence from the meeting, to disclose the interest at the first open meeting attended by the member of Council and otherwise comply with the Act.

Name, Item and General Nature of Pecuniary Interest

3.

Sub-committee Minutes

​Sub-committee minutes are attached for background regarding the discussion held at the June 13, 2023 Sub-committee meeting.

4.

Delegations

None scheduled.

5.

Report of the Director of Social Services

5.1

Annual Community Income Tax Clinic for Completion of 2022 returns (SOC23-018)

Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Annual Community Income Tax Clinic for Completion of 2022 Returns” (SOC23-018), be received for information;

AND THAT Social Services issue a thank you on behalf of the City of Stratford, to all businesses that offered and provided their support and services.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “Annual Community Income Tax Clinic for Completion of 2022 Returns” (SOC23-018), be received for information;

  AND THAT Social Services issue a thank you on behalf of the City of Stratford, to all businesses that offered and provided their support and services.

5.2

Transitioning the Supportive Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) (COU23-019)

This item is also listed for consideration on the June 26, 2023 reconvene Council agenda.

Staff Recommendation: THAT the Supported Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) program operations be transitioned to an in-house model;

THAT authorization be given to enter into memorandums of understanding with support agencies, whose mandates meet the needs of the City’s most complex clients to help support the Supported Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) program;

THAT the Chief Administrative Officer or the Director of Social Services be authorized to enter into memorandums of understanding with support agencies that have been prepared by or reviewed by the City Solicitor;

AND THAT authorization be given to hire two full-time Outreach Workers to support the operations of the Supported Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) program.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the Supported Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) program operations be transitioned to an in-house model;

  THAT authorization be given to enter into memorandums of understanding with support agencies, whose mandates meet the needs of the City’s most complex clients to help support the Supported Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) program;

  THAT the Chief Administrative Officer or the Director of Social Services be authorized to enter into memorandums of understanding with support agencies that have been prepared by or reviewed by the City Solicitor;

  AND THAT authorization be given to hire two full-time Outreach Workers to support the operations of the Supported Housing of Perth Program (SHOPP) program.

6.

Report of the Supervisor of Homelessness and Housing Stability

6.1

Chronic Homelessness Reduction Efforts (SOC23-016)

Staff Recommendation: THAT the letter titled, “Recognition of a Chronic
Homelessness Reduction in the Built for Zero Canada Campaign,” be received for information;

AND THAT the report titled, “Chronic Homelessness Reduction Efforts” (SOC23-016), be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the letter titled, “Recognition of a Chronic Homelessness Reduction in the Built for Zero Canada Campaign,” be received for information;

  AND THAT the report titled, “Chronic Homelessness Reduction Efforts” (SOC23-016), be received for information.

7.

Report of the Manager of Housing

7.1

2022 Annual Report (Year 9) – Housing and Homelessness Plan for Stratford, Perth County, and St. Marys (SOC23-020)

This item is also listed for consideration on the June 26, 2023 reconvene Council agenda.

Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “2022 Annual Report (Year 9) – Housing and Homelessness Plan for Stratford, Perth County, and St. Marys” (SOC23-020), be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “2022 Annual Report (Year 9) – Housing and Homelessness Plan for Stratford, Perth County, and St. Marys” (SOC23-020), be received for information.

8.

Report of the Manager of Ontario Works

8.1

2023 Ontario Works Service/Business Plan (SOC23-017)

Staff Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “2023 Ontario Works Service/ Business Plan” (SOC23-017), be received for information.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the report titled, “2023 Ontario Works Service/ Business Plan” (SOC23-017), be received for information.

9.

Sub-committee Recommendation

9.1

Request for Delegation by The Local Community Food Centre

Karen Wood, Community Advocate at The Local Community Food Centre (The Local), requested to address Sub-committee on behalf of The Local.

The request was for the City to provide free transit passes to all recipients of the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works.

• Motion by

  Sub-committee Recommendation: THAT the request from The Local to provide free transit passes to all recipients of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program be referred to staff for review;

  AND THAT staff bring back a report to the Social Services Sub-committee on programs currently being provided which offer free transit passes to recipients of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program, existing costs for these programs, information on additional costs for an opt-in free transit pass program for all recipients of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program, and how that program could be funded.

10.

Adjournment

​Meeting Start Time:
Meeting End Time:

• Motion by

  ​Committee Decision: THAT the Social Services Committee meeting adjourn.