coquitlam for committee · a) give bc housing resources to adopt a proactive program towards...

CoQuitlam For Committee February 21, 2019 Our File: 01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc#: 3224565.V5

To: City Manager From: General Manager Planning and Development

Subject: 3030 Gordon Emergency Shelter Task Force Summary Report and Action Plan -2019 Work Items

For: Council-in-Commlttee

Recommendation: That the Committee receive the report of the General Manager Planning and Development dated February 21, 2019 entitled "3030 Gordon Emergency Shelter Task Force Action Plan - 2019 Work Plan Items" for information.

Report Purpose: This report presents information on work that is both currently underway and proposed to be undertaken in 2019 to implement the recommended actions of the 3030 Gordon Emergency Shelter Task Force. These work items implement a number of the "A" priority actions in the Task Force's Summary Report and Action Plan.

Strategic Goal: Implementing the 3030 Gordon Emergency Shelter Task Force Summary Report and Action Plan (Action Plan) strengthens neighbourhoods by working with partners to make shelter, housing and support services available in the community and to support the local neighbourhoods. Community Social Development Initiatives are a "C" priority on the City's 2019 Business Plan.

Background: 3030 Cordon Emergency Shelter 3030 Gordon is a multi-service emergency shelter and supportive housing facility. It includes 30 emergency shelter private rooms, 30 supportive transitional housing studio units, and space for 30 additional shelter beds in dorm rooms (not funded for operation in the 2018/19 winter season), as well as associated support services for their residents. The building opened in December 2015 through a partnership between the City of Coquitlam and BC Housing. 3030 Gordon is operated by RainCity Housing and Support Society (RainCity). A list of existing shelter programs and services available in the Tri-Cities is in Attachment l.

A Community Advisory Committee formed by RainCity and composed of local businesses, residents, government agencies, and community partners has met regularly to discuss program operation and areas of community concern since the opening of the building.

J

February 21, 2019

Background: cont'd/ 3030 Cordon Emergency Shelter Task Force The 3030 Gordon Emergency Shelter Task Force was established by Council in February 2018 in response to concerns about community impacts in the neighbourhood around 3030 Gordon Avenue. The Task Force was made up of Councillors from both Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. In order to gain a better understanding of community impacts from 3030 Gordon, the Task Force heard from key stakeholders, including RainCity, BC Housing, Fraser Health, the RCMP, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, and the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group.

The goal of the Task Force was to make recommendations to help proactively minimize community impacts and improve shelter operations. The output of the Task Force's work was a summary report for achieving this goal. The Action Plan portion of the document is attached (Attachment 2). In recognition that the underlying social issues are complex and require a range of responses, the Action Plan addresses various aspects of shelter operation and provision of services in the broader community.

On October l, 2018, Council endorsed the Summary Report and Action Plan of the Task Force. The remainder of this report outlines the proposed work plan for the initialyear of implementation of the Action Plan.

Discussion/Analysis: "A " Priority Actions Of the 29 actions in the Task Force report, there are eight "A" priority (high priority and/or high impact) actions. They are:

ACTION TASK Action 1 Work with BC Housing to identify sites and partners for new supportive

housing and an abstinence-based shelter as a second facility and support resource.

Action 3 Provide more public information about available abstinence-based recovery options in the Tri-Cities.

Action 4 Advocate that the Province: a) Establish and fund a community outreach team to address social

issues and community impacts from homelessness, mental health and addictions, in addition to the Hope for Freedom team;

b) Provide additional services to address the ongoing mental health and addictions crises including more recovery options; and

c) Explore establishing drop-in services in the Tri-Cities to connect people who are homeless to services and programs.

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Pages February 21, 2019

Discussion/Analysis: cont'd/

ACTION TASK Action 7 Request that the Province:

a) Give BC Housing resources to adopt a proactive program towards increasing community safety in the neighbourhood surrounding 3030 Gordon. A potential model would be a Volunteer Coordinator/ Community Ambassador position for 3030 Gordon;

b) Increase funding (through Fraser Health) for the Harm Reduction Peer Coordinator position to increase public health outcomes, minimize discarded needles, and reduce broader community impacts;

c) Increase the amount of Ministry of Social Development resource allocated to 3030 Gordon in order to connect residents with income assistance and other programs; and

d) Increase funding for primary medical care at 3030 Gordon. Action 13 Consider developing a Loitering Bylaw to provide the RCMPwith

additional tools to manage public safety; Action 18 Ask the RCMP to work with the appropriate Provincial Ministries, Fraser

Health and other social service agencies to establish an Integrated Response Team to provide improved coordination of responses for chronic social offenders.

Action 23 Work with Fraser Health to: a) Install secure Sharps Disposal Units in key locations throughout the

Tri-Cities, and let the public know about these sites; b) Implement the Regional Community Sharps Management Strategy; c) Support the discarded needle collection tracking program; d) Develop community safety outreach material (handouts and website

update) on sharps disposal options in the Tri-Cities and what to do if community members find a discarded needle;

e) Ensure that services that Fraser Health offers (i.e., needle distribution, collection and disposal) are communicated to local government; and

f) Develop a new harm reduction supplies distribution model both within 3030 Gordon and in the broader community with the objective to eliminate adverse community impacts from discarded sharps.

Action 27 a) Ask RainCity to work with the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group to present the 'Stories of the Street' series annually;

b) Explore grants and other funding sources to support the 'Stories of the Street' series.

Work on a number of these items has already begun and staff will continue to implement these, in conjunction with our partners, as time and resources permit Attachment 3 provides more detailed commentary and outlines intended next steps on individual work plan items.

In addition, partners in the community continue to work toward their own goals, a number of which are consistent with the goals in the Action Plan.

File #: 01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc#: 3224565.V5

February 21, 2019

Discussion/Analysis: cont'd/ For example, Action 2 in the plan is to work with Fraser Health to establish an Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) clinic in the Tri-Cities. Fraser Health completed their plans to open an OAT clinic at 220 Brew St, Port Moody in November 2018.

Actions Underway There were four actions in the plan marked underway, and work continues on these items:

Table 2: Action Plan Items Ongoing or Underway Action Task Status/Next Steps Action 8 Support existing efforts to

respond to hoarding behaviour at 3030 Gordon Avenue, and support increased funding for these efforts.

Coquitlam Fire / Rescue continue to work with staff and residents at 3030 Gordon to monitor and address hoarding issues as needed, including regular building inspections by Fire / Rescue.

Action 12 Work with BC Housing regarding the potential for partnership to fund a better fencing solution for the Canadian Pacific Railway grounds.

Staff will work with BC Housing, RainCity and the CPR towards resolution of this issue.

Action 17 Work with the RCMP to undertake a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) review of the neighbourhood surrounding 3030 Gordon and prepare a list of recommended improvements.

A CPTED report, led by BC Housing, was completed with results shared with the Task Force. Recommendations for the area around 3030 Gordon were made in the spirt of the "Good Neighbour" agreement. Staff is checking into the status of implementation of the CPTED recommendations.

Action 19 Support the recent RCMP decision to increase enforcement in the 3030 Gordon Avenue neighbourhood.

Police are in the area daily with and work in partnership City of Coquitlam Bylaw officers, as required.

The remaining "B" and "C" priority actions will be addressed in the future as the "A" priority actions are completed, and as resources allow.

Next Steps: Staff will report back to Council when direction on individual items are required and will bring a progress report on implementation of the Action Plan to Council in early 2020.

Financial Implications: Community Social Development Initiatives are a "C" priority on the 2019 Business Plan. This work is funding within the existing Community Planning division budget.

File #: 01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc #: 3224565.V5

February 21, 2019

Conclusion: Work is underway to implement the Action Plan of the 3030 Gordon Task Force. This work is a "C" priority on the City's 2019 Business Plan. Staff will continue to implement the eight "A" high priority action items in partnership with the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group, and will report back to Council when direction on individual work items is required. A progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan to Council will be brought to Council in early 2020.

I] J.L Mclnty re, MClP, RPP

Attachments: 1. Tri-Cities Homelessness Services Context (Doc. # 3239165) 2. 3030Gordon Task Force Summary Report-Recommended Actions (Doc.

#3067749) 3. 2019 Work Plan Item Details (Doc. #3233169)

This report was prepared by Cathy van Poorten, Social Planner, and reviewed by Andrew Merrill, Manager Community Planning.

File #: 01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc #:. 3224565.V5

ATTACHMENT 1

Tri-Cities Homelessness Services Context

February 15,2019

Over the past several years, homelessness has been increasing locally and regionally, with approximately 130 people in the Tri-Cities in need of shelter, housing and support services (Hope for Freedom Society Outreach). This mirrors the current housing affordability crisis as rising rents and low vacancy rates continue to put pressure on vulnerable people.

Shelter Services While supportive housing and shelter in the Tri-Cities is limited, there are currently a total of 80 shelter spaces in the Tri-Cities. Details of these programs are shown in the table below.

Table 1 - Tri-Cities Shelter Spaces Program Facility Type Number of

beds/mats Occupancy Rates

3030 Gordon Year round 24/7

30 supportive housing individual rooms

30 per night (100% capacity)

Bridge Shelter (mat program)

Seasonal (October-April) Overnight (lO pm-7am)

30 mats 10-14 people per night (30-50% capacity)

Extreme Weather Response Shelter (EWR)

Seasonal, weather dependent Overnight (lOpm-7am)

20 mats 6-7 people per night (30-35% capacity)

RainCity has reported turning away approximately 30 people in need of shelter and services between October and January.

Drop-in and Outreach Services There are currently no daytime places in the Tri-Cities for people without shelter or housing to go, get warm, and access services (i.e. drop-in and outreach services) during the day and evening (between 7am-iOpm). In the absence of drop-in services during the day, the neighbourhood around 3030 Gordon tends to be a gathering place for people in need.

The Hope for Freedom Society operates a program of outreach to homeless persons in the Tri-Cities under contract from BC Housing. Two outreach workers seek out homeless persons where they live, establish contact, develop rapport and connect them with available resources and services when they are ready. Hope for Freedom also operates the Bridge Shelter emergency mat program during the winter months.

Both SHARE and Hope for Freedom provide limited facilities for showering and laundry a few days a week.

Food Programs Food security for people without shelter has also been flagged by the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group as a community issue in need of attention. Meals are currently available four

File#:01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc#: 3239165.V1

ATTACHMENTl

times per week, and the Task Group aims to increase this to a meal being available each day of the week.

In addition the Tri-Cities food Banks operated by SHARE can provide limited food items however they reported an increase in use by those in need.

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ATTACHMENT 2

5.3 RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

Strategic Goal 1: Promote Housing, Health, and Support Services in the Tri-Cities Action Priority Work Items Responsibility Notes

1 A Work with BC Housingto:

a. Identify sites and partners for new supportive

housing in the Tri-Cities in order to increase

housing supply and take pressure off of 3030

Gordon;

b. Identify potential sites and partners for an

abstinence-based shelter as a second facility and

support resource.

City of Coquitlam

City of Port Coq u itia m

BC Housing

City of Port Moody

The City of Port

Coquitlam does not

support a shelter within

Port Coquitlam

2 Underway Work with Fraser Fiealth to establish an Opioid Agonist

Therapy (OAT) clinic in the Tri-Cities.

City of Coquitlam

Fraser Health

City of Port Moody

C ity of Po rt Coq u it 1 a m

would not support an

OAT clinic within Port

Coquitlam. Fraser Health

is establishing an OAT

clinic in Port Moody.

3 A Provide more public information about available

abstinence-based recovery options in the Tri-Cities.

Fraser Health

4 A Advocate that the Province:

a. Establish and fund a community outreach team to

address social issues and community impacts

from homelessness, mental health and addictions,

in addition to the Hope for Freedom team;

b. Provide additional services to address the ongoing

mental health and addictions crises including

more recovery options;

c. Explore establising drop-in services in the Tri-Cities

to connect people who are homeless to services

and programs. Services may be better distributed

in the community rather than co-located.

City of Coquitlam

City of Port Coquitlam

Provincial Ministries

Tri-Cities Homelessness

and Housing Task Group

5 B Review the Zoning Bylaw to:

a. Explore implications of removing 'Methadone

Clinics'fromthe list of uses prohibited in all zones,

and permit methadone clinics in appropriate

zones with appropriate regulations;

b. Revisit the current regulations limiting

'Methadone Dispensaries'.

City of Coquitlam

3030 Gordon Task Force Summary Report

Explore offering additional food supports/meal

programs in partnership with community partners.

Strategic Goal 2: Increase Resources at 3030 Gordon Request that the Province:

a. Give BC Housing resources to adopt a proactive

program towards increasing community safety in

the neighbourhood surrounding 3030 Gordon. A

potential model would be a Volunteer

Coordinator/ Community Ambassador position for

3030 Gordon;

b. Increase funding (through Eraser Health) for the

Harm Reduction Peer Coordinator position to

increase public health outcomes, minimize

discarded needles, and reduce broader community

impacts;

c. Increase the amount of Ministry of Social

Development resource allocated to 3030 Gordon

in order to connect residents with income

assistance and other programs;

d. Increase funding for primary medical care at 3030

Gordon.

a. Support existing efforts to respond to hoarding behaviour at 3030 Gordon, and support increased

funding for these efforts;

Encourage the Riverstone mobile detox program

partner with RainCity to offer mobile detox services at

3030 Gordon.



Community Service

Agencies

City of Coquitlam

BC Housing

Eraser Health

Ministry of Social

Development

RainCity

City of Coquitlam

BC Housing

Eraser Health

RainCity

City of Coquitlam

Eraser Health

Ministry of Health

Requires additional

funding from the

Province.

10 Prepare a communications protocol to report concerns,

issues and incidents to RainCity in a timely manner for

action and follow-up.

City of Coquitlam

11 Consider renaming 3030 Gordon to better reflect the

services it provides to the community and to provide a

sense of identity for residents.

BC Housing

RainCity


and HousingTaskGroup

3030 Gordon Task Eorce Summary Report

Strategic Goal 3

Underway

Work with BC Housing regarding the potential for

partnership to fund a betterfencing solution for the

Canadian Pacific Railway grounds.

City of Coquitlam

BC Housing

Canadian Pacific Railway

13 A Consider developing a Loitering Bylaw to provide the

RCMP with additional tools to manage public safety.

City of Coquitlam

RCMP

14 C Undertake a series of public improvements to refresh

the Westwood Street business area following the

Neighbourhood Blitz model and ask the City of Port

Coquitlam to do the same.

City of Coquitlam


15 C a. Increase the frequency of litter pick up and street

sweeping in the Westwood Street business area

and/or promote the Adopt-a-Street program for

this area.

b. Assess the need for additional public litter bins in

the Westwood Street business area.

City of Coquitlam


16 C Work with the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce and

business owners in the Westwood Street area to:

a. Explore establishing a Business Improvement

Association or Merchants Association to advocate

for and implement improvements to the local

community;

b. Explore establishing a community patrol to ensure

community safety.

City of Coquitlam


Tri-City Chamber of

Commerce

Local Businesses

Has been discussed

amongst Tri-Cities

Chamber of Commerce

and businesses in the

area; not supported by

businesses as costs

should be the

responsibility of the City.

17 Work with the RCMP to undertake a Crime Prevention

HHHl Through Environmental Design (CPTED) review of the

neighbourhood surrounding 3030 Gordon and prepare

a list of recommended improvements.

City of Coquitlam


RCMP

18 A Ask the RCMP to work with the appropriate Provincial

Ministries, Eraser Health and other social service

agencies to establish an Integrated Response Team to

provide improved coordination of responses for chronic

social offenders.

City of Coquitlam

RCMP

Eraser Health

Provincial Ministries


23 Work with Fraser Health to:

a. Install secure Sharps Disposal Units in key

locations throughout the Tri-Cities, and let the

public know about these sites;

b. Implement the Regional Community Sharps

Management Strategy;

c. Support the discarded needle collection tracking

program; UNDERWAY

d. Develop community safety outreach material

(handouts and website update) on sharps disposal

options in the Tri-Cities and what to do if

community members find a discarded needle;

e. Ensure that services that Fraser Health offers (i.e.

needle distribution, collection and disposal) are

communicated to local government.

f. Develop a new harm reduction supplies

distribution model both within 3030 Cordon and

in the broader community with the objective to

eliminate adverse community impacts from

discarded sharps.

City of Coquitlam


Fraser Health

The City of Port

Coquitlam does not

support public sharps

containers within Port

Coquitlam. The City of

Port Coquitlam does not

support mobile needle

distribution and wishes

the service to stop.

24 Update the City's website and communication

materials to provide improved information to the

public on sharps disposal options in the Tri-Cities and

what to do if they find a discarded needle.

City of Coquitlam


Fraser Health


25 C Request that the Province Incorpoate the concept of

Extended Producer Responsibility to the distribution of

harm reduction supplies to eliminate the adverse

community impacts from improperly discarded sharps.

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Mental

Health and Addictions

26 C Support RainCity's initiative to report the number of

sharps collected to Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam

Bylaw Enforcement officers.

RainCity

Strategic Goal 6: Increase Community Awareness and Understanding 27 A a. Ask RainCityto work with the Tri-Cities

Homelessness and Housing Task Group to present

the 'Stories of the Street'series annually;

b. Explore grants and otherfunding sources to

support the 'Stories of the Street' series.

RainCity



28 B Explore hosting an annual workshop with the various

organizations and agencies that work with

homelessness, mental health and addictions to

educate, collaborate and develop on-going solutions.

City of Coquitlam



29 C Advocate to BC Housing, Eraser Health and the RCMP

to provide a more comprehensive delivery of the

Federal 4-pillars strategy.

City of Coquitlam

Eraser Health

RCMP


H-Z

u 3030 Gordon Task Force Action Plan - 2019 Work Plan Details

Action Action 1

Work Item Work with BC Housing to identify sites and partners for new supportive housing and an abstinence-based shelter as a second facility and support resource.

Commentary There was recognition through the work of the Task Force that as 3030 Gordon is the only resource in the Tri-Cities and can only provide services to its residents (i.e., not drop-in services), it is under pressure to be everything to everyone. More housing and support services are needed; BC Housing has indicated a goal of opening new supportive housing in the Tri-Cities; The Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group is also focused on working with Cities and other partners to secure more supportive housing; While additional supportive housing (either modular or wood frame) is the current goal, BC Housing has indicated a willingness to discuss further abstinence-based shelter options for the Tri-Cities.

Next Steps Staff will initiate discussions with BC Housing to determine options for working towards these goals. Report back to Council as necessary regarding location criteria, potential funding and partners.

Action 3 Provide more public information about available abstinence-based recovery options in the Tri-Cities;

Staff will work with Fraser Health to determine how information is currently made available and

lAction Work Item Commentary Next Steps potential improvements to information distribution;

• Staff will work with Corporate Communications and the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group to update and distribute information.

Action 4 Advocate that the Province: a) Establish and fund a community outreach

team to address social issues and community impacts from homelessness, mental health and addictions, in addition to the Hope for Freedom team;

b) Provide additional services to address the ongoing mental health and addictions crises including more recovery options; and

c) Explore establishing drop-in services in the Tri-Cities to connect people who are homeless to services and programs.

• There are currently no daytime drop-in services available in the Tri-Cities.

• The Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group is exploring options to establish drop-in services;

• Establishing drop-in services may involve discussions of City land/facilities;

• Implementing this action would involve partnerships with other agencies.

• Staff will prepare letters requesting action to the appropriate Provincial ministries;

• Continue working with the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group towards this goal;

• Report back to Council as necessary regarding location criteria, potential funding and partners.

Action 7 Request that the Province: a) Give BC Housing resources to adopt a

proactive program towards increasing community safety in the neighbourhood surrounding 3030 Gordon. A potential model would be a Volunteer Coordinator/ Community Ambassador position for 3030 Gordon;

b) Increase funding (through Eraser Health) for the Harm Reduction Peer Coordinator

Staff will prepare letters requesting action to the appropriate Provincial ministries.

File#:01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc#; 3233169.VI

Pages

lAction Work Item ^ ^-t c Commentary Next Steps position to increase public health outcomes, minimize discarded needles, and reduce broader community impacts;

c) Increase the amount of Ministry of Social Development resource allocated to 3030 Gordon in order to connect residents with income assistance and other programs; and

d) Increase funding for primary medical care at 3030 Gordon.

Action 13

Consider developing a Loitering Bylaw to provide the RCMP with additional tools to manage public safety;

A loitering bylaw was raised as a possible mechanism to assist the RCMP to ensure public safety around 3030 Gordon.

Staff will explore the use of loitering bylaws in this context and report back to Council on options.

Action 18

Ask the RCMP to work with the appropriate Provincial Ministries, Fraser Health and other social service agencies to establish an Integrated Response Team to provide improved coordination of responses for chronic social offenders

The RCMP, Mental Health Liaison members, and Community Response Team, have established relationships with the various agencies in dealing with chronic social offenders and continue to work with them on an ongoing basis.

Staff will work with the RCMP towards the potential formation of an Integrated Response Team.

Action 23

Work with Fraser Health to: a) Install secure Sharps Disposal Units in key

locations throughout the Tri-Cities, and let the public know about these sites;

b) Implement the Regional Community Sharps Management Strategy;

c) Support the discarded needle collection tracking program;

d) Develop community safety outreach material (handouts and website update) on sharps

• Bylaw and Community Planning staff are currently working with Fraser Health to support the discarded needle collection tracking program;

• Coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is required to address these issues.

• Staff will continue to work with Fraser Health staff to support the Sharps Management Strategy;

• Staff will prepare letters requesting action to the appropriate Provincial ministries.

• Staff will explore potential locations for sharps

File#:01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc#: 3233l69.vl

1 Action ^?oflOleni • Commentary Next Steps disposal options in the Tri-Cities and what to do if community members find a discarded needle;

e) Ensure that services that Eraser Health offers (i.e. needle distribution, collection and disposal) are communicated to local government; and

f) Develop a new harm reduction supplies distribution model both within 3030 Gordon and in the broader community with the objective to eliminate adverse community impacts from discarded sharps.

disposal units.

Action 27

a) Ask RainCityto work with the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group to present the 'Stories of the Street' series annually;

b) Explore grants and other funding sources to support the 'Stories of the Street' series.

The Homelessness and Housing Task Group plans to undertake more of these events this year.

Staff will continue work with and support the Task Group to meet this goal.

File#: 01-0540-20/551/2019-1 Doc#: 3233l69.vl

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