Post by Max on Sept 8, 2007 23:37:35 GMT -3
Our bus driver promised to end homelessness in our city. Of course we all know he was just lying again...but he promised.
Last November (2006) funding of $110,000 was allocated from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to support all existing homeless initiatives such as outreach and support services.
www.northernlife.ca/news/LocalNews/2006/12-14-06-homeless_funding.asp?NLStory=12-14-06-homeless_funding
City OK's cash for homeless strategy
Date Published | Dec. 14, 2006
BY BILL BRADLEY
Greater Sudbury council have passed a number of measures that would stabilize funding to develop a homeless strategy.
Their decision came following a presentation by Margaret Borley, member of the Community Solutions team on Homelessness and Penny Earley, a professor of social services Wednesday.
The term of the city's Community Solutions Team on Homelessness Initiatives was extended to Dec. 31, 2007 to help the team comprised of Sudburians representing city council, business, funders, social agencies and academic researchers, finalize a a strategy.
Funding of $110,000 was allocated from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to support all existing homeless initiatives such as outreach and support services.
A request for proposals (RFP) was approved to be issued to find a service provider to provide coordinated outreach services, effective April 1, 2007.
Borley and Earley said a new approach to homelessness was needed based on a “Housing First” strategy approach successfully developed and practiced in cities such as Chicago, Toronto and Waterloo.
Those at risk of becoming homeless are best serviced by interventions before they end up in temporary shelters or worse on the street. That can involve ensuring that rent money can be found for them if they are at risk of being evicted from emergency sources of funds, and also that there are adequate sources of affordable good quality housing in the city to begin with, said Borley.
“We need to deal directly with the root cause of homelessness-poverty, a lack of income that leads to being without a home. Not having a phone or an address can compound other problems, said Earley.
For those already homeless, the task is to get them into housing quickly so they can rebuild their lives she said.
“There are services out there already but everyone who provides those services needs to be on the same page. There is a need for a comprehensive integrated approach. Let us use the mainstream social services such as Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Old Age Security, Legal Aid and Employment Insurance in a co-ordinated fashion where everyone is working together on this issue,” she said.
Having a Homeless Charter followed up by a Community Homeless Report Card in Greater Sudbury would be good tools in a homeless toolkit said Borley.
“They help to raise awareness about the issue, pull the stakeholders together in a team fashion and promote a follow-up reportage of how Greater Sudbury is achieving its goals,” said Borley.
City councillors were supportive of a new approach to the problem though some had reservations.
“For once this excellent report we have received tonight from this homeless team cost taxpayers nothing-no fancy consultants were paid anything. That I find refreshing,” said Ward 11 Councillor Janet Gasparini.
“I know there are new resources out there for the homeless. There are two outreach workers with Ontario Works who talk to people on the street about being able to apply for Ontario Works. I also know there are four hospital social workers who are the streets from 2 pm to 10 pm. This plan by the Solutions Team is all about co-ordinating those services already in place so they can be delivered in a more effective fashion,” she said.
Councillor Ted Callaghan cautioned council to be more proactive in getting major funders on board.
“We can't get enough money from senior levels of government to fund social service programs that already exist let alone new ones. We need to convince the province and the federal government to be better partners in this problem. To do that I think we need to talk to other cities with this problem and lobby senior levels of funders together. Alone as a city we can't move them to act. We need a partnership of cities for this problem,” said Callaghan.
On Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 16:34, Me said:
Just before the election Gasparini said they tried everything to end homelessness. How come she never thought of this idea before?
On Friday, December 15, 2006 at 10:39, Matthew Leroux said:
The housing issue and homelessness is in most part due to addiction and mental health issues. This is where the real problem is. Funding is needed to allow this work to grow, not get smaller. I am a worker in the feild and over the years they funds have not been there to support the good work being done to help those in need. Lets address the real issue!!
On Friday, December 15, 2006 at 18:38, Bob said:
Homelessness is indeed a complicated problem and a sad commentary on modern society.
I am glad that it is receiving some much needed attention and direction by council and other organizations.
Happy that Margaret Borely and Penny Earley are part of the team co-coordinating efforts for our community.They have a history of compassion and organizational skills here in Sudbury.
Sad to read that Janet Casparinni, although knowledgeable about statistics and personnel, really seemed impotent to act until our new mayor reactivated interest in this serious problem.With her background in social work and a new sense of urgency(we hope) maybe council will really work to resolve some of this pressing issue as a team of united players.
We can only hope!!!
On Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 10:16, James Best said:
More money for the poverty machine. Groups with their hands out asking for more cash.
Just where do these homeless go in the winter? The abundance of 'homeless' seem to disappear when foul weather is afoot.
Then in the summer they appear en-masse.
Come on. There is no homeless problem here. There are a few chronic persons that refuse shelter. There are a few that do not want our help. The rest seem to move on or locate shelter or shared accomidations.
Throwing money at the "problem" won't fix anything. Properly researching the precieved homeless would be much better. The city should also stop relying on biased coalitions and lobby groups for their poverty and homeless data. Their numbers are skewed and their own agendas bias their research.
Ask yourself: In a city the size of Toronto. The 2006 homeless study showed that there were less than 1000 'homeless' on the streets.(Thats a city of over 2.5 million people) How can there be 100's of homeless here in Sudbury?
With a population of 150,000 the same formula and qualifications applied, that would put an generous number of homeless at 60.
Hardly a huge crisis. Hardly a number worth throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at.
The number is even further inflated when the number of transient 'homeless' are added to local research. The ones that pass through artificially inflate that population.
Responsibility to your fellow man is one thing. To waste money on flawed numbers is quite another. Beware of any coalition or social justice group that demands money for their poverty agendas.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 12:13, Ritchy Dubé said:
Way to go, Penny and Margaret. If there is anything I can do to help, just leave a message on this site.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 12:36, Jason said:
Apparently someone is very ill informed. Mr. Best for your information and obviously you need alot. The Samaritan Centre runs 24hrs a day, 7 days a week during the winter to help the homeless in winter. I think the information your are receiving is coming not from statistical stat's or they are coming from another ill informed individual. I think you should get off your butt and go and volunteer at one of the agencies (before they are closed due to lack of funding) and actually get informed the old fashioned way.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 09:06, MJ said:
James Best, are you kidding me? Where the hell do you come from with that theory of yours, you clarely need a reality check!
Seriously, please educate yourself before you start babbling about a topic you obviously know nothing about.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 11:13, wow said:
i can not believe that people like james best actually exist, with everything out there to educate people on homelessness it is sad that some just don't have a clue.
so because toronto has more people than us we can't possibly have more than a hundred homeless? are you joking buddy? wake up and use your computer to do some RESEARCH instead of typing on a message board about something you know zero about!
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 11:14, sam said:
Thank you Jason and MJ, you both are right on! James Best is clueless and needs to get out and see homelessness first hand before he rambles on making no sense.
Last November (2006) funding of $110,000 was allocated from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to support all existing homeless initiatives such as outreach and support services.
www.northernlife.ca/news/LocalNews/2006/12-14-06-homeless_funding.asp?NLStory=12-14-06-homeless_funding
City OK's cash for homeless strategy
Date Published | Dec. 14, 2006
BY BILL BRADLEY
Greater Sudbury council have passed a number of measures that would stabilize funding to develop a homeless strategy.
Their decision came following a presentation by Margaret Borley, member of the Community Solutions team on Homelessness and Penny Earley, a professor of social services Wednesday.
The term of the city's Community Solutions Team on Homelessness Initiatives was extended to Dec. 31, 2007 to help the team comprised of Sudburians representing city council, business, funders, social agencies and academic researchers, finalize a a strategy.
Funding of $110,000 was allocated from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to support all existing homeless initiatives such as outreach and support services.
A request for proposals (RFP) was approved to be issued to find a service provider to provide coordinated outreach services, effective April 1, 2007.
Borley and Earley said a new approach to homelessness was needed based on a “Housing First” strategy approach successfully developed and practiced in cities such as Chicago, Toronto and Waterloo.
Those at risk of becoming homeless are best serviced by interventions before they end up in temporary shelters or worse on the street. That can involve ensuring that rent money can be found for them if they are at risk of being evicted from emergency sources of funds, and also that there are adequate sources of affordable good quality housing in the city to begin with, said Borley.
“We need to deal directly with the root cause of homelessness-poverty, a lack of income that leads to being without a home. Not having a phone or an address can compound other problems, said Earley.
For those already homeless, the task is to get them into housing quickly so they can rebuild their lives she said.
“There are services out there already but everyone who provides those services needs to be on the same page. There is a need for a comprehensive integrated approach. Let us use the mainstream social services such as Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Old Age Security, Legal Aid and Employment Insurance in a co-ordinated fashion where everyone is working together on this issue,” she said.
Having a Homeless Charter followed up by a Community Homeless Report Card in Greater Sudbury would be good tools in a homeless toolkit said Borley.
“They help to raise awareness about the issue, pull the stakeholders together in a team fashion and promote a follow-up reportage of how Greater Sudbury is achieving its goals,” said Borley.
City councillors were supportive of a new approach to the problem though some had reservations.
“For once this excellent report we have received tonight from this homeless team cost taxpayers nothing-no fancy consultants were paid anything. That I find refreshing,” said Ward 11 Councillor Janet Gasparini.
“I know there are new resources out there for the homeless. There are two outreach workers with Ontario Works who talk to people on the street about being able to apply for Ontario Works. I also know there are four hospital social workers who are the streets from 2 pm to 10 pm. This plan by the Solutions Team is all about co-ordinating those services already in place so they can be delivered in a more effective fashion,” she said.
Councillor Ted Callaghan cautioned council to be more proactive in getting major funders on board.
“We can't get enough money from senior levels of government to fund social service programs that already exist let alone new ones. We need to convince the province and the federal government to be better partners in this problem. To do that I think we need to talk to other cities with this problem and lobby senior levels of funders together. Alone as a city we can't move them to act. We need a partnership of cities for this problem,” said Callaghan.
On Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 16:34, Me said:
Just before the election Gasparini said they tried everything to end homelessness. How come she never thought of this idea before?
On Friday, December 15, 2006 at 10:39, Matthew Leroux said:
The housing issue and homelessness is in most part due to addiction and mental health issues. This is where the real problem is. Funding is needed to allow this work to grow, not get smaller. I am a worker in the feild and over the years they funds have not been there to support the good work being done to help those in need. Lets address the real issue!!
On Friday, December 15, 2006 at 18:38, Bob said:
Homelessness is indeed a complicated problem and a sad commentary on modern society.
I am glad that it is receiving some much needed attention and direction by council and other organizations.
Happy that Margaret Borely and Penny Earley are part of the team co-coordinating efforts for our community.They have a history of compassion and organizational skills here in Sudbury.
Sad to read that Janet Casparinni, although knowledgeable about statistics and personnel, really seemed impotent to act until our new mayor reactivated interest in this serious problem.With her background in social work and a new sense of urgency(we hope) maybe council will really work to resolve some of this pressing issue as a team of united players.
We can only hope!!!
On Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 10:16, James Best said:
More money for the poverty machine. Groups with their hands out asking for more cash.
Just where do these homeless go in the winter? The abundance of 'homeless' seem to disappear when foul weather is afoot.
Then in the summer they appear en-masse.
Come on. There is no homeless problem here. There are a few chronic persons that refuse shelter. There are a few that do not want our help. The rest seem to move on or locate shelter or shared accomidations.
Throwing money at the "problem" won't fix anything. Properly researching the precieved homeless would be much better. The city should also stop relying on biased coalitions and lobby groups for their poverty and homeless data. Their numbers are skewed and their own agendas bias their research.
Ask yourself: In a city the size of Toronto. The 2006 homeless study showed that there were less than 1000 'homeless' on the streets.(Thats a city of over 2.5 million people) How can there be 100's of homeless here in Sudbury?
With a population of 150,000 the same formula and qualifications applied, that would put an generous number of homeless at 60.
Hardly a huge crisis. Hardly a number worth throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at.
The number is even further inflated when the number of transient 'homeless' are added to local research. The ones that pass through artificially inflate that population.
Responsibility to your fellow man is one thing. To waste money on flawed numbers is quite another. Beware of any coalition or social justice group that demands money for their poverty agendas.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 12:13, Ritchy Dubé said:
Way to go, Penny and Margaret. If there is anything I can do to help, just leave a message on this site.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 12:36, Jason said:
Apparently someone is very ill informed. Mr. Best for your information and obviously you need alot. The Samaritan Centre runs 24hrs a day, 7 days a week during the winter to help the homeless in winter. I think the information your are receiving is coming not from statistical stat's or they are coming from another ill informed individual. I think you should get off your butt and go and volunteer at one of the agencies (before they are closed due to lack of funding) and actually get informed the old fashioned way.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 09:06, MJ said:
James Best, are you kidding me? Where the hell do you come from with that theory of yours, you clarely need a reality check!
Seriously, please educate yourself before you start babbling about a topic you obviously know nothing about.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 11:13, wow said:
i can not believe that people like james best actually exist, with everything out there to educate people on homelessness it is sad that some just don't have a clue.
so because toronto has more people than us we can't possibly have more than a hundred homeless? are you joking buddy? wake up and use your computer to do some RESEARCH instead of typing on a message board about something you know zero about!
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 11:14, sam said:
Thank you Jason and MJ, you both are right on! James Best is clueless and needs to get out and see homelessness first hand before he rambles on making no sense.
? I'm all for spending some of the funding to weed these abusers out so people who really need it can benefit.