11 Sep 2023 Council meeting Housing

Rent Supplement Program Review

Motion
That Council direct $150,000 from the Online Accommodation Platform fund to be used to support rent supplement programs in Nanaimo, targeting key areas of housing need identified in the “Housing Needs Report”, as attached to the Governance and Priorities Committee Agenda dated 2023- JUN-12, and that the funds be distributed to service agencies through a Request for Proposal or Expression of Interest process.
Minutes, page 7
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda
Staff reportPage 1
Purpose
To provide Council with a review of rent supplements provided in Nanaimo, including City funded initiatives, and to recommend expanding City contributions to rent supplement programs in Nanaimo.
Staff report, page 1
Staff recommendation
That Council direct $150,000 from the Online Accommodation Platform fund to be used to support rent supplement programs in Nanaimo, targeting key areas of housing need identified in the Housing Needs Report, as attached to the Governance and Priorities Committee Agenda dated 2023-JUN-12, and that the funds be distributed to service agencies through a Request for Proposal or Expression of Interest process.
Staff report, page 1
DocumentsStaff report about Housing

Questions and answers

Councillor Erin Hemmens
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
Staff thank you for this. One of the things we learned during the Health and Housing Task Force is that there's a lack of coordination of all the funds that are going towards supporting people who. Are in precarious housing situations. So if Council votes for this tonight and we allocate 150,000 towards this. Do we look ahead to how we can use. Our community partners to distribute these funds
City staff answered
In a way that have the most impact. Through your worship to councilor Hemons. That's a really good question. And I think it's one that we often. Have on our staff team as well, and we really lean on that housing needs report to identify. Those folks who are most at risk or are facing the most challenges. And it's something that we really would want to build through our service agreements. With our partners to ensure that they're reaching those most that need that would include reporting requirements so we can actually know who in the city is being
followed up
served as well. Thank you and a follow up, if I may. The report doesn't contemplate this, but I note that. We've allotted 125,000 since 2016, and we're looking at 150,000 for 2023. Do we imagine this would be an
followed up
annual contribution. Any contemplation there. Should be a significant increase
D. Osborne
Speaker identificationConfident
answeredDirector, Recreation & Culture
Which would be wonderful. Through the Chair with the MRDT program, it does get renewed every five years, so it will be renewed again in 2025. So we considered that as well. But because we're unsure of what will happen after 2025, we didn't want to assume that. Thank you.
City staff answered
Okay. Thank you. That's all. Continue on. Okay. So these