July 15, 2024

Confirmation of Agenda

Council confirmed the agenda for the July 15, 2024 meeting, including all printed items and any new business that was added.

WITH RESPECT to the July 15, 2024 City Council, we recommend that the agenda as printed, including any additional information and new business, be confirmed.

Council adopted distance guidelines for encampments and is seeking funding for a shelter pilot project. Council also asked Ontario and federal governments to increase social assistance, fund mental health crisis spaces, and create a national plan to address homelessness and unsheltered encampments.

WITH RESPECT to Corporate Report 252-2024 (City Manager’s Office, Strategic Initiatives & Engagement) we recommend that the distance guidelines as outlined in this report and subject to ongoing review, be adopted within the City of Thunder Bay

• a letter from the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, be sent to potential funders in support of a built structure pilot project
• City Council advocate to the Government of Ontario for the following: · to fulfill the cost-matching requirement to secure 2024 federal budget funding to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness; · to improve the adequacy of social assistance by increasing social assistance rates so that recipients are better able to meet their basic needs, including the cost of living and housing; · to fund low-barrier crisis stabilization spaces for people with mental health and/or substance use related issues that operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week across the city as part of a full continuum of evidence-based services, treatment and wrap around supports
• City Council urge the Government of Canada to establish a National Encampment Response Plan as recommended in the Federal Housing Advocate's February 2024 final report
• the City Manager and City Clerk be authorized to execute any necessary documents
• a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services. Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all Ontario municipalities
• Outstanding List Item 2024-006-ADM Response to Unsheltered Homelessness – a Protocol for the City of Thunder Bay, be removed from the Outstanding List
• any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification. Amendment – Amended Report Back - Response to Unsheltered Homelessness – Designated Encampment Framework Memorandum from Director – Strategy & Engagement Cynthia Olsen dated July 5, 2024 containing an amendment to the recommendation relative to the above noted.

Council adopted updated distance guidelines for designated encampments in Thunder Bay as a framework for managing unsheltered homelessness, subject to ongoing review.

THAT paragraph 1 from Report 252-2024 be deleted and replaced with the following: ‘WITH RESPECT to Report 252-2024-City Manager’s Office- Strategic Initiatives & Engagement and the Memorandum from C. Olsen, Director – Strategy & Engagement, dated July 5, 2024, relative to Response to Unsheltered Homelessness: Designated Encampment Framework, we recommend that the updated distance guidelines as attached to this memo, and subject to ongoing review, be adopted within the City of Thunder Bay.’ Amendment to Amendment – Amended Report Back - Response to Unsheltered Homelessness - Designated Encampment Framework

Council added an exception to distance guidelines for trails, sidewalks, parking lots, and bridges (within 5 metres), and asked staff to report back by August 12, 2024 on whether this distance can be increased to 10 metres.

THAT the following be added to paragraph 1: 'with the exception of distance guidelines on or within 5 metres of any trail, sidewalk, or parking lot or on or under any bridge, including pedestrian access points to such areas and structures of which be referred to Administration to determine if the distance can be increased from 5 metres to 10 metres;'

• the following paragraph be added after paragraph 1: 'AND THAT Administration report back on the above noted referral on or before August 12, 2024.'

Council adopted new distance guidelines for where homeless encampments can be set up in Thunder Bay, but asked staff to study whether distances from trails, sidewalks, parking lots, and bridges should be increased from 5 metres to 10 metres, with a report due by August 12.

WITH RESPECT to Report 252-2024-City Manager’s Office- Strategic Initiatives & Engagement and the Memorandum from C. Olsen, Director – Strategy & Engagement, dated July 5, 2024, relative to Response to Unsheltered Homelessness: Designated Encampment Framework, we recommend that the updated distance guidelines as attached to this memo, and subject to ongoing review, be adopted within the City of Thunder Bay with the exception of distance guidelines on or within 5 metres of any trail, sidewalk, or parking lot or on or under any bridge, including pedestrian access points to such areas and structures, of which be referred to Administration to determine if the distance can be increased from 5 metres to 10 metres

• Administration report back on the above noted referral or before August 12, 2024.

Council adopted new rules for where homeless encampments can be located in Thunder Bay, with stricter distance requirements from trails and bridges to be reviewed. Council also asked the provincial and federal governments to increase funding for homelessness services and supports.

WITH RESPECT to Report 252-2024-City Manager’s Office- Strategic Initiatives & Engagement and the Memorandum from C. Olsen, Director – Strategy & Engagement, dated July 5, 2024, relative to Response to Unsheltered Homelessness: Designated Encampment Framework, we recommend that the updated distance guidelines as attached to this memo, and subject to ongoing review, be adopted within the City of Thunder Bay with the exception of distance guidelines on or within 5 metres of any trail, sidewalk, or parking lot or on or under any bridge, including pedestrian access points to such areas and structures of which be referred to Administration to determine if the distance can be increased from 5 metres to 10 metres

• Administration report back on the above noted referral on or before August 12, 2024
• a letter from the Mayor, on behalf of City Council, be sent to potential funders in support of a built structure pilot project
• City Council advocate to the Government of Ontario for the following: · to fulfill the cost-matching requirement to secure 2024 federal budget funding to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness; · to improve the adequacy of social assistance by increasing social assistance rates so that recipients are better able to meet their basic needs, including the cost of living and housing; · to fund low-barrier crisis stabilization spaces for people with mental health and/or substance use related issues that operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week across the city as part of a full continuum of evidence-based services, treatment and wrap around supports
• City Council urge the Government of Canada to establish a National Encampment Response Plan as recommended in the Federal Housing Advocate's February 2024 final report
• the City Manager and City Clerk be authorized to execute any necessary documents
• a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services. Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all Ontario municipalities
• Outstanding List Item 2024-006-ADM Response to Unsheltered Homelessness – a Protocol for the City of Thunder Bay, be removed from the Outstanding List
• any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.