2014-2024 Housing Stability Plan

10-year Brantford-Brant Municipal Housing Master Plan Initiative was approved by Council in October 2019, including plans for creating a minimum of 506 units between 2020-2030.

Continuing to implement the direction of the Master Plan including identification and development at prioritized sites.

COMPLETE
(ongoing)

COMPLETE
(ongoing)

COMPLETE
(ongoing)

Creation of Mayors’ Housing Partnerships Task Force Nov 2019, with Teams for specific focus areas, over 12 month period.

Action Plan approved Jan 2021, with annual updates in December each year thereafter.

COMPLETE

Initial discussions held in late 2019; more action in 2020 delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Work resumed in fall 2021 with new BNH leadership. Staffing changes at both organizations impact progress however, collaboration attempts continue.

309 Campbell St – assisted BNH with transition plan for tenants (April-August 2022) to other housing options. All households who required assistance were successfully transitioned.

174 Trillium Way, Paris ON Development – 5 units dedicated to BNH

Municipal Housing Facilities By-law amended Nov 2019 to broaden the affordable housing definition for development charge waiver incentives.

Once Bill 23 is proclaimed, will need to review impacts to MHFA Bylaw.

Start outline of project workplan to commence Q4 2023 with project commencement in 2024.

Current Program is averaging 10-15 households per year which is the full allocation.

A review was undertaken and decision to continue to set local BHome maximum home pricing limit to levels that help maximize the funding (including revolving fund) available for 5% down payment assistance.

Updated Municipal Housing Facilities By-law to include support for not-for-profit affordable first-time homeownership programs.

COMPLETE

Municipal Housing Facilities By-law amended Nov 2019 to broaden the affordable housing definition to include affordable homeownership.

John Noble Apartments (completed 2018) – mixed income

174 Trillium Way – new development scheduled for completion in December 2024 is mixed income

Lucy Marco Place (40 Queen St) – 41-unit rehabilitation project will be mixed income.

346 Shellard Lane – future 70-unit seniors development (in scope for 2024 start) will be mixed income.

Smoke-free housing policy approved in 2019; transition plan developed and underway for municipally managed housing units. First phase of smoke-free leases scheduled to begin in spring 2020 with final phase beginning in 2024.

COMPLETE

Request for Proposals for new Building Condition Assessments (BCAs) was issued summer 2020.

BCAs completed in Fall 2021. Future projects have been identified in a 10-year capital budget plan and prioritized accordingly.

COMPLETE

Original target date was delayed due to COVID. Project recommenced in Q4 2021 and completed in 2022.

All Property Managers follow same policy/process for unit turnovers.

Maximize the use of Housing Stability Fund as eviction prevention resource.after here

COMPLETE

Formal and informal education and training opportunities are provided for housing providers, who are actively utilizing best practices for eviction prevention. Housing Providers are notified when formal training is available through ONPHA.

Information regarding housing stability resources is provided regularly (minimum annually) and is available on public-facing website.

Live Well Brantford-Brant (LWBB) (supportive housing) Program established in 2020. Youth component is being delivered by a contracted third party. Adult program component is being delivered by City staff. The LWBB program is fully funded by Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) provincial grant funding.

2022-23 Reaching Home Investment Plan allocated grant funding for the Housing Stability Worker (HSW) Program.

Four (4) full time equivalent HSW staff are to be hired and trained in 2023 and will work in partnership with Property Managers.

IN PROGRESS

Live Well Brantford-Brant (LWBB) (supportive housing

IN

Offered Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) to eligible applicants on wait list, with requirement to transition off the wait list.

Legislative changes impact/preclude this action however, staff continue to provide options to tenants to facilitate appropriate housing choices.

NOT APPLICABLE

Ministry legislated changes to one-offer process implemented Jan 1, 2021. Applicant notification and Housing Provider training completed Fall 2020.

COMPLETE (ongoing)

Exploring replacement of two BNH housing units removed from Service Level Standards due to extensive capital repair needs.

Delays due to impacts of pandemic and staffing changes.

New development in 2022 by BNH: 67 Eighth Street.

IN PROGRESS

City staff continues to reach out and offer opportunities for dialogue and training.

Delays due to challenges, reprioritizations to address impacts of pandemic, and staffing changes.

Explored options as part of Fall 2020 Housing provider training and information sharing.

Encouraged BHN to apply for Rapid Housing Initiative funding. Exploring potential development with third party partners.

COMPLETE (ongoing)

Brantford-Brant Housing Stability Plan 2014-2024 Five Year Review that was completed in 2019 provided updated housing metrics.

COMPLETE (ongoing)

Population specific recommendations

Brantford-Brant Housing Stability Plan 2014-2024 Five Year Review, and Brantford-Brant Municipal Housing Master Plan Initiative provided updated metrics.

COMPLETE (ongoing)

Establish coordinated list of support services.

Public webpage for Community Supports updated based on changes to Housing Resource Centre in 2020-21.

Continuous improvement to website is ongoing to ensure changing needs of the community and individuals is recognized.

Staff is currently completing a website refresh in 2023 in partnership with the corporate communications department and as part of a larger initiative of ensuring AODA compliance.

COMPLETE (ongoing)

Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT) being used at emergency shelters and Live Well Brantford-Brant (LWBB) programs.

COMPLETE (ongoing)

In 2023 staff will be undergoing implementation of a new software system (IHS by Arcori) for managing the Service Manager’s centralized waitlist. Once implemented, staff will review and determine what other housing program applications and waitlists can be managed through this system.

Processes are already in place internally and with relevant external services providers (e.g., Housing Resource Centre) to review and ensure that eligible households on the By Name List are identified and assisted with applying to the centralized waitlist.

Staff who oversee the centralized waitlist are also responsible for administering other housing programs (e.g., Ontario Renovates, Rent Supplement Program, Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit applications). Future action will include examining application processes and waitlist protocols to determine coordination and streamlining of service delivery.

Identify process for transition of clients out of health services into housing with supports.

City staff is collaborating with service providers including the local hospital and the contracted Housing Resource Centre to streamline access to housing stability services for individuals who would be discharged from hospital to homelessness.

It has been identified that there is a need for increased availability of transitional housing and supportive housing options within the system. As such, in 2023 and 2024 emphasis is being placed on exploring opportunities that increase the availability of transitional and supportive housing within the community to help individuals exit emergency shelters into more stable and appropriate accommodations.

Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) Simplification in effect July 1, 2021, as per legislation.

COMPLETE

Housing Stability Worker (HSW) Program funded by federal Reaching Home grant monies is being piloted in 2023 with the opportunity for extension after March 31, 2024 if RH funding is extended.

IN PROGRESS

Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) Simplification in effect July 1, 2021, as per legislation.

COMPLETE

Housing Stability Worker (HSW) Program funded by federal Reaching Home grant monies is being piloted in 2023 with the opportunity for extension after March 31, 2024 if RH funding is extended.

IN PROGRESS

Development of an Emergency Shelter Program Framework.

Draft emergency shelter framework created with shelter operator partners. Coordinated Access System is the framework.

Completion of Shelter Review by OrgCode in 2022 and with a youth-focused lenses by Michael Lethby Consulting in 2023.

Emergency Shelter system undergoing RFP in 2023.

Reaching Home progress report framework submitted, with outcomes to be reported beginning Spring 2021.

As the Community Entity for Reaching Home, the City submits and publishes an annual Reaching Home – Community Homelessness Report Summary.

Implement a Quality By-Name List

Operational as of Q2 2021 when Coordinated Access system was launched.

Ongoing systemic improvements.