[00:00:02]
[1. Opening Statement ]
AND I WILL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, 2024 TO ORDER.FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
[2. Approval of the agenda. ]
MR. VAN DINE ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA? NOTHING TO ADD, MADAM CHAIR.DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TODAY? SEEING NONE.
[4. A presentation from Dunsky regarding Home Energy Retrofits Summary Report. ]
NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM DUNSKY REGARDING HOME ENERGY RETROFITS SUMMARY REPORT MR. VAN DINE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.THIS PRESENTATION REPRESENTS A TECHNICAL REVIEW OF A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR HOME ENERGY PROGRAMING.
WE'VE INVITED THE CONSULTANT WHO'S WORKED ON THIS EVALUATION TO COME PRESENT BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY.
THIS ITEM WILL BE CONSIDERED LATER WITH A MEMO SUBSEQUENTLY.
AND THE PRESENTER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT AWAY.
I AM JUST GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU SEE MY PRESENTATION? YES WE CAN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
VERY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I AM A MANAGING CONSULT WITH DUNSKY ENERGY AND CLIMATE ADVISORS.
AND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE FINAL HOME ENERGY FINANCE PROGRAM DESIGN. APOLOGIES THAT I COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.
I AM BASED OUT OF HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO BE IN YELLOWKNIFE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT TO MEET WITH STAFF AND AND HOLD A PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
IN TERMS OF OUR FINANCE RELATED EXPERIENCE, WE'VE CONDUCTED WELL OVER THREE DOZEN STUDIES, PROGRAM DESIGNS, AND EVALUATIONS OF INNOVATIVE FINANCING PROGRAMS WE'VE SUPPORTED ACROSS CANADA AND THE US, NUMEROUS MUNICIPALITIES, PROVINCIAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, UTILITIES, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES.
SO I WILL RUN THROUGH VERY QUICKLY THE BACKGROUND, THE CONTEXT FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND OF COURSE, WE'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUESTIONS.
SO THE MOTIVATION FOR THIS PROJECT WAS THE CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY ENERGY ACTION PLAN.
AND I WANT TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE COMMUNITY RELATED TARGETS.
THERE ARE SOME TARGETS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 30% AND TO INCREASE THE SHARE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY USE BY FROM 18% TO 30%, AND A KEY ACTION IN THE PLAN IS TO SUPPORT 1250 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND ADOPTING A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGE FINANCING TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF OF HOMES.
AND FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES OR LICS, THEY'RE NOT NEW.
MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TRADITIONALLY USED LICS TO FUND LARGE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
THE REASON THE FOCUS IS ON HOME ENERGY RETROFITS IS THERE A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ENERGY REDUCTIONS IN GREENHOUSE GAS SAVINGS? NEARLY 70% OF THE COMMUNITY'S ENERGY CONSUMPTION COMES FROM HEATING BUILDINGS.
[00:05:05]
OF COURSE, GIVEN THE SUBARCTIC LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 70% OF DWELLINGS ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.MOST ARE OLDER AND MOST PRIMARILY HEAT WITH HEATING OIL.
SO WE WERE SELECTED TO DESIGN AND HELP THE CITY DESIGN A HOME ENERGY RETROFIT FINANCING PROGRAM.
AND THERE WERE THINGS SPECIFICALLY ASKED AT THE BEGINNING THE CITY WANTED TO LEVERAGE THE LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGE MECHANISM TO HELP EXPAND FINANCING SUPPORT AT LEAST IN THE NEAR TERM.
SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS TO HELP IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, INCREASE RENEWABLE ENERGY USE AND REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO HELP TO INCREASE THE SKILLS AND CAPACITY OF LOCAL WORKFORCE.
THIS PROJECT, AS I MENTIONED, IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES.
SO WHAT WE DID THIS PROJECT DID START A WHILE AGO.
WE KICKED IT OFF IN DECEMBER 2021.
WE CONDUCTED A BACKGROUND REVIEW.
WE FACILITATED NEARLY 20 IN-DEPTH ENGAGEMENTS WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
WE GATHERED PUBLIC INPUT THROUGH AN IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE AND AN ONLINE SURVEY.
WE ACTUALLY DID COMPLETE THE DRAFT BACK IN DECEMBER 2022.
HOWEVER, I DEFINITELY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I KNOW 2023 WAS A VERY TOUGH YEAR.
SO WE PUT THE DRAFT PROGRAM DESIGN ON HOLD SO THAT THE CITY COULD FOCUS ON OTHER PRIORITIES.
WE DID FINALIZE THE PROGRAM DESIGN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE COMPLETED A LEGAL REVIEW AND OPINION, USING A LOCAL LAWYER TO JUST ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM DESIGN ALIGNED WITH THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT.
AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
THE CITY DOES HAVE EXPERIENCE ADMINISTERING LICS, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE FOR SOME MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS CANADA THAT ARE ENTERING INTO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. THE NORTHLANDS COMMUNITY IS ONE EXAMPLE OF AN LIC LIKE THAT I MENTIONED CAN OFFER VERY ATTRACTIVE FINANCING TO HOMEOWNERS, AND THERE IS A SUPPORTIVE ECOSYSTEM THAT COULD COMPLEMENT YELLOWKNIFE'S EFFORTS.
OF COURSE, THERE'S THE ARCTIC ENERGY ALLIANCE THAT OFFERS COMPLIMENTARY ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS. AND THERE IS ADDITIONAL AVAILABLE FCM FUNDING TO HELP SET UP AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM IF YOU WERE TO PURSUE IT.
REALLY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT.
THE USE OF LICS OR SOMETIMES REFERRED TO PACE OR PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS HAVE STARTED QUITE A WHILE AGO IN THE US. AND THEY HAVE RECENTLY GROWN IN CANADA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT FROM FCM, WE NOW HAVE SEVEN PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES WITH PACE LIC ENABLING LEGISLATION AND OVER 40 PROGRAMS EITHER IN MARKET OR BEING STUDIED AND DESIGNED.
EVEN THOSE PROVINCES WITHOUT LEGISLATION, LIKE B.C.
AND QUEBEC, ARE TESTING OR PILOTING LICS BEFORE BRINGING IN OR CONSIDERING LIC LEGISLATION.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED THAT YELLOWKNIFE CAN BENEFIT FROM.
AND WE HAVE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM DESIGN.
SO TO DESIGN A PROGRAM THAT MEETS COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE REALLY NEEDED, AS I SAID, TO CONSIDER THE LOCAL CONTEXT.
SO THERE WERE ESSENTIALLY FOUR KEY FINDINGS THAT INFLUENCED OUR PROGRAM DESIGN DECISIONS.
THE FIRST ONE BEING THAT INDUSTRY CAPACITY IS LIMITED.
AND THIS PROBABLY DOES NOT COME TO A SURPRISE TO TO ANYONE.
[00:10:09]
AT THE TIME OF THE STUDY, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S STILL THE CASE, BUT THERE WERE ONLY TWO THAT WERE SERVICING THE ENTIRE TERRITORY, AND THAT HAS LED TO LONG WAIT TIMES.YELLOWKNIFE HAS A VERY CAPABLE AND RELIABLE POOL OF CONTRACTORS.
BUT THAT CAPACITY IS ALSO CONSTRAINED.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, LOCAL CONTRACTORS ARE TYPICALLY FOCUSED ON NEW CONSTRUCTION OR LARGE PROJECTS, AND THAT DOES THAT WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT CONTRACTORS FOR SMALLER RETROFIT PROJECTS.
THE NEXT IS ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY.
OF COURSE, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR STAFF TO ADMINISTER A PROGRAM.
BUT APPLYING A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
SO ANY PROGRAM DESIGN REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT WAYS THAT WE COULD REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON CITY STAFF, LESSEN THE RISK OF PROGRAM INTERRUPTION, AND SEEK THIRD PARTY SUPPORT WHERE POSSIBLE.
THERE IS FCM FUNDING AVAILABLE TO HELP OFFSET ELIGIBLE COSTS.
HOWEVER, THE CITY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE A PORTION OF COSTS, AND FCM FUNDING IS NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED, SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHERE DOES ALL THE FUNDING COME FROM TO DELIVER A PROGRAM LIKE THIS AND ENSURE THAT IT IS? IT COULD BE DELIVERED OVER THE LONG TERM AND SUSTAINABLY.
LASTLY, HOMEOWNERS EXPERIENCE MANY BARRIERS WHEN THEY LOOK TO PURSUE HOME ENERGY RETROFITS.
AND WE KNOW AFFORDABILITY IS A CHALLENGE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
WE DID A SURVEY OF HOMEOWNERS THAT SHOWED OVER 40% WOULD CONSIDER BORROWING TO FUND UPGRADES, AND OVER 70% WOULD ACTUALLY CONSIDER MAKING HOME ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF A CITY SPONSORED FINANCING PROGRAM.
BUT WHAT HOMEOWNERS ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR ARE ATTRACTIVE FINANCING OPTIONS.
SO THINGS LIKE LOW INTEREST RATE, EARLY REPAYMENT WITH NO PENALTY AND AN EASY APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND THE OTHER THING WE HEARD FROM HOMEOWNERS IS THAT BARRIERS ARE NOT JUST FINANCIAL.
HOMEOWNERS REALLY WANT SIMPLICITY AS WELL AS SUPPORT ACROSS THE ENTIRE RETROFIT PROCESS, FROM ACCESSING HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENTS, FINDING QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS, AND JUST UNDERSTANDING COST AND SAVINGS.
SO AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM DESIGN, WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT OFFERING ATTRACTIVE FINANCING TERMS, REDUCING COMPLEXITY WHERE POSSIBLE, AND THEN HAVING AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AS WELL.
SO WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND, AND KEEPING IN MIND THE CITY'S GOALS UNDER THE CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY ENERGY ACTION PLAN, UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE DESIGNED A PROGRAM THAT INVOLVED THAT INVOLVES TURNKEY SERVICES, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL LENDERS TO FINANCE PROJECTS SECURED BY AN LIC.
SO FOR THE TURNKEY SERVICES WE ENVISION THAT THIS WOULD BE LARGELY LED BY THE CITY TO HELP HOMEOWNERS ALONG THE ENTIRE RETROFIT JOURNEY.
SO THAT WOULD INVOLVE HAVING AN ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY TO INCREASE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, PROVIDING HOMEOWNERS WITH A LIST OF ELIGIBLE MEASURES, INCLUDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY MEASURES.
AND THIS COULD ALSO INCLUDE RESILIENCY MEASURES, WHICH I KNOW COULD BE OF INTEREST.
THIS WOULD ALSO INVOLVE LEVERAGING THE ARCTIC ENERGY ALLIANCE AND SOME OF THEIR SERVICES.
THIS WOULD ALSO INVOLVE SCHEDULING WHAT WE'RE CALLING HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT COMMUNITY BLITZES.
SO THE CITY WOULD SCHEDULE BLITZES WHEN A DEFINED NUMBER OF HOMEOWNERS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.
IN THE SHORT TERM, THIS MAY INVOLVE BRINGING ENERGY ADVISORS FROM OUTSIDE OF YELLOWKNIFE.
BUT OVER THE LONG TERM, WE WOULD SEE YELLOWKNIFE POTENTIALLY TESTING VIRTUAL AUDITS OR WORKING WITH OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THE GNWT AND ARCTIC ENERGY ALLIANCE TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN MORE LOCAL ENERGY ADVISORS.
[00:15:07]
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH ENERGY COACH CONCIERGE SERVICES TO REALLY HELP HOMEOWNERS, IN ADDITION TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE NON-FINANCIAL BARRIERS.SO WE DO HAVE THE CITY STAFF LEADING THAT PORTION OF THE WORK UNDER THE CURRENT PROGRAM DESIGN, BUT THE CITY COULD LOOK TO A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP DELIVER SOME OR ALL OF THE SERVICES.
AND THEN THE CITY WOULD PARTNER WITH LOCAL LENDERS TO HELP FUND THE PROJECTS, SO THE CITY WOULD ESSENTIALLY FOCUS ALL THE RESOURCES ON HOMEOWNER SUPPORTS AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE NON-FINANCIAL BARRIERS, VERSUS HAVING TO BE A BANK AND REALLY LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE AND CAPACITY OF LOCAL LENDERS.
AND THEN THE CITY COULD USE THE LIC AS A CREDIT ENHANCEMENT TO REALLY HELP MITIGATE LENDER RISK AND IN EXCHANGE, NEGOTIATING BETTER RATES AND TERMS AND OR ACCESS TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT THE BANK MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE CONSIDERED.
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE DID INVOLVE, I SHOULD MENTION, WE HAD INTERVIEWED A COUPLE OF LOCAL BANKS AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, NOT HAVING ALL OF THE DETAILS AT THE TIME, THEY DID EXPRESS INTEREST IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
SO THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME LOCAL INTEREST THERE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY NORTHERN EXAMPLES TO KIND OF DRAW FROM.
SO WE DO HAVE TO LOOK TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE TRIED TO GIVE THIS RANGE POTENTIALLY OF WHAT YOU COULD EXPECT.
I WILL NOTE IT IS LOWER THAN WHAT THE ENERGY ACTION PLAN DID ESTIMATE.
THESE VOLUMES MAY APPEAR MODEST TO MEET YOUR GOALS.
IT IS THERE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS WHEN THEY ARE READY TO UNDERTAKE RETROFITS AND FINANCING REALLY DOES NEED TO BE PART OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO DRIVE RETROFIT ACTIVITY AND THEN BE THERE TO SUPPORT HOMEOWNERS WHEN THEY'RE READY.
WE DO ASSUME THAT FUNDING WILL COME FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES, FCM BEING ONE OF THEM.
THE MUNICIPALITY WILL HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE A PORTION.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING SCENARIOS THAT YELLOWKNIFE COULD CONSIDER WHEN APPLYING TO FCM.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO APPLY AS A PILOT, WHICH WOULD GIVE YOU ACCESS TO A GRANT.
THERE WOULD BE NO LOAN ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, BUT THERE IS LESS FUNDING AVAILABLE.
AND THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION, SET UP AND ADMINISTRATION.
UNDER OPTION TWO, THIS IS IF YOU'RE MAKING A LONGER TERM COMMITMENT TO A CAPITAL PROGRAM AND UNDER THE CAPITAL FUNDING STREAM WITH A PROGRAM THAT INVOLVES THIRD PARTY LENDING, YOU'D BE ELIGIBLE OR YELLOWKNIFE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LARGER FCM GRANT AND ACCESS UP TO $2 MILLION FOR A LOAN LOSS RESERVE, AND THIS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO HELP REDUCE THE MUNICIPALITY'S RISK IN THE EVENT OF LOAN DEFAULTS.
SO IF A HOMEOWNER WERE TO BECOME DELINQUENT ON A LOAN TO THE LENDER, THE CITY WOULD RESERVE USE A LOAN LOSS RESERVE TO HELP PAY OFF THOSE DELINQUENCIES THEN APPLY THE LIC TO THE PROPERTY TO RECOUP COSTS ON THE HOMEOWNER'S PROPERTY TAX BILL.
THIS REDUCES THE LENDER'S RISK.
IT REDUCES THE MUNICIPALITY'S RISK AND WOULD ENSURE THAT NO FUNDS COME FROM THE GENERAL TAX BASE.
SO THIS VISUAL IS REALLY JUST INTENDED TO GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE FLOW OF FUNDS, YOU WOULD HAVE CAPITAL PROVIDERS, ONE BEING, AS I MENTIONED, FCM. THEY WOULD OFFER A GRANT AND THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET ADMINISTRATION COSTS FOR THE CITY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, OFFER ANY KIND OF CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES OFFERING THE ENERGY CONCIERGE, ENERGY ADVISOR BLITZES.
FUNDING FOR THE ACTUAL PROJECTS OR FINANCING WOULD COME FROM LOCAL LENDERS.
HOMEOWNERS WOULD REPAY THE LENDERS DIRECTLY.
[00:20:06]
TO HELP REDUCE THE TOTAL COST OF BORROWING.BUT I WILL POINT OUT THE RISK OF DEFAULT IS IS VERY LOW IN THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. HALIFAX SOLAR CITY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
THEY WERE THE FIRST LIC FINANCING PROGRAM IN CANADA.
THEY OPERATED FIRST AS A PILOT IN 2013.
BUT WITH ANY PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY A NEW PROGRAM, THERE DEFINITELY ARE SOME UNCERTAINTIES.
FROM A FINANCING PERSPECTIVE THIS PROGRAM REALLY LEVERAGES LOCAL LENDERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST AND REALLY, AGAIN, LEVERAGES THE LOCAL EXPERTISE AND CAPACITY.
SO THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A BANK, BUT THEY USE THEIR POWER THROUGH AN LIC TO ACT AS A SECURITY, TO NEGOTIATE BETTER RATES AND TERMS AND OR EXPAND ACCESS TO FINANCING. AND THEN YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE FCM CREDIT ENHANCEMENT TO REDUCE THE CITY'S RISK.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE DETAILS WOULD HAVE TO BE IRONED OUT.
FROM A HOMEOWNER PERSPECTIVE, ACCESS TO ATTRACTIVE FINANCING CERTAINLY IS OF INTEREST TO HOMEOWNERS.
THE TURNKEY SERVICE ASPECT OF THE DESIGN WILL HELP ADDRESS OTHER NON-FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT HOMEOWNERS EXPERIENCE, AND THERE REALLY MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND EXPAND ACCESS TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE CONSIDERED LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
BUT I WILL POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS FINANCING DOES, AT LEAST IN OUR EXPERIENCE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, DOES TEND TO ATTRACT THOSE HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE MORE MODERATE TO HIGHER INCOME.
SO WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME DESIGN FEATURES IN PLACE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PROTECTIONS AND ACCESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THAT LOWER TO MODERATE INCOME SEGMENT.
AND WE'VE ESTIMATED UPTAKE, AS I MENTIONED, BASED ON UPTAKE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
AND THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY GIVEN YOUR UNIQUE SUB-ARCTIC LOCATION.
FROM A MUNICIPAL STANDPOINT WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO DESIGN THIS TO REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON STAFF, REALLY FOCUSING YOUR LIMITED RESOURCES ON SUPPORTING HOMEOWNERS VERSUS BEING A BANK.
AND THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CLIMATE GOALS.
IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY POTENTIALLY TO EXPAND THE LIST OF MEASURES TO RESILIENCY AS WELL.
BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY MAY STILL BE CONSTRAINED.
AND THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER INITIATIVES.
FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, THE PROGRAM IS AIMING TO BUILD AND HELP TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE, OF COURSE BENEFITING THE ENTIRE HOUSING STOCK BY BRINGING THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF HOMES UP.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE LOCAL CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS MAY STILL PERSIST.
FROM AN FCM STANDPOINT THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO LEVERAGE AVAILABLE FCM FUNDING BEING A SUBARCTIC COMMUNITY, AND THE INNOVATIVE DESIGN MAY MAKE YOU COMPETITIVE.
I KNOW FCM HAS A DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DISTRIBUTING FUNDING EQUITABLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FUND PROJECTS IN YELLOWKNIFE. BUT AGAIN, THAT FUNDING IS COMPETITIVE AND IT'S NOT GUARANTEED.
BUT I'M DEFINITELY HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS.
[00:25:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.OPENING IT UP, COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTIONS ARE MORE AROUND THE FUNDING AND THE ALLOCATION OF DOLLARS THERE.
SO IT'S ROUGHLY 40% ADMIN, 60% MONEY THAT GOES TOWARDS THE ACTUAL PROJECTS.
AND THE ACTUAL NUMBER PER YEAR FOR A LOAN FROM THIRD PARTY YOU HAVE AT 600,000.
HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER, IS MY QUESTION? GREAT QUESTION.
WE DID SOME MODELING BASED ON.
SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE HOUSING STOCK IN YELLOWKNIFE, WE ESTIMATED WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS WE'LL LOOK AT THE HOUSING STOCK, WE'LL LOOK AT THE TYPE OF RETROFITS THAT ARE WELL SUITED TO ACHIEVING ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION GOALS.
SO THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FINANCING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
AND THEN WE BASED THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WHILE ALSO SO CONSIDERING TYPICALLY THE COSTS ARE THAT MUCH HIGHER IN YELLOWKNIFE.
SO TRIED TO CONSIDER THAT AS WELL.
OKAY. YEAH. THE REASON I ASK IS THAT THAT NUMBER LIKE I WORK IN CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION HERE, 600 GRAND, YOU'RE LUCKY TO DO 6 OR 8 HOUSES WITH THAT MUCH MONEY WITH THE RETROFITS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO IF THERE WAS MORE DEMAND AND SO MORE CAPITAL LOANS WERE NEEDED, DOES THAT CHANGE THE CITY'S COST IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S $2 MILLION IN LOANS REQUESTED IN YEAR ONE? GREAT QUESTION.
NO. SO I THINK WHAT IS REALLY NICE ABOUT THIS YOU COULD INCREASE, LET'S SAY, THE SIZE OF THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT OCCUR AND THE COST, LET'S SAY THE LOANS ACTUALLY GO UP, BUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST TO DELIVER WOULDN'T CHANGE.
THOSE ARE ESSENTIALLY FIXED COSTS UNTIL, I GUESS, MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE A POINT THAT YOU GET TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PROJECTS WHERE YOU MIGHT NEED AN ADDITIONAL, LET'S SAY, FULL TIME STAFF, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD TAKE QUITE A WHILE BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT POINT.
BUT THE LENDERS, I WOULD ASSUME, WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE AN INCREASED VOLUME IN IN LOANS.
OKAY. YEAH. DOES THAT ANSWER? I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
IT DID. YEAH. YEAH. THE NUMBERS OF HOMES, THE EVEN THE HIGH END ARE QUITE MODERATE.
SO TO HIT THOSE NUMBERS, THAT THIRD PARTY LENDER WOULD HAVE TO BE KIND OF INTERESTED IN LOANING WAY MORE MONEY THAN I THINK IS IN THIS ITEM LINE, BUT I GUESS THAT'D BE A GOOD PROBLEM. THANKS.
COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK AND THE PRESENTATION.
YEAH. I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION AND THIS MIGHT BE FOR PRESENTERS OR STAFF OR BOTH.
SO AT WHAT STAGE IS THE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF BEING READY TO GO OR NOT? AND WHAT WOULD THE NEXT STEPS BE? WELL, MAYBE ASK MR. VAN DINE TO ANSWER THAT ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
LATER WHEN THIS IS CONSIDERED, I BELIEVE, ON NOVEMBER 12TH.
WE'LL LAY OUT THOSE IMPLICATIONS.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.
ALL OF THAT WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.
YEAH. AND I THINK EVEN HIGHER LEVEL WHETHER ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING TO PROCEED WITH THIS.
AND IF SO BUM BUM BUM IS NEXT STEPS.
BUT MR. VAN DINE IF YOU CAN ELABORATE.
AND I GUESS JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, NOVEMBER 12TH IS CURRENT, BUT THAT'S ALSO BUDGET RELEASE DAY, SO IF THAT LOOKS TOO CRAZY, IT'D BE BUMPED TO THE FOLLOWING GPC, BUT WE'LL AIM FOR NOVEMBER 12TH.
MR. VAN DINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I WOULD ADD THAT THIS, AS WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION, SINCE 2021, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONSTRUCT THE ANALYSIS AROUND WHAT WOULD POTENTIALLY WORK FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE, AND SO THAT HAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF ABSORPTION.
[00:30:05]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.AND THEN JUST ONE FOR THE PRESENTERS.
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND WE DO AS A COUNCIL TO ENSURE RESIDENTS GET THE MAXIMUM VALUE FROM THIS PROGRAM AND FROM THE WORK YOU'VE DONE? OH WELL, I THINK AGAIN, TO THE POINT EARLIER MADE.
IF YOU WERE TO PURSUE THIS PROGRAM DESIGN, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THAT ADDITIONAL RECOGNIZING THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS, BUT THE NON-FINANCIAL BARRIERS AS WELL ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND WHY WE TRIED TO DESIGN THE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT SUPPORT TO HELP HOMEOWNERS NOT ONLY MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, BUT THEN TO ACT ON THAT DECISION AND BE ABLE TO PURSUE THE UPGRADES THAT THEY WANT.
AND THE REASON WE AGAIN, DESIGNED IT THIS WAY WAS REALLY TO AGAIN, RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE ON THE CITY STAFF AND LEVERAGING THE LOCAL EXPERTISE ALREADY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.
THANKS, MAYOR ALTY. THANKS FOR COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN ASKING THAT PROCESS QUESTION.
SO KNOWING NOVEMBER 12TH IS WHERE TO REALLY HAVE MORE IN DEPTH CONVERSATION, BUT JUST FOR THE PRESENTATION YOU HAD MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT FROM YOUR PUBLIC AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT FROM YOUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS WHO SEEMED MOST LIKELY TO ACCESS THIS BOTH FROM YOUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT HERE, BUT ALSO IT SEEMS LIKE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE HIGHER MIDDLE TO HIGH INCOME RESIDENTS.
SO WITH THAT, WOULD THOSE LIKE WHEN LOOKING AT THE YELLOWKNIFE HOUSING STOCK, THEN DOES THERE SEEM TO BE A MATCH UP WITH THE ACTUAL NEED OF HOMEOWNERS? BECAUSE WHEN I THINK OF THE SORT OF NICER HOMES IN TOWN, THEY SEEM TO ALREADY BE PROBABLY RELATIVELY ENERGY EFFICIENT, AS OPPOSED TO PROBABLY THE MIDDLE TO LOWER END STOCK, WHICH IS WHERE I WOULD THINK WE WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO TARGET A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
AND I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
I MEAN, LOW TO HIGH OR SORRY, HIGHER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS DO TEND TO LIVE IN NEWER HOMES.
AND CONVERSELY, LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS DO TEND TO LIVE IN OLDER, LESS EFFICIENT HOMES.
AND I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY.
WHILE WE HAVE SEEN SOME PROGRESS, MANY FINANCING PROGRAMS DO TEND TO ATTRACT THAT MODERATE TO HIGHER INCOME BASE. THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO THROUGH DESIGN TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME.
THOSE WHO SOMETIMES AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THE LOW INCOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE JUST ABOVE THE THRESHOLDS, BUT REALLY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND NEED SUPPORT.
AND MAYBE BECAUSE THEIR INCOME IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND BENEFIT THOSE MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHO BANKS MAY NOT TRADITIONALLY FINANCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT WAS IT'S A REALLY I THINK IT'S GREAT.
I DO THINK THAT UP HERE WITH TODAY'S CLIMATE OF HIGH UTILITIES AND HIGH FUEL I THINK THAT THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTIONS ARE PROBABLY SECONDARY UP HERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
[00:35:05]
I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL SAVINGS THAT YOU COULD HAVE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD BILLS.SO WHAT KIND OF DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS SURROUNDING, LIKE UTILITY SAVINGS FROM DOWN SOUTH AND BACK EAST THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH US? OH WE DO.
I DON'T HAVE THEM ON ME RIGHT NOW, BUT AND I BELIEVE IN THE REPORT TO STAFF FOR YELLOWKNIFE.
WE ACTUALLY IF WE DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN THE REPORT, I'M SURE WE HAVE IT IN OUR MODELING IN TERMS OF THE ESTIMATED SAVINGS PER HOUSEHOLD OR AVERAGE SAVINGS, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, EACH HOUSEHOLD WILL BE UNIQUE AND IT WILL DEPEND ON THE ACTUAL MEASURES THAT THEY DO DECIDE TO DO BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE UP TO THE HOMEOWNER.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME ESTIMATES AROUND WHAT A HOUSEHOLD COULD SAVE, SO.
ABSOLUTELY. AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS OBVIOUSLY A BONUS, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S THE AFFORDABILITY SIDE OF THINGS THAT'S A REAL DRIVER FOR THIS. OKAY.
THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN, LAUREN, FOR THE REPORT.
I HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS, SO I'LL TRY TO STICK TO A FEW, BUT JUST WONDERING IF CAN WE EMAIL YOU IN QUESTIONS AND YOU CAN RESPOND THAT WAY SO I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH MY MY WHOLE WHACK. IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.
I WILL TOUCH ON SOME HIGHER LEVEL ONES THAT I THINK JUST IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT GETTING THE LENDING FROM A BANK.
JUST WHY WOULDN'T PEOPLE JUST GO TO THE BANK VERSUS USING THIS PROGRAM? A GREAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME THIRD PARTY FINANCING PROGRAMS, AND THEY DO TEND TO HAVE A HIGHER INTEREST RATE.
THERE IS SOME BENEFIT OF HAVING THE MUNICIPALITY FINANCE THE PROGRAM.
YOU CAN ACCESS SOMETIMES LOWER INTEREST RATES.
WHAT WE'RE HOPING WITH THIS DESIGN AND WE'VE SEEN SOME CASES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED BY HAVING A CREDIT ENHANCEMENT, A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGE, SOMETHING TO OFFER SECURITY AND MITIGATE RISK FOR LENDERS.
SO A HOMEOWNER IN YELLOWKNIFE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM, CAN CERTAINLY GO TO THE BANK AND FINANCE HOME ENERGY RETROFITS, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. WHAT WE'RE HOPING BY HAVING THE A MUNICIPALLY SPONSORED PROGRAM USING THE LIC, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER HOMEOWNERS LOWER INTEREST RATES THROUGH THE LOCAL LENDERS.
SO YES, WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO TAILOR THIS TO YELLOWKNIFE.
SO A LOT OF THE TALK IS LIC THE PERSON GO OR THEY GET THE LOAN FROM THE BANK, THEY PAY THE BANK, AND IF THEN THEY'RE DELINQUENT, THEN THE REMAINING LOAN GETS PUT ON THE PROPERTY AND THE CITY THEN HAS TO CHASE FOR THE DELINQUENT PAYMENTS.
AND IT WOULD I SHOULD POINT OUT IT WOULD ONLY BE THE DELINQUENT PORTION.
SO IT WOULD BECOME A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ON THE PROPERTY TAX.
AND THEY WOULD PAY THROUGH THAT.
AND I GUESS WHEN STAFF COME FORWARD, I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT IF YOU DON'T PAY YOUR TAXES IN TWO YEARS, THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CITY TO AUCTION OFF YOUR PROPERTY, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE A $50,000 LOAN NOW ADDED TO YOUR TAX BILL WHAT IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE? ON THE QUESTION OF THE HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENTS IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY HIRE HOME ENERGY ASSESSORS LIKE THEY WOULD BE PART OF THE STAFF GOING FORWARD.
NO, SORRY, THEY WOULD NOT BE STAFF.
THEIR ENERGY ADVISORS ARE LICENSED THROUGH REGISTERED SORRY, THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA.
[00:40:01]
THEY WOULD REMAIN INDEPENDENT, BUT THE CITY WOULD OFFER SUPPORT TO HELP HOMEOWNERS ACCESS HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENTS.SO THE IDEA WOULD BE THEY GO HIRE THAT ENERGY ASSESSOR.
THEY'RE NOT CHANGING HANDS WITH THE CITY.
THE CITY IS JUST PROVIDING A WEBSITE WITH LINKS TO THE HOME ENERGY ASSESSORS.
RIGHT. AND I THINK WHEN I COMING BACK TO THAT ENERGY HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT BLITZ IS SORT OF REFERRED TO, THAT'S WHERE YOU MIGHT BRING IN OUTSIDE ENERGY ADVISERS TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE LOCALLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET SORT OF HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENTS DONE IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME, RATHER THAN SOME OF THESE LONG DELAYS.
IDEALLY, IN THE LONG TERM YOU WANT TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY.
SO THAT WOULD. THERE WOULD BE EFFORTS.
AND THEY'RE GUIDED AND SUPPORTED BY ENERGY ADVISORS, BUT ON A VIRTUAL BASIS.
THANK YOU. AND SO THE COST OF BRINGING THE HOME ENERGY ASSESSORS HAS THAT BEEN BUILT INTO THE BUDGET? YES. OKAY.
OKAY. SO ON THE PROCESSING FEE, IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE $450.
WHICH THEN TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ABSORB THAT, THAT EXTRA COST.
RIGHT. AND SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY MENTIONED THESE COSTS SORRY TO, TO CUT YOU OFF THERE.
THESE ARE BASED ON THE MODERATE SCENARIO.
SO ABSOLUTELY, SOME OF THESE COSTS WOULD VARY DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT WAS A LOW OR HIGH SCENARIO.
OKAY. PERFECT. YEAH. BECAUSE I WAS WONDERING I WAS LIKE, IT'S OKAY.
SO THAT WOULD BE BASED ON THE MODERATE.
AND THEN ON THAT AFTER, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THERE WOULD BE SOME OTHER FUNDING THAT FCM PILOT GRANT, BUT AFTER THAT THEN TAXPAYERS WOULD HAVE TO FUND THAT LINE ITEM, THAT 196 TO 73,000 THAT FCM WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING.
THAT'S RIGHT. SO I MEAN SOME OF THAT IS START UP COSTS.
SO THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S A COST THAT'S GOING TO BE BORNE TO GET EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING.
ONCE YOU HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE UP AND RUNNING, THE ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WOULD BE LOWER.
BUT YES, IT AFTER THAT FCM FUNDING, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY APPLY TO FCM TO RECAPITALIZE.
SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PLAN AFTER FCM FUNDING ENDS.
THE LOAN MUST BE PAID IN FULL IF THE PROPERTY TRANSFERS OWNERSHIP.
SO JUST WONDERING WHY THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED VERSUS TYING THE LOAN TO THE PROPERTY.
IN THEORY, YES, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
AND YOU CAN TIE THE LIC TO THE PROPERTY, NOT THE HOMEOWNER.
IT HASN'T ACTUALLY BEEN SEEN AS A BENEFIT.
SO A CONDITION OF PURCHASING THE HOME SO YOU COULD ABSOLUTELY STILL DO THAT.
BUT OUR SUGGESTION WAS IT ACTUALLY IS NOT IN PRACTICE OFTENTIMES VIEWED AS A BENEFIT.
SO WE'RE SUGGESTING AND ESPECIALLY TO WHERE THE LOAN NOW WOULD BE BETWEEN THE LENDER AND THE HOMEOWNER, IT MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE THAT JUST TO HAVE THAT PAID OFF WHEN THE HOUSE IS SOLD. INTERESTING.
OKAY. THE OTHER ONE IS IN THE BUDGET IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S RECOMMENDED TO HAVE ONE ENERGY ADVISOR, BUT THEN IN THE RISK ASSESSMENT, IT TALKS ABOUT MITIGATION.
AND THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE'S TWO FTES.
SO JUST TO CONFIRM IT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE END IS JUST ONE FTE.
[00:45:02]
SORRY I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.I'LL HAVE TO DEFER AND MAYBE FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTER ON THAT QUESTION.
YEAH, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE STAFF AT THE CITY LEVEL TO NOT ONLY DO THAT CONCIERGE SERVICE, BUT ON THE FINANCE SIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE FULLY ONE FTE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ENOUGH FOR THIS PROGRAM.
SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR ON HOW MUCH THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS.
AND I THINK OH, AND THEN I GUESS THE IDEA ABOUT THE THIRD PARTY LENDER IS THAT THE CITY GOES, NEGOTIATES, WE PUT OUT AN RFP, WE GET THE BEST LENDING TERMS. AND THEN ALL PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO USE THAT BANK INSTEAD OF THEIR HOME BANK.
IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT. IF THEY WANTED TO ACCESS THE PREFERENTIAL TERMS. SO I'LL GIVE YOU EXAMPLE.
REGION OF DURHAM WORKS WITH THIRD PARTY FINANCING.
THEY HAVE A CREDIT ENHANCEMENT IN THE FORM OF A LOAN LOSS RESERVE, NOT AN LIC.
BUT THEY WENT TO LENDERS AND JUST ASKED FOR IT DIDN'T THEY DIDN'T GO TO RFP.
THEY WENT TO AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AND ASKED LENDERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND BASED ON WHAT THEY COULD OFFER AND THEN NARROWED IT DOWN TO I BELIEVE THREE LENDERS THAT THEY THEN NEGOTIATED WITH.
YEAH, DEFINITELY AN INTERESTING MODEL I'LL HAVE TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.
IT IS A SUBSTANTIAL TAX CONTRIBUTION FOR POTENTIALLY TEN HOMES.
SO IS THIS THE BEST USE OF OUR.
SO JUST TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR US TO USE OUR LIMITED DOLLARS.
BUT I'LL STAY TUNED FOR THE PACKAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION ON THIS.
ABSOLUTELY. SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS I HAVE COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.
YEAH. JUST A COMMENT LIKE COUNCILLOR PAYNE.
I KNOW THAT ALL ANY RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY SAVE, SO GETTING THOSE SAVINGS NUMBERS PER HOUSEHOLD IS THE NUMBER ONE LINE ITEM I THINK WE NEED TO PRESENT. IF WE GO WITH THIS PROGRAM, THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION WE'RE GOING TO GET ASKED.
I'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED ABOUT GHG REDUCTION ON A HOUSE EVER.
SO THE PART AROUND THE CONCIERGE PORTION OF THE ENERGY RETROFIT IN OTHER CITIES, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CONCIERGE KIND OF WRAPPED INTO OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE CITY, OR IS IT STANDALONE? KIND OF WHAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION THERE? YEAH. YEAH. AND WE'VE INCLUDED THE ENERGY CONCIERGE AND COACH SERVICE IN, I THINK ALMOST EVERY OR ALL PROGRAM DESIGNS THAT WE DO FOR FINANCING. AND WE'VE SEEN IT FOR JUST GENERAL HOME ENERGY RETROFIT PROGRAMS. IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I'LL USE REGION OF DURHAM AGAIN AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
THEY HAVE AN ENERGY CONCIERGE.
THEY'VE REALLY SEEN THEMSELVES AS FINANCING AGNOSTIC.
THEY HELP HOMEOWNERS FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR THEM.
WHAT IT MEANS PRIORITIZING UPGRADES WHERE THEY CAN GET THE RIGHT FINANCIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I COULD GATHER SOME NUMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE ACCESSING THAT CONCIERGE TYPE SERVICE. GREAT.
THANKS. YEAH, I CAN SEE THAT WORKING REALLY WELL WITH SOME OF OUR INCENTIVES COMING UP AND SOME OF OUR KIND OF GOALS IN OUR HOUSING SPACE, IF WE HAD A ONE STOP SHOP, I THINK IT WOULD FIT NICELY IF WE GO WITH IT.
REALLY JUST HELPING THEM TO NAVIGATE THE REBATE SPACE AND OTHER THINGS.
I JUST DUG UP THE SAVINGS FROM THE REPORT, SO JUST PASS THEM ON TO EVERYONE.
SO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME USING HEATING OIL.
AND THOSE PAYBACK PERIODS COULD BE BETWEEN TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS, AND MOBILE HOMES 1600 TO 3200.
SORT OF SIMILAR PAYBACK PERIODS, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH WORK YOU'RE GETTING DONE.
[00:50:04]
HOMEOWNERS? TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WANTING TO GET THAT RIGHT AND JUST WANTED TO ADD A COMMENT THAT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF SORT OF MEDIUM HIGH TO HIGH INCOME HOUSEHOLDS OF IN SORT OF LIKE EARLY 30S AGE IN YELLOWKNIFE WHO ARE RENTING AND WHO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS COULD MAKE A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO GET INTO AN OLDER HOME AND THEN ACCESS SOME OF THESE RETROFITS AND DO SOME OF THAT WORK, THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE REPORT AND THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC.
GREAT. AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
THEY CAN BE FORWARDED TO ME AND I CAN RESPOND TO YOU BY EMAIL.
[5. A presentation from Triage Metrix regarding the Street Outreach Program Evaluation. ]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM TRIAGE METRIX REGARDING THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM EVALUATION.MR. VAN DINE IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE THE CONSULTANTS PREPARE THIS PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK SOME RECOMMENDATIONS A LITTLE BIT LATER BY WAY OF A MENU. SORRY.
BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSCORE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND PRESSING QUESTIONS FACING MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND OUR TOOLS AND ABILITIES WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ARE QUITE LIMITED.
SO I'M HOPING TODAY THAT THE PRESENTATION WILL LAY OUT SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS ON HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO GROW OUR CAPACITY IN THIS RESPECT AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF YELLOWKNIFE. BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO SET THE BAR TOO HIGH TO SUGGEST THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION TO BE THE SOLUTION THAT THAT DEALS WITH ALL OF THE COMPLEX QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO HOMELESSNESS AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND ADDICTIONS.
SINCE THIS INVESTMENT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL INTO THIS PROGRAM, WE'VE RECEIVED INDICATIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA THAT THEY'VE MADE AVAILABLE SOME EMERGENCY FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ENCAMPMENTS.
AND COMBINED WITH THAT IN THE MANDATE LETTER FOR THE ASSEMBLY, THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT PORTION RELATED TO JUSTICE PROGRAMING TO ALLOW FOR RCMP OFFICERS TO POTENTIALLY HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS WITH THEM.
SO WITH THAT BACKDROP, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST INVITE THE CONSULTANT TO TAKE US THROUGH WHAT THEY FOUND AND ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO ABSORB ALL THAT IS THERE AND TO HELP US WITH OUR CONTEMPLATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN YELLOWKNIFE.
I ACTUALLY DID MY EMT PRACTICUM ALONGSIDE MR. MCLEAN AT YKFD MANY YEARS AGO.
SO THIS WAS REALLY QUITE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ME.
SO WHEN I SAW THE RFP COME OUT, I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THIS WORK.
FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE BEEN RUNNING A CONSULTING COMPANY HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE FULL TIME CALLED TRIAGE METRIX ASSOCIATES, MOSTLY FOCUSING ON HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL POLICY, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS AND SOME DATABASE WORK.
SO ANYTHING NERDY AND HEALTHCARE RELATED, I'M INTO THAT.
BROUGHT A TEAM TOGETHER OF EXPERIENCED HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROGRAM RESEARCHERS WHO SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED IN WORKING WITH VULNERABLE AND HOMELESS POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS ADVISORS TO THE PROJECT, INCLUDING A LIVED EXPERIENCE RESEARCHER, SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED ON THE STREETS FOR MANY YEARS AND HAS EXPERIENCED THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND NOT AVAILABLE, AND INDIGENOUS PATIENT ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR AND A PREVIOUS PRESIDENT OF THE YELLOWKNIFE WOMEN'S SOCIETY, WHO IS THE CURRENT OPERATOR OF THE OUTREACH PROGRAM.
AND SPECIAL THANKS. YOU KNOW, WE SPOKE WITH MANY, MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS, THE MAYOR, RCMP ACROSS THE IN THE CITY, AS WELL AS MLAS AND MINISTERS ON THE PROGRAM.
[00:55:03]
SO YOU'VE ALREADY HAD ONE PRESENTATION AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER ONE.AND THE PAPER COPY IS ABOUT 170 PAGES.
AND SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TO GO THROUGH.
SO I JUST WANT TO IMPART UPON YOU JUST SORT OF THE FOUR BIG THINGS I WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY.
THE FIRST IS THAT THE WOMEN'S SOCIETY THAT CURRENTLY OPERATES THE OUTREACH PROGRAM, THEY DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE IN THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL DATA THAT WE HAD ACCESS TO FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THEY'RE ALREADY RUNNING A $50,000 DEFICIT ON THIS PROGRAM ALONE.
AND AND I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY ATTRIBUTE ALL OF THE ACTUAL COSTS TO THE PROGRAM.
LIKE A LOT OF THE OVERHEAD COSTS, THEY DON'T I DON'T THINK ARE FULLY BURDENED BY THIS PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS HIGHLY VALUED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE STREET COMMUNITY, BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BY CITY RESIDENTS, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE. BUT TO KEEP GOING, IT NEEDS TO HAVE ADEQUATE, SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.
AND AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BY MR. VAN DINE, THIS IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
OUTREACH ITSELF DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS.
BUT THIS IS ONE IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
BUT I'D LIKE THIS TO BE THINK ABOUT THIS AS, BEING A LITTLE BIT OPERATOR AGNOSTIC.
SO IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY DIRECTED TOWARDS THE WOMEN'S SOCIETY THEMSELVES AS, AS THE OPERATORS.
SOME OF THE FINDINGS, OF COURSE, ARE BASED ON THAT, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S KEPT IN MIND.
WE HAD GREAT PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, LOTS OF VERY, VERY POSITIVE COMMENTS FROM CLIENTS ABOUT THAT AND IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT HAS TO THEM IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORTS THAT IT DOES PROVIDE TO THEM, PARTICULARLY A SAFE TRANSPORTATION TO A SAFE LOCATION, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE OUTREACH PROGRAM.
THE REALITY IS, AND I KNOW THAT UPCOMING VERY SHORTLY IS THE NEW POINT IN TIME HOMELESS COUNT.
IT VISIBLY LOOKS LIKE THAT TO US.
YELLOWKNIFE IS THE RESOURCE HUB THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE COME TO.
I'VE WORKED IN MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE NORTH.
YOU CANNOT BE HOMELESS IN GAMÈTÌ.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO SLEEP AFTER HOURS.
THERE'S NO APARTMENT BUILDING TO FIND, A STAIRWELL WHERE IT'S WARM.
SO PEOPLE MIGRATE TOWARDS PLACES WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW, THOSE SURVIVAL BEHAVIORS DO BECOME IMPORTANT.
WHEN I WORKED AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT THE OLD STANTON, THIS SERVICE DID NOT EXIST, AND WE CALLED UPON THE RCMP ON A DAILY BASIS TO COME AND PICK PEOPLE UP WHO DIDN'T NEED TO BE WITH US, BUT THEY NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO GO.
WE COULDN'T JUST KICK THEM OUTSIDE.
WE SPOKE WITH A NUMBER OF STAFF AT THE HOSPITAL ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WHEN WE TALKED TO SOMEBODY ELSE AT THE GNWT, THEY THINK THE ONLY OTHER SURVEY THAT HAS EVER BEEN CONDUCTED IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES THAT HAD MORE VALIDATED RESPONSES WAS WHEN THEY WAS THE SURVEY AROUND CHANGING THE NAME OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.
AND THE NUMBER ONE ANSWER WAS, BOB.
THEY HAD ABOUT, I THINK, 900 RESPONSES TO THAT.
SO REALLY HAPPY TO SEE SUCH GOOD PARTICIPATION.
WE SPOKE WITH MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE AROUND THE CITY.
WE SPOKE WITH MANY BUSINESSES, DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, UPTOWN BUSINESSES.
I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SAY UPTOWN.
TO ME, UPTOWN IS IF YOU LIVE IN.
BY STANTON BUSINESSES A NUMBER OF MLAS CITY COUNCILLORS AND THE MAYOR, RCMP BYLAW ETC.
AS I SAID, THE PROGRAM DOES A LOT WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.
THEY PROVIDE SAFE RIDES FOR CLIENTS, WHICH IS THEIR PRIMARY MANDATE.
AND THE CLIENTS REALLY TRUST THE SERVICE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT IT DIVERTS THE WORKLOAD FROM EMS AND RCMP, AND PROVIDES CONNECTIONS TO POPULATIONS, TO SERVICES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE GET.
[01:00:02]
SOME OF THE FUNDING. THROUGH THE REACHING HOME PROGRAM THE CITY HAS GIVEN TO THE WOMEN'S SOCIETY, THEY WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE A NEW VEHICLE THAT WAS DONE AFTER OUR REPORT PERIOD CLOSED, SO WE CAN'T REPORT ON THAT.BUT I'VE SEEN IT AROUND TOWN, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND THAT IS THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS SERVICE.
SOMETIMES YOU CALL IT WASN'T AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE VAN WAS BROKEN DOWN.
THERE'S ALSO SOME CHALLENGES AROUND THE INCONSISTENCIES OF THE SERVICE.
IT'S CURRENTLY BEING OPERATED ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO PLAN YOUR SERVICE WHEN YOU'RE OPERATING ON FUNDING THAT YOU KNOW, THAT ISN'T ISN'T SUSTAINED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COME AS NEWS TO ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT THE LACK OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
WE SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SPOKE TO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE SAID, YES, THESE WE HAVE THESE COORDINATION GROUPS WE GO TO. SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.
SOME OF THE MEETINGS WERE BEING HELD INCONSISTENTLY.
IN TERMS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE FOR A REVISED PROGRAM THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF YELLOWKNIFE IT'S FOCUSED AROUND PROVIDING MORE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, MORE WALKABOUTS.
AND SO THOSE THOSE PIECES KIND OF ALL GO TOGETHER INTO ONE PACKAGE OF REALLY OUTREACH SERVICES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY BEING PROVIDED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS EXPANDED HOURS, OR AT LEAST SHIFTING THE HOURS TO MEET THE NEEDS REALLY TO BE A BIT LATER IN THE DAY TO MORE TO MATCH THE HOURS THAT THE SHELTERS ACCEPT PEOPLE TO COME IN.
WE MAKE THREE RECOMMENDED GOALS FOR A REVISED PROGRAM AROUND TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND OUTREACH, MAKING SURE THAT RELIABLE, SAFE TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE. ENGAGEMENT AND DE-ESCALATION BY OUTREACH WORKERS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ADDED, AND THAT THERE'S IMPROVED OUTREACH AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND CONNECTION TO SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM.
SO I'M NOT POINTING A FINGER AT YOU, PARTICULARLY AS THE CITY, BUT AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS, I KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGE TO FIND SUSTAINABLE FUNDING, BUT AS I SAID, IT'S REALLY HARD TO OPERATE ANY PROGRAM OR SERVICE, ESPECIALLY AS A NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCY, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU'RE IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MONEY AND HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COME IS GOING TO COME.
THE OPERATOR AND RIGHT NOW AS WELL, WOULD LIKELY USE SOME SUPPORT IN GOVERNANCE IN TERMS OF COORDINATING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND THOSE PIECES THAT GO ON BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT WAS AN AREA WE IDENTIFIED WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHERE ALL THE MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING, WHO'S GOING TO THEM, THE TIME TO GO TO THEM.
SO, SO THAT SORT OF SUPPORT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS COORDINATED AND ENSURE THAT THIS SERVICE IS INCORPORATED INTO A BROADER RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THIS ISN'T GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IT'S ONE PIECE OF IT.
IN TERMS OF HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE'VE LAID OUT TWO DIFFERENT STEPS.
THE FIRST PART IS TO STRENGTHEN THE CORE PROGRAM.
ESSENTIALLY, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OPERATING PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY, AND THEN IN THE NEXT PHASE, TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY FOR THE PROGRAM TO CONDUCT MORE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.
WE'VE IN THE REPORT, WE TALK ABOUT DOING THIS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
YOU MAY HAVE AN OPERATOR THAT'S READY TO GO DAY ONE.
GREAT. NOT OFTEN HOW IT WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW PROGRAM, A REVISED PROGRAM.
SO WE'VE WRITTEN IT TO BE IN FOR THAT REALITY.
IT'S AVAILABLE AND TO HAVE A SECONDARY BACKUP VEHICLE AVAILABLE IN CASE THE ONE IS OFF THE ROAD.
WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE VEHICLE RESPONDED SORT OF ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS WITHOUT NECESSARILY BEING EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF, WELL, IF WE GO TO THIS END OF TOWN, WE CAN PICK UP THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.
IT WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.
SO SOME OF THOSE EFFICIENCIES WOULD ALLOW MORE TIME FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE OTHERWISE DRIVING THE VAN TO THEN PERFORM OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. AND THEN AND POTENTIALLY SOME SORT OF DISPATCH SERVICE THAT MAY INTEGRATE WITH YKFD DISPATCH OR EMS OR RCMP DISPATCH SO THAT IF THIS IS THE RIGHT RESOURCE TO RESPOND, RATHER THAN SENDING RCMP OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, IT CAN BE COORDINATED THAT WAY.
[01:05:08]
ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE, MAKING SURE THE PROGRAM IS MORE RECOGNIZABLE.I'VE SEEN IT AROUND TOWN AND ALSO THE STAFF THEMSELVES.
IF THEY ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE MAKE IS THAT THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF UNIFORM OR EVEN JUST LIKE A HIGH VIS VEST THAT SAYS STREET OUTREACH ON IT, SO THAT IT'S REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE HAULING PEOPLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THROWING THEM INTO THE BACK OF AN UNMARKED VAN, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS HAPPENING OR, YOU KNOW, WITH THE OLD VAN.
SO WE KNOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING PICKED UP, DROPPED OFF.
AND PROPER TRAINING FOR STAFF WITH HIGH STAFF TURNOVER, IT'S HARD TO KEEP EVERYBODY UP TO DATE ON THEIR FIRST AID, THEIR CPR, THEIR SAFE LIFTING PRACTICES, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE STAFF ARE APPROPRIATELY COMPENSATED.
AND I YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CAME UP LAST YEAR IN THE YOU KNOW, IT WAS IN THE NEWS, IT WAS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ABOUT NOT FOR PROFITS YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING STAFF.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE EXPECTED TO DO SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE.
YOU ONLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT DAY SHELTER THAT NO NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCY WOULD TAKE ON.
SO HOW DO YOU EXPECT AN AGENCY TO RETAIN RECRUIT, RETAIN QUALITY STAFF IN A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE? IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT.
IT ALSO SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE OR A, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A NEGATIVE MESSAGE TO SAY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE RESOURCE WE CAN FIND AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO DO THE HARDEST WORK, WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY EITHER INDIGENOUS OR NOT, ARE NEW TO CANADA AND WOMEN WE'RE GOING TO PAY THEM THE CHEAPEST AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN TO DO ALL OF THIS WORK.
IT SENDS A REALLY NEGATIVE MESSAGE NOT ONLY TO THE STAFF BUT TO THE POPULATION THAT IS SERVED.
AND THAT'S NOT REALLY THE SCOPE OF THIS, BUT WE DO TALK ABOUT THIS IN HERE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPERLY FUNDING YOUR STAFF, EVEN IF THEY ARE WORKING FOR A NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCY. NOT FOR PROFIT AGENCY SHOULD NOT MEAN THAT THEY GET TO BE THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE RESOURCE THAT'S JUST IT'S NOT FAIR.
IT'S NOT RIGHT. SO WE TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE POINT TO SOME OF THE RESEARCH AROUND THAT.
AND THE OTHER BENEFIT OF THAT FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN, THAT BUSINESSES SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN, THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN IS IN A POPULATION OF WORKERS THAT ARE DOING THIS SORT OF WORK EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU GIVE TO THEM GOES BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.
THEY BUY MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
THEY ENROLL THEIR KIDS IN SPORTS.
THEY'RE NOT JETTING OFF ON A HOT HOLIDAY.
SO THAT MONEY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN INVESTMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXPENSE.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE INVESTMENT THAT GOES INTO THAT STAFF HAS A DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MARGINAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE FROM YOUR WORKFORCE, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT MONEY IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO KEEP THAT IN MIND IN TERMS OF WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.
WE CAN'T GO IN TO HELP SOMEBODY OUT.
NOT NECESSARILY TRUE, BUT THERE WASN'T NECESSARILY A POLICY ON THAT.
AND THEN MOVING INTO MORE OUTREACH WORK, WHICH IS REALLY THE IMPORTANT, OTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THIS IS TO HIRE AN OUTREACH WORKER AND ALSO A PEER SUPPORT WORKER, AND WE MAKE THE DISTINCTION.
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS EMPLOY PEOPLE ON A CASUAL, PART TIME OR FULL TIME BASIS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, BEEN HOMELESS, BEEN ON THE STREETS, AND YOU GET A LOT OF CREDIBILITY FROM HAVING THOSE, HAVING PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM THAT HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT, THEY HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS, THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO HELP STEP PEOPLE INTO PART TIME, FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL.
[01:10:07]
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FOUND IS THAT WAS AROUND INFORMATION SHARING.YOU KNOW, THE OUTREACH PROGRAM WOULD GIVE A LIST OF NAMES TO THE SHELTER ABOUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT WE WANT YOU TO LOOK OUT FOR.
BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT, WELL, WHAT CAN I SHARE BACK WITH YOU? BECAUSE SINCE WE'RE RUN BY A HEALTH AUTHORITY, IS THIS INFORMATION UNDER THE HEALTH INFORMATION ACT, WHICH REQUIRES CONSENT FOR DISCLOSURE? ET CETERA, ET CETERA. ET CETERA.
ASIDE FROM WHAT WE RECOMMEND, I ALSO WANT TO POINT TO FOUR SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING, AND ONE IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THERE WAS A PRESENTATION BEFORE COUNCIL LAST YEAR FOR PARAMEDIC SERVICES.
THERE'S LIMITED EVIDENCE THAT PARAMEDICS THEMSELVES WOULD ADD BENEFIT TO THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEY SAID THAT FOR THEM, IT WAS A REALLY IT WAS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED STAFF TEAM OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT THEY COULD JUST GO AND GET YOU CAN GO AND HIRE PARAMEDICS TODAY.
THEY HAVE ALL THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, GUIDELINES IN PLACE.
SO THEY SAID THAT WAS REALLY THE NEED THAT THEY SAW AND THAT WAS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET THAT.
WE DIDN'T SEE EVIDENCE THAT THEY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL COULD BE DIVERTED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY JUST CLEAR SOMEONE ON THE STREET LIKE THEY MIGHT NEED TO BE OBSERVED FOR A FEW HOURS.
THEY MIGHT NEED TO HAVE SOME LAB TESTS DONE.
THEY MIGHT NEED A CT SCAN. YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
A COMMUNITY CARE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM, HOWEVER BROADLY FOR THE CITY, MAY BE A GOOD INVESTMENT.
WE ALSO DON'T RECOMMEND THAT THIS PROGRAM ITSELF LEAD OR FUND PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES.
THERE ARE SOME TIMES THAT THE OUTREACH PROGRAM WAS HANDING OUT CONDOMS, HANDING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT IMMUNIZATIONS, SAFE, DRUG USE SUPPLIES. AND WHILE THOSE ARE GOOD ACTIVITIES FOR THEM TO DO IN TERMS OF DETERMINING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, WHY THAT SHOULD BE DONE, AND PROVIDING THE PAYMENT FOR THE FUNDING FOR THAT SHOULD COME FROM PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS, NOT FROM THIS TEAM THEMSELVES.
AND IT SHOULDN'T COME OUT OF THEIR BUDGET TO GO OUT AND BUY THOSE THINGS.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT A MOBILE SHELTER SERVICE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
MUCH BETTER TO SPEND THEY'RE EXPENSIVE.
AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN YELLOWKNIFE.
WE'RE FAIRLY CONTAINED FOOTPRINT.
AND WE ALSO RECOMMEND AGAINST INCREASED ENFORCEMENT.
WE CERTAINLY HEARD A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM BUSINESSES AROUND THE NEED FOR THE FRUSTRATIONS AROUND SEEING, YOU KNOW, FIGHTS OR BEHAVIORS ON THE STREETS THAT WERE WHERE THEY FELT LIKE ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE UTILIZED.
THE YOU KNOW, WHAT WE THINK IS A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WAY IS FOR OUTREACH WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO BE TRIAGED TO GET TO THOSE SITUATIONS ON A MORE ON A, ON A QUICKER BASIS AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS.
WHEN YOU SEE THE POLICE COMING, YOU MIGHT NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT IT.
VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH IN TERMS OF HOW YOU CAN DE-ESCALATE.
THEY'RE OVERBURDENED. THEY ARE YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DEMANDS UPON THEM.
MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT IS IT'S NOT IN THEIR MANDATE TO PROVIDE THIS SORT OF ENFORCEMENT.
THEY CAN REMOVE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRESPASSING ON CITY PROPERTY OR IN CITY FACILITIES.
AND NOR DO WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO SO.
I WON'T GET TOO, TOO MUCH INTO THE BUDGET DETAILS, BUT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED, WE'RE LOOKING AT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $850,000 IN YEAR ONE.
AND THAT'S WHY IT DROPS INTO YEAR TWO.
[01:15:01]
THAT'S WHERE YOUR WHERE YOUR MONEY, WHERE YOUR FUNDING INCREASES.OF COURSE, THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND.
AND THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES INTO OUTREACH.
SO BUT IF YOU HAVE BETTER DATA IN TERMS OF WHEN THE NEEDS ARE, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO LIMIT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF BY HAVING LIKE A SCHEDULE, LIKE A, YOU KNOW, LIKE RUN A BUS ROUTE OF PICKUP THAT GOES TO THE SHELTERS AT CERTAIN PEAK HOURS OF THE DAY, AND THEN YOUR STAFF THAT ARE WHEN THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT, THEY CAN DO MORE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ALWAYS LOOK AT REDUCING THE STAFF SALARY.
AND THAT'S A DANGEROUS GAME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PIECES I'VE POINTED OUT, THE PROGRAM ALREADY FACES VERY HIGH STAFF TURNOVER BECAUSE THE RATE OF YOU CAN MAKE MORE MONEY DOING A LOT OF THAT, YOU CAN MAKE MORE MONEY WORKING AT TIM HORTONS THAN YOU CAN BE AN OUTREACH WORKER WITH THIS PROGRAM.
SO WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH ABUSE YOU TAKE THAT PEOPLE TAKE AT TIM HORTONS.
SO WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR ALL THIS? THE BIG QUESTION THE CITY HAS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN THIS ONGOING DISCUSSION FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, ARE FRUSTRATED.
WE'VE HEARD FROM TOUR OPERATORS AND THE TOURISM ASSOCIATION ABOUT THE IMPACT IT HAS ON TOURISM.
AND THEIR COMMENT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REALIZE THAT HOMELESSNESS LIKE THIS EXISTS EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, BUT HOW WE RESPOND TO IT AND HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YELLOWKNIFE IS A VERY BUSY PLACE.
OTHERWISE PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVER.
THERE YOU ARE IN THE NEWS LAST WEEK.
YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE CITY'S JOB TO PROVIDE HOUSING.
IT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S ON YOUR LAPS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT YOU WILL.
SOME OF THESE YOU WILL KNOW ABOUT.
THE REACHING HOME FUNDING IS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT COMES THROUGH THE CITY TO FUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
SOME OF THE FUNDING RIGHT NOW COMES FROM THAT, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HEALTH AUTHORITY AROUND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AROUND HOME CARE AND PALLIATIVE CARE.
THEY SAID THAT DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE FURTHER DISCUSSION WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIFIC OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THAT COULD HELP TO FUND THIS PROGRAM.
BUT REALLY, THIS IS AN IDEAL PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE MULTIPLE MANDATES OF GOVERNMENTS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR MANDATES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE ASSEMBLY HAS COMMITTED TO THIS, OUR CURRENT TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.
I'M GOING TO LOOK AT SHAUNA THERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THAT THESE ARE PRIORITIES TO LOOK AT.
HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS.
HOW DO WE BUILD STRONG ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA? HOW DO WE CREATE SAFE COMMUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS? THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MEETING ALL OF THESE PRIORITIES.
THE MANDATE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
EXECUTIVE INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS HAS SET UP AN ENTIRE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A SECRETARIAT, BUT THEY'VE SET UP A TEAM WHOSE JOB THEIR FIRST TASK IS TO TAKE ON HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE MET WITH THEM AND WE SAID, OKAY, GREAT.
WHERE'S THE MONEY? THEY SAID, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY.
OUR JOB IS TO COORDINATE ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND PLAYERS AND PEOPLES AND BRING THEM TOGETHER.
WELL, HERE IS A PROGRAM THAT'S ALL SET TO GO THAT YOU CAN TAKE.
[01:20:01]
IT'S PROVEN THAT IT'S A GREAT SERVICE.AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT COMES WITH AN EVALUATION MODEL AND A LOGIC MODEL.
ALL THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENTS WANT TO SEE.
BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS I'D HAVE TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT OUR NUMBERS, BUT AROUND 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE INTERVIEWED FROM THE STREET POPULATION ARE NOT FROM YELLOWKNIFE.
BUT IT'S THE MAJORITY HAVE COME FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE HOMELESS IN GAMETI.
SO MY RESPONSE TO MLAS WHO RIGHTLY SO WANT TO SEE MORE SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY IS TO SAY, WELL, THE REALITY IS THAT PEOPLE COME HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE SERVICES ARE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WELL, NUMBER ONE, SUPPORT THE PEOPLE FROM YOUR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY HERE AND THEN USE THESE SORTS OF MODELS LIKE OUTREACH WORKERS, LIKE PEER SUPPORT, AND TRY THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES TO SEE IF THOSE WOULD WORK.
AND THAT WOULD HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO BOTH GET THEM HOME AFTER BEING HERE, BUT ALSO KEEP THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO YELLOWKNIFE OR ANOTHER CENTER.
THE ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT THE HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS TAKE AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO TAKE, IS AROUND COORDINATED ACCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY NEED SERVICES, THAT ALL OF THE AGENCIES ARE COMING TOGETHER AROUND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT NEEDS THOSE SERVICES.
THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO THIS IS INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY.
WE'VE DONE THIS IN HEALTH CARE FOR YEARS.
WE HAD THE INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL THAT WE DEVELOPED BACK IN THE EARLY 2000, WHERE IT'S REALLY DESIGNED AROUND THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE AND BRINGING ALL THOSE SERVICES AROUND THEM. SO THIS IS A REALLY EXCELLENT WAY IN TERMS OF A STARTING POINT, TO SAY, THIS IS HOW THIS PROGRAM DELIVERS ON THESE OBJECTIVES IN A WAY THAT MEETS THESE PLACES.
AND THE MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS CALLS FOR JUSTICE.
YOU'LL PROBABLY ALSO REMEMBER A REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR, A RATHER SCATHING REPORT AROUND THE OVER POLICING OF HOMELESS INDIGENOUS WOMEN, AND SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE AROUND PROVIDING MORE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES RATHER THAN AGAIN, TAKING A PUNITIVE APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS AND TO AND TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THAT IF YOU ARE A MAN LIVING IN ON THE STREETS OF YELLOWKNIFE, THERE IS NOWHERE FOR YOU TO STAY FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS AT A TIME.
YOU HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING.
THE MORNING YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP AGAIN AND MOVE.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO KEEP YOUR STUFF.
SO THIS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE TO MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE BY DEFAULT IS GOING TO MAKE YOUR HOMELESS POPULATION VERY VISIBLE ON THE STREETS.
THIS IS ONE OF THIS IS A POLICY CHALLENGE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERMANENT OR NO CURRENT SHELTER SERVICES FOR MEN THAT ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN ONE PLACE FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS AT A TIME.
SO YOUR POPULATION IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS MOVING.
AGAIN, THE WE THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PACKAGE OF AS A PROPOSAL TO GOVERNMENT FUNDING AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY THE BODY THAT SITS UNDER EXECUTIVE AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS THAT IS TASKED WITH COORDINATING THE SERVICES AND FINDING THESE RESOURCES TO SAY HERE, THIS IS READY TO GO.
YOU WANT SOME THAT MEETS THIS MANDATE.
HERE IS A GOOD STARTING POINT, AND IT'S A SERVICE THAT WE NEED.
THE, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE SAID AS WELL YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
THEY HAVE TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE.
SO THEN THAT VISITS THAT PROBLEM VISITS ITSELF ON SOMEBODY ELSE.
THAT PERSON CAN'T STAY OUTSIDE AT 40 BELOW.
SO WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO A STAIRWELL.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO AND HIDE OUT AT THE HOSPITAL.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
[01:25:02]
INTENSIVE RESOURCES, MORE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT IS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T AREN'T GOING TO BE KICKED OUT IN THE COLD, WHICH IS WHAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE, BECAUSE THEN THEY END UP, YOU KNOW, THEY END UP AT THE MALL, THEY END UP ON THE STREETS, THEY END UP BEING VERY VISIBLE, THE PEOPLE WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS.I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT MONITORING AND EVALUATION, BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO NERD OUT ABOUT THESE SORTS OF FRAMEWORKS, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO READ THE PART OF THAT.
BUT THE ONE POINT THAT I WILL POINT OUT ABOUT, ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE'VE, REALLY STRUCTURED THIS AROUND, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNDING OR ORGANIZATIONS ARE OFTEN REQUIRED.
YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENTS LOVE LOGIC MODELS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DOZENS OR HUNDREDS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH OVER, MY CAREER, BUT THEY'RE OFTEN NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY OFTEN DON'T REALLY MEET THE OPERATIONAL NEED OF THE ORGANIZATION. SO WE'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK AND THINKING INTO ENSURING THAT THE INFORMATION IN HERE HELPS TO DRIVE A CONVERSATION.
SO EVERY PIECE OF DATA THAT'S COLLECTED SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE USED, NOT AT THREE YEARS WHEN YOU DO THE EVALUATION, BUT FOR THE OPERATOR TO BE ABLE TO TAKE AND UTILIZE ON A REGULAR BASIS TO TALK ABOUT AT THEIR MONTHLY STAFF MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT AT THEIR INTER-AGENCY MEETINGS, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW TO MAKE MORE FREQUENT UPDATES TO HOW THEY'RE OPERATING THEIR PROGRAM IN SMALL WAYS THAT AREN'T SO FORMAL AND STRUCTURED, AS WE USUALLY SEE IN A LOGIC MODEL.
BUT I'M CERTAINLY MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AROUND THAT SHOULD YOU DESIRE.
I'LL END BY JUST TAKING THIS QUOTE FROM THE SURVEY.
PEOPLE SEE THIS LIKE 90% OF THE PEOPLE WE SURVEYED KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE STREET PROGRAM WAS.
THEY'D HEARD OF IT, THEY'D SEEN IT, THEY'D CALLED IT THEMSELVES.
THEY'D ASKED THEM TO CALL ON THEIR BEHALF.
SO IT'S VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW.
YOU CAN FILTER THOSE THROUGH AND SPECIAL THANKS AS WELL TO GRANT AND CARLY AND DAN AND THE TEAM.
THEY WERE REALLY EXCELLENT TO WORK WITH ON THIS PROJECT.
AND YEAH, WE WILL PROBABLY TAKE YOU UP, OR AT LEAST I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
SO I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT EMAIL OFFER.
BUT WE HAVE REACHED OUR 90 MINUTE MARK, SO LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK AND COME BACK AT 1:45 P.M.
AND WE WILL LAUNCH INTO SOME QUESTIONS.
OKAY. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE EVALUATION, THE REPORT, THE PRESENTATION.
SCOTT, THANKS FOR ALL OF THE WORK FOR ONE, BUT YOUR PRESENTATION AS WELL.
HAVING GONE TO THE CANADIAN ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS CONFERENCE LAST YEAR AND HAVING TO TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE DONE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING HERE IT WAS VERY GOOD TO READ THIS REPORT AND SORT OF SEE THE TANGIBLE BACKGROUND RESEARCH THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS, BUT ALSO OUTLINING A PROGRAM THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND CAN ALIGN WITH OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED IN THE TERRITORY.
SO JUST A BIT OF BACKGROUND TO THAT.
AND ALSO HAVING FROM A LOBBYING AND ADVOCACY PERSPECTIVE, WELL DONE.
I HOPE THE MEDIA REALLY PICKS UP ON THIS ONE.
SO I GUESS MY SHOCKINGLY, MAYBE NOT SHOCKINGLY FOR CITY COUNCIL, MY BIGGEST ZONE IN HERE UNTIL ADMIN COMES BACK TO US IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT FOR YOU IS AROUND THE RECOMMENDATION 1.1 AROUND THE COST.
AND SORT OF THE FUNDING PIECE.
YOU KNOW, IT SAYS CITY ACT IN A COORDINATING ROLE FOR FUNDING.
SO WHEN I READ THAT, I WAS THINKING LONG TERM, WHICH MADE ME A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I THINK, HOW DO WE ACTUALLY FIT INTO A SYSTEM WHERE, AS YOU SAID, EIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND ACTUALLY THE PROVIDERS WHO RECEIVE MOST OF THEIR FUNDING FROM THE GNWT.
SO IT MADE ME A LITTLE NERVOUS OF HOW DOES THE CITY ACTUALLY FIT IN THIS.
BUT DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU SEEM TO INDICATE MORE OF A ROLE FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF ACTING AS A COORDINATOR, SORT OF IN THE SHORT TERM AND MOVING THAT FORWARD. SO I JUST IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME CLARITY AROUND THAT.
SO I HAVE THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[01:30:02]
YOU BRING I THINK YOU PROVIDE ALL OF, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE FUNDING TO THIS PROGRAM THAT I BELIEVE COMES ENTIRELY THROUGH THE REACHING HOME PROGRAM AND TAXES OR ONLY TAX.JUST TAXES. SO, SO IN TERMS OF YES, IN SHORT TERM, IF THERE'S A WAY FOR YOU TO YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT FINDING OUT LIKE WHAT AVENUES YOU HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO PUT YOURSELF OUT OF A JOB LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAND THIS OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE TO MANAGE OR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION, TO MANAGE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU DON'T WANT THIS TO BE NECESSARILY TO BE YOURS TO MANAGE.
THE REALITY IS IT'S YOURS RIGHT NOW.
AND UNTIL THAT GETS SORTED OUT.
BUT THE YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING TO, YOU KNOW, TO MEET WITH THE CITY STAFF AROUND ALL THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON WITH THE COALITIONS HERE IN THE CITY, AND THE DIFFERENT TABLES THAT ARE OCCURRING.
BUT THOSE NEED TO GET THOSE ARE STILL IN THEIR INFANCY AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THOSE MEAN AND WHAT THOSE ROLES ARE GOING TO BE, AND THERE'S SOME OVERLAP AND UNDERLAP.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IN THE SHORT TERM IS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO SORT OF STEER THIS IN THE SHORT TERM TO MAKE SURE THIS KEEPS GOING, AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HAND IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE FUTURE.
LIKE WHERE DOES. BECAUSE TO ME ULTIMATELY IT'S THE CITY'S TAX DOLLARS PAYING IT THROUGH PROPERTY TAX OR IT'S THE GNWT THROUGH INCOME TAX OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH REACHING HOME. LIKE IT'S ALL TAX OR DEBT IF IT'S OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
SO MY CONCERN IS MORE FROM AN EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT, WHICH IS WHERE IT WAS NICE TO READ YOUR REPORT BECAUSE YOU SEE ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES AND WHERE THE SORT OF ODDBALL OUT ON OVER HERE RIGHT NOW, FUNDING A PROGRAM SUPER IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY DOES RECOGNIZE AND SEE THE VALUE IN.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THE, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING LINKED TOGETHER.
SO NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PROVIDING THIS REPORT, THIS RESEARCH AND A PATH FORWARD.
SO THANKS AGAIN, SCOTT. YEAH, THANKS.
AND I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, TO ADD TO THAT AGAIN, LIKE THE DIVISION WITHIN EIA FOR THE GNWT, I MEAN THEY TOOK THIS ON, THEY ANNOUNCED THAT HOMELESSNESS WAS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY AND THEIR JOB IS TO COORDINATE ALL THE PIECES.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM YOU KNOW, FROM AN ADVOCACY STANDPOINT, GOING TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE CHANNELS TO THAT BODY AND SAYING, OKAY, HERE'S SOME PIECES THAT NEED HELP COORDINATING, YOU KNOW, LIKE HERE, LIKE IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO DO.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE VERY BUSY WITH OTHER PIECES.
I DON'T KNOW, WE INTERVIEWED THEM BACK IN, YOU KNOW, IN FEBRUARY.
AND A LOT MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THE SOLUTIONS TO THEM ABOUT FULFILLING THEIR MANDATE.
THIS IS ONE PIECE I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK AND THE.
YEAH, VERY WELL RESEARCHED SORT OF CLEAR REPORT.
DESPITE THE SORT OF NEW ONE THAT'S THERE.
AND IS THAT JUST RELATED TO THE OPERATOR AGNOSTIC APPROACH YOU TOOK? OKAY. YES. THE WE DIDN'T WRITE IT ASSUMING THAT THE CURRENT OPERATOR WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE IT.
SO WE DESIGNED IT FROM SCRATCH TO SAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THIS OUT TO AS AN RFP TO SAY, HERE ARE THE PARAMETERS, HERE'S OUR GENERAL BUDGET THAT WE HAVE, AND YOU COME BACK TO US WITH A SOLUTION IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A RELIABLE VEHICLE AND A BACKUP PLAN, THEN THEY DON'T NEED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, OR THEY CAN ALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO A DIFFERENT COMPONENT. AND THE OTHER OTHER PIECE THAT THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT TO IN TERMS OF AN ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY THAT IS DISCUSSED IN THE REPORT, I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO GET TOO FAR LOST IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CERTAINLY KNOW OR CERTAINLY HEARD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS STRUGGLE WITH HAVING SOME OF THAT CAPACITY, LIKE THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT DOING THE STUFF, BUT FIGURING OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT DATA AND ORGANIZING THOSE PIECES AND GOING TO THOSE MEETINGS, THAT CAN BE A LOT OF WORK AND REALLY CHALLENGING FOR THEM.
THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT, YOU KNOW, FREE QUOTE UNQUOTE, IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THAT TO TAKE SOMEONE WHO HAS JUST GRADUATED WITH A BUSINESS DEGREE OR A PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE OR, YOU KNOW, ECONOMICS, SOCIAL WORK, ANY, NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ON A PART TIME BASIS OR FULL TIME BASIS
[01:35:10]
DURING THEIR INTERNSHIP YEAR TO HELP IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.SO IT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT A DEPARTMENT COULD CONTRIBUTE AN IN-KIND OR NON-CASH CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PROGRAM TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL, AND THEN IT WOULD REDUCE THE ACTUAL CASH REQUIREMENT TO OPERATE THE PROGRAM.
AND SO WHAT SORT OF ACTIVITIES DO YOU SO JUST REFERENCING THE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE FOR THE CITY TO COORDINATE FUNDING AND THEN LISTS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE THAT FUNDING COULD COME FROM? SORT OF WHAT ACTIVITIES DO YOU FORESEE, LIKE A CITY EMPLOYEE DOING IN ORDER TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A GNWT TEAM WHO'S SPECIFICALLY TASKED WITH THAT EXACT JOB? YEAH. AND IT'S.
I THINK IT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE A MEETING WITH, YOU KNOW, YOUR HOMELESSNESS COORDINATOR TEAM WITH PERHAPS WITH EIA AND SAY LIKE, LOOK I WOULD PROBABLY SAY LIKE WORK WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THEIR WHERE THIS BALANCE IS BECAUSE WHEN WE MET WITH THEM, THEY HAD JUST STARTED UP AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, JUST GETTING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR, YOU KNOW, OBJECTIVE WAS GOING TO BE AROUND HOMELESSNESS, IS THAT HOMELESSNESS IS OUR FIRST PROJECT.
SO GOING BACK TO THEM AT THIS POINT AND SAYING, ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS SINCE WE TALKED TO YOU AND, HOW SHOULD WE PROCEED? THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD TIMING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION AND FOCUS ON THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND SOME URGENCY OR EMERGENCY AROUND THIS.
SO GOING BACK AND SEEING WHAT IDEAS THEY HAVE THE OTHER THING THAT, YOU KNOW, I HEARD SOME CONVERSATION AROUND MAYBE HEALTH CANADA HAVING FUNDING FOR TO HELP TO SUPPORT SOME OF THIS WORK, YOU KNOW, AND THIS GETS AGAIN, THIS IS OUT OF SCOPE, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, LIKE THERE IS I BELIEVE THERE'S A CONTAINER SOMEWHERE EITHER THAT THE CITY HAS OR THE HEALTH AUTHORITY HAS THAT HAS AN EMERGENCY FIELD HOSPITAL.
SO IF YOU NEED A WARM PLACE TO SET UP, YOU KNOW, ON AN URGENT BASIS WHERE PEOPLE CAN NOT FREEZE TO DEATH, THAT MAY BE A RESOURCE THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE OR THAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE TO YOU THAT COULD BE PUT INTO USE.
SO I THINK LIKE THOSE SORTS OF BRINGING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER THAT UNDERSTAND THE PIECES THAT EXIST IN DIFFERENT PLACES, LIKE THAT'S WHAT I THINK EIA'S ROLE WAS LIKE THIS PART, THIS BODY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING TO COORDINATE, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO UNDERSTAND WHO'S DOING WHAT AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT AGAIN, I LIKE THE PUSHBACK ON THE FUNDING PIECE.
I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY YOU KNOW, I EXPECT IF THE GOVERNMENT IS THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO MEET ITS MANDATE, LIKE ALL THESE MANDATE PIECES FIT INTO THESE TYPES OF STRATEGIES, AND I FEEL IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO TAKE A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT THESE TO DO THAT.
IS THERE PLANS TO PRESENT THIS REVIEW OR THE FUNDING MODEL OR THE PROPOSED PROGRAM DIRECTLY TO THE TERRITORIAL OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ON ANY LEVEL? THAT'S UP TO YOU YOU KNOW, MY OUR JOB WAS TO DELIVER THIS REPORT TO YOU AND UP TO YOU NOW, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THAT? I HOPE YOU DO.
THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD COST TO OPERATE.
THESE ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU'RE FREE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT NEXT.
YEAH. THERE'S SOME OF THAT HEAVY LIFTING THAT'S STILL TO COME, BUT.
MR. VAN DINE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD HAD WHEN WE DESIGNED THE PARTICULAR APPROACH AT THIS POINT, AND SO FAR, THE INDICATIONS OF THE QUALITY OF THE REPORT ARE SUCH THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THIS VERY EFFECTIVELY IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN NOW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LIKE WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND WE DO AS A COUNCIL TO ACHIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO ACHIEVE AND TO IMPLEMENT THIS REVIEW IN SOME WAY THAT THAT MAKES PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.
[01:40:08]
OF THERE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO AND IT'S ABOUT TO GET VERY COLD.ONE OF MY FRIENDS MESSAGED ME YESTERDAY AND ASKED ABOUT MY THOUGHTS ON LA NINA THIS YEAR.
AND IF THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE IT A COLDER WINTER IN YELLOWKNIFE OR NOT.
SO THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR US, FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY.
THE OUTREACH PROGRAM DOES NOT IN ITSELF SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
SO IN TERMS OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT STEPS YOU KNOW, FOR COUNCIL, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO MEET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES, THE GNWT REPRESENTATIVES OR YOUR FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS TO SEE WHERE THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THAT THIS SERVICE CONTINUES.
BUT THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.
WE POINTED OUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE IN TERMS OF CAPACITY AND WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM SHELTERS BECAUSE OF BEHAVIORS AND THE LACK OF RESOURCE FOR, YOU KNOW, TO DEAL WITH THAT, TO HANDLE THAT.
AND SO THE PERSON JUST GETS KICKED OUT ONTO THE STREET.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THEY JUST BECOME THE PROBLEM FOR THE POLICE OR FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
LIKE EVERY PROBLEM IN THE WORLD EITHER BECOMES A JUSTICE PROBLEM OR A HEALTH CARE PROBLEM.
WE'LL NEVER TURN SOMEONE AWAY FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE RESOURCE TO USE.
YOU NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE WARM AND SAFE, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HERE WITH ME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A WAITING ROOM.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE LOOKED AFTER HERE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK.
THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR WARBURTON.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU SCOTT.
IT IS AWE INSPIRING TO ME THAT EVERYONE YOU TALK TO ESSENTIALLY SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM.
I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHOSE IT IS.
WE ARE FINDING THIS PROGRAM CURRENTLY, BUT I THIS IS DEFINITELY A TERRITORIAL.
IT'S A HEALTH PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A MUNICIPAL ISSUE THAT WE CAN DEAL ON OUR OWN.
I WAS CURIOUS IN ALL THAT MEETINGS AND RESEARCH AND ALL THE STUFF YOU DID, DID ANYONE INDICATE OR KIND OF SEE THAT IT WAS MAYBE THEIR ROLE TO ASSUME SOME OF THIS OR WAS IT WAS THE ANSWER JUST RESOUNDINGLY NOT OUR PROBLEM FOR ANYBODY.
I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST SURPRISING FINDING IN ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS CAME FROM BUSINESS OWNERS, BECAUSE I EXPECTED AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST VOCAL ON THESE ISSUES.
AND WE SPECIFICALLY WENT TO PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW HAD A LOT TO SAY ON THIS.
AND EXPECTED TO GET AN EARFUL OF GET THEM OUT OF HERE.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY ENCOURAGING THAT IN PARTICULAR, THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS SO EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN JUST SAY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO DEAL WITH.
I WISH I COULD SAY THAT WE HEARD THAT ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PIECE AND I WORKED IN GOVERNMENT FOR MANY YEARS.
AND THE CHALLENGE OFTEN IS THAT YOU DON'T YOU'RE ALSO BOUND BY THE RULES.
SO YOU HAVE FUNDING POCKETS OF MONEY THAT HAVE VERY SPECIFIC RULES.
SO WE HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HEALTH AUTHORITY, LIKE I SAID, AROUND SOME OF THE HOME CARE AND SOME OF THE PALLIATIVE CARE INITIATIVES THAT WERE GOING ON IN FUNDING, HE SAID LIKE, THIS MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME REALLY INTERESTING RESEARCH THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE AREA OF PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOMELESSNESS AND HOW THAT HOW THESE PIECES FIT TOGETHER.
[01:45:02]
SO THAT TAKES SOMEONE'S TIME AND SOMEONE'S ENERGY TO DO THAT.SO I DON'T I THINK THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE ON THE LIKE, THE INNER WORKINGS OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL.
AND MAYBE THAT'S THE MANDATE OF THE EIA SECRETARIAT OR I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.
LIKE, TO REALLY TAKE A BIT MORE OF AN INITIATIVE TO SPEARHEAD THINGS AND PUSH THEM ALONG.
YOU KNOW, THINGS DIDN'T GET DONE.
SO YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO'S JUST GOING TO SAY, LOOK, THIS IS A PROBLEM.
WE JUST NEED TO DEAL WITH IT AND DO IT.
BUT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S VERY VISIBLE.
IT'S IN THE NEWS ALL THE TIME.
MLAS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, MINISTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, RESIDENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO IT'S IT'S TIMELY IN TERMS OF THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR CURRENT MANDATE IS.
AWESOME. AND YOU SPEAK OF A LOT IN THE REPORT EVENTUALLY LACK OF COORDINATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS, AND WE HAVE A HOMELESS SECTION IN THE CITY WHERE THE 20,000 PEOPLE LIKE WHAT? WHAT IS THE ISSUE? LIKE IS, IS YOU CAN GIVE US A FEEDBACK.
WHY IS LIKE, WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO COORDINATE IN SUCH A TINY PLACE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PAID TO DO IT? YEAH. YOU'RE SO I WANT TO SAY THAT EVERYONE'S I THINK EVERYONE'S DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH WHAT THEY HAVE, AND PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR WORK. IT'S NOT UNIQUE.
I WAS JUST ON ANOTHER PROJECT.
I WAS IN A MEETING WHERE, LIKE, THE PERSON, LIKE, PEOPLE BETWEEN TWO OFFICES WERE DOING, LIKE, VERY PARALLEL TRACKS OF WORK, AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PERSON IN THE NEXT OFFICE WAS DOING. THAT'S NOT THAT WASN'T HERE IN THE CITY.
BUT YOU ALSO WANT ME TO COME TO THIS MEETING AND TALK WITH THESE PEOPLE.
SO IT CAN BE REALLY CHALLENGING TO BE IN ALL THESE PLACES AT ONCE.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR MANDATE IS, YOU KNOW YOU'RE A SERVICE PROVIDER, BUT YOU'RE ALSO OR YOU HAVE AN OPERATIONS MANDATE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO GO TO ALL OF THESE ALL THESE PIECES. SO THE YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD START THAT THE CITY NOW HAS A HOMELESSNESS COORDINATOR UNDERSTANDS THE PIECES, THE PLAYERS AND IN GETTING PEOPLE ON BOARD TO, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS AND BUT EVEN HAVING JUST SOME OF THOSE INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS AND INVITING AND PEOPLE FEELING INVITED TO COME, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE TALKED TO THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, THE ON THE OUTREACH STAFF, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY, VERY FRONTLINE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY NEVER THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT GOES ON ABOVE THEM.
LIKE, THAT'S THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR MANAGER'S JOB OR WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, BUT THEIR MANAGER IS EXTREMELY BUSY.
THEIR MANAGER HAS A HUGE PORTFOLIO.
BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND GROUPS AND COORDINATION EFFORTS, BUT THESE TEND TO SPAWN DIFFERENT THINGS, LIKE EVEN THE LACK OF LIKE LIKE WE HAVE TWO FOOD RESCUE, WE'VE GOT YELLOWKNIFE FOOD RESCUE, YELLOWKNIFE FOOD BANK.
AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM, NEITHER ONE REALLY LIKE THEY DON'T.
THEY DON'T REALLY TALK TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MANDATES.
ONE IS SHORT TERM, GET FOOD THAT'S AVAILABLE NOW AND GET IT OUT INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS.
AND ONE IS COLLECT FOOD THAT'S NOT PERISHABLE AND GIVE IT OUT EVERY COUPLE WEEKS.
SO LIKE EVEN EVEN WITHIN, LIKE YOU SAID, LIKE 20,000 PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE IN NEED FOOD WHO DON'T REALLY TALK TO EACH OTHER.
AND I KNOW THE DESIGN WAS NOT FOR THE CURRENT OPERATOR, IT WAS JUST AN OPERATOR WRIT LARGE.
SO KIND OF, I GUESS WHILE WE WAIT TO FIND OR FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND THAT YOU POINT THOSE THINGS OUT IN YOUR REPORT, BUT I GUESS JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, LIKE WHAT? WHAT CAN WE DO NOW TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE THINGS AND THAT OPERATOR, TO MAKE SURE THOSE GAPS ARE FILLED EVEN A LITTLE BIT IN THE MEANTIME.
WE'VE POINTED OUT A FEW PRIORITY ITEMS IN THERE AROUND.
AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IS TO BE VERY CLEAR ON THE MANDATE OF THE CURRENT OPERATION.
[01:50:07]
AND PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF IT'S KIND OF THE CITY'S FAULT IN A WAY.AND BECAUSE THERE THE ORIGINAL RFP MANY YEARS AGO THAT WENT OUT TO SAID, HERE'S THE PROGRAM DESIGN, IT WAS EXTENDED, BUT THERE WERE SOME CHANGES MADE IN THE WORDING.
SO EVEN THERE, JUST THOSE PIECES WERE UNCLEAR, BUT I THINK FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT THE WOMEN'S SOCIETY DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH WITH WHAT THEY DO.
YOU KNOW, THAT THEY PROVIDE CLOTHING, THEY PROVIDE FOOD WHENEVER THEY CAN.
BUT BEING VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE MANDATE IS, THE PRIMARY MANDATE IS GETTING PEOPLE FROM WHERE THEY ARE IF THEY'RE NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT SAFE TO A SHELTER LOCATION, THAT'S LIKE THAT'S JOB ONE.
AND SO I THINK FOCUSING IN ON THAT AS THE MANDATE AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE STAFF, THE ORGANIZATION AND THE CITY IS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS WOULD BE A GOOD FIRST STEP THAT YOU COULD DO IN THE SHORT TERM.
AWESOME. THANK I HAVE SOME STATEMENT STUFF.
I CAN DO IT LATER OR NOT AT ALL.
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT REVISED PROPOSED PAY.
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE LIKE LATER? BUT THE DELTA BETWEEN THE CURRENT PAY VERSUS THE PROPOSED PAY, SO THAT WE'VE GOT A BIT OF AN UNDERSTANDING ON HOW THE CURRENT PROGRAM IS OPERATING VERSUS THE PROPOSED ONE.
IF IT'S NOT CURRENTLY LISTED IN THERE, I WILL FIND IT FROM OUR SPREADSHEET, FROM OUR ANALYSIS.
OKAY. YEAH. SO JUST SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT PART, THAT'D BE GREAT.
YES. SO THERE'S A IN THE BUDGET SECTION.
THAT WOULD GO ALONG WITH FOR THE TOTAL OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM.
SO WE ADD VACATION CPP CONTRIBUTIONS, ALL OF THOSE.
THERE'S A MULTIPLIER THAT WE USE FOR THAT.
AND IT'S EXPLAINED IN THERE. PERFECT.
AND THEN YOU DO TALK ABOUT A VEHICLE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ANALYSIS ON WHAT AN APPROPRIATE VEHICLE WOULD BE LIKE? IS IT A 15 PASSENGER VAN? YES, WE SPOKE BOTH WITH THE PROGRAM AND LOOKED AT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT OPERATED.
AND THE CURRENT VEHICLE THAT THE WOMEN'S SOCIETY HAS IS BEAUTIFUL.
THE PRIMARY NEED IS FOR TRANSPORTATION, BUT ALSO FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
THERE ARE SOME CLIENTS WHO CAN'T GET UP STEPS OR WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS WHO NEED TRANSPORTATION, SO IT'S A VEHICLE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE A WHEELCHAIR IS REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
AND WE INCLUDED THE COST OF THAT AND WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET MODEL WE PUT IT IN AS A LEASING COST.
SO WHAT WE WENT TO A COMMERCIAL LEASE HERE.
WE SAID SHOW US A VEHICLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
TELL US HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO RETROFIT IT.
AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THOSE NUMBERS.
AND SO IF YOU ALREADY OWN THE VEHICLE, THEN THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DECIDE FROM AN ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT IF THEY WANT TO DEPRECIATE THAT COST AGAINST THE AGAINST THE PROGRAM FUNDING, OR IF THEY WANT TO FINANCE A NEW VEHICLE AND USE THAT MONEY AS A WAY TO FINANCE THE PURCHASE COST.
SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT.
BUT IN THE END, THE COST ESSENTIALLY IS THE SAME.
I THINK IT WAS AROUND LIKE $70,000 A YEAR.
WAS THE VEHICLE COST WHETHER YOU PURCHASE IT OR WHETHER YOU LEASE IT.
THANKS. YEAH. I JUST THINK OF HOW MANY SEATS SHOULD YOU HAVE IN IT, BECAUSE THEN IF TO YOUR POINT ABOUT TRIAGING AND BEING ABLE TO PICK MULTIPLE PEOPLE UP AND THAT STUFF. SO APPRECIATE THAT, RECOMMENDATION.
THE REST ACTUALLY I HAVE IS QUESTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION.
BUT I DID WANT TO SAY A BIG THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THIS EVALUATION.
I DO THINK THAT IT PROVIDED IMPORTANT WORK ON WHAT WE HOPE THAT IT IS ACHIEVING.
AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S KIND OF BEEN AN EVOLUTION OVER TIME.
[01:55:05]
AND I LIKE ONE OF THOSE OF THE SECONDMENT HOPEFULLY FROM EITHER THE TERRITORIAL OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP IN THOSE POLICY REALMS WOULD BE REALLY VALUABLE. AND AGAIN, THAT KIND OF IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION I'LL ASK MY QUESTIONS TO ADMIN, BUT BEFORE I DO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.YOU CAN TAKE A SEAT. YOU'VE BEEN STANDING FOR A WHILE, SO.
FOR ADMINISTRATION, I JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS MULTIYEAR FUNDING.
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO O&M, MULTIYEAR FUNDING, OR WOULD THIS HAVE TO BE A CAPITAL PROJECT THAT WE ALLOCATE ALL $3 MILLION IN ONE YEAR AND KIND OF ALLOCATE THE 1 MILLION REQUIRED OVER THE REMAINING 2 TO 3 YEARS? THAT WOULD MEAN A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET INCREASE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE WE DO HAVE MULTIYEAR FUNDING FOR GRANTS, BUT THAT'S GOT SOME WIGGLE ROOM THAT AND I THINK THAT IS CONDITIONAL VERSUS ACTUALLY DOING A THREE YEAR PROGRAM AND SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PAY THIS PERSON.
THEN WE'RE GETTING INTO CONTRACT STUFF.
SO MR. VAN DINE IS THERE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION NOW OR IN YOUR RESPONSE LATER ON? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE A PARTIAL ANSWER.
IT DOES REQUIRE A LONGER CONVERSATION.
AND WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WHATEVER FUNDING MODEL WE COME UP WITH FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE THE ABILITY OF OTHER PROGRAMS TO STACK INTO IT OR PLUG INTO IT TO ALLOW US.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS THAT IF WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE SOME LEVEL OF ONGOING, MULTIYEAR COMMITMENT FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OR PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS OR PERHAPS INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS, IN THIS EFFORT, THEN THAT COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON THE CITY FOR ITS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM.
SO THOSE KINDS OF CALCULATIONS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ONGOING.
YOU KNOW, HOW CONFIDENT IS CITY COUNCIL WITH THIS LEVEL OF SPENDING FOR THIS AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME? AND WHAT IS THE COUNCIL'S TOLERANCE FOR WANTING TO CARRY THAT OUT TO MULTIPLE YEARS? WE CAN CERTAINLY RUN THOSE NUMBERS AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, FROM A TACTICAL POINT OF VIEW, IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH REINFORCES THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE EXERCISE AND POTENTIALLY GIVES OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS THE ENCOURAGEMENT POSSIBLY TO MAKE A SIMILAR GESTURE WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE NEED TO BE FACTORED INTO THE EQUATION.
I'LL PAUSE FOR JUST A MOMENT AND INVITE MR. PANDOO TO SEE IF HE HAS ANYTHING ELSE HE'D LIKE TO ANSWER.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T TIE FUTURE COUNCIL'S HANDS AND ALL THAT BUDGETING ASPECTS, BUT YEAH, IF WHEN ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES A RESPONSE, A RESPONSE ON THAT MULTIYEAR FUNDING, I LOOK FORWARD TO READING.
I ALSO AGREE, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, IS HAVING AGREEMENTS ON THE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES THEN SHARING THOSE PUBLICLY AND SO THAT BOTH THE FUNDER OPERATOR ON THE SAME PAGE, THE PUBLIC KNOWS AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT OUR RFP GOING OUT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT.
YEAH. SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, I THINK, AND MAKE SOME RELATIVELY EASY CHANGES.
SO THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT COLLABORATION, SHARING DATA, WORK TOGETHER.
ALTHOUGH IT IS KIND OF CONCERNING SEEING THE ARTICLE THIS MORNING ABOUT NWT GOVERNMENT CREATING TEAM TO CUT HEALTH SPENDING, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING ACROSS THE SILOS AND REALIZE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T SPEND IN THIS AREA, AS SCOTT POINTED OUT, YOU GET THE IT'S A WHACK A MOLE THING.
[02:00:08]
YOU CAN TRY TO DECREASE YOUR COSTS THERE AT THE EXPENSE OF THAT ONE.AND HOPEFULLY SOME OTHER FUNDERS WILL COME TO THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO.
YEAH, DO THE ENHANCEMENTS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS OUTLINED HERE.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
IT'S LIKE I'LL JUST BE CONCISE BECAUSE, LIKE, THE PROGRAM WORKS, IT'S EFFECTIVE.
AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT LOW HANGING FRUIT.
THIS WE JUST GOT A REPORT THAT SAYS THE PROGRAM WORKS.
BASICALLY, EVERYONE SAYS THAT A COUPLE STATS, 94% OF CLIENTS SAID THE PROGRAM WAS USEFUL.
85% OF BUSINESS SURVEY RESPONDENTS SAID THEY CALLED THE PROGRAM INSTEAD OF RCMP AND EMS. 89% OF RESIDENT SURVEY RESPONDENTS SAID THAT 95% OF CLIENTS WHO WERE SURVEYED ANSWERED YES THAT THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM MAKES ME FEEL SAFER.
THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVIDENCE, AND NOW WE HAVE A WHOLE REPORT.
SO I HAVE A MOTION, BASICALLY.
AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE WITH INCLUDE THE GNWTS DEPARTMENT OF EXECUTIVE AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS, NWT HOUSING CORPORATION, [INAUDIBLE] WOMEN'S COUNCIL, WOMEN AND GENDER EQUITY, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
I WOULD TAKE ADVICE FROM MADAM CHAIR AND PERHAPS THE CITY MANAGER ON WHETHER NOW IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO PUT THAT MOTION FORWARD, OR PERHAPS WHEN THE MEMO COMES FORWARD FROM STAFF.
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. SO MR. VAN DINE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD.
YEAH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I CONCUR.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE COULD ALSO LOOK INTO I KNOW REACHING HOME, DOES A LOT OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S EXTENDED TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO MR. VAN DINE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE SHORT TERM.
THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER, WE'LL GET INTO MEATIER DISCUSSION WHEN ADMINISTRATION COMES FORWARD WITH A RESPONSE ON THIS.
BUT AGAIN, A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND THE PRESENTATION TODAY AND APPRECIATE MLA MORGAN BEING HERE AND CONTINUING TO LOBBY ACROSS THE WAY. WITH THAT, IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN MOVE BY COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN, WE CAN BE ADJOURNED AND WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY TONIGHT AT 7 P.M..
HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.