1. CONTINUATION OF FUNDING TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES MAINTIEN DU FINANCEMENT D’ORGANISMES COMMUNAUTAIRES |
Committee Recommendation
That Council approve the
continuation of $3.19 million in funding to community agencies.
Recommandation DU Comité
Que le Conseil approuve le maintien du
financement d’un montant de 3,19 millions de dollars accordé aux organismes
communautaires.
Documentation
1.
Deputy
City Manager's report, City Operations dated 9 July 2009
(ACS2009-COS-CAS-0016).
Report
to/Rapport au:
Community and Protective Services Committee
Comité des services communautaires et de protection
and Council / et au Conseil
09 July 2009 / le 09 juillet 2009
Submitted by/Soumis par:
Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager/Directeur municipal adjoint,
City Operations / Opérations municipales
Contact Persons/Personnes ressource :
Janice
Burelle, Acting General Manager, Community and Social Services Department
Aaron
Burry, Interim General Manager, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Department
(613) 580-2424
x/poste 43081, janice.burelle@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT:
|
CONTINUATION OF FUNDING TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES |
|
|
OBJET :
|
That the Community and Protective Services Committee
recommend Council approve the continuation of $3.19 million in funding to
community agencies.
Que le
Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande que le Conseil
approuve le maintien du financement d’un montant de 3,19 millions de dollars
accordé aux organismes communautaires.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In July 1998, the federal government introduced
the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) which resulted in municipal
savings, as the NCBS was deducted from social assistance benefits (claw-back).
In October 1998, the Region of Ottawa-Carleton approved the overall plan for
the reinvestment of $2M (annualized) in municipal savings.
These savings were to be reinvested in programs and
services, as directed by the Province and approved by Council, which addressed
the following priorities:
1.
Prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty
2.
Promote attachment to the workforce
Since 1998, this funding has supported non-profit
agencies, such as Community Houses, Food Programs; Children’s Programs, etc. to
provide essential services directed at families living in poverty. Services
that are funded include family support programs, mentoring programs, youth programs,
recreation programs, to families and children in local neighbourhoods. This funding has also allowed families and
individuals receiving Ontario Works to access recreation and culture, bus
passes to search for employment and opportunities to participate in employment
programs and receive support through job retention programs.
In 2008, 60
agencies, delivering a range of essential community services, employment and
childcare programs, received $3.19M and provided services to 426,187 adults and
children. The investment represents $7.48 per client served.
The NCBS funding is
an important component of each agencies’ annual budget representing on average
6% of their total revenue.
On May 14, 2008, Council approved recommendations and a report from the Community and Protective Services Department. The report informed Council about two important and related changes directed by the Province: one was to no longer deduct the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) from social assistance cheques, and the second was to upload a portion of benefits paid to children of parents who are on Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) through a new program called the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB).
The new Ontario
Child Benefit (OCB) program was introduced in July-August 2008 with
implementation continuing in 2009. With
the implementation of the new program changes, the National Child Benefit
Supplement (NCBS) is no longer clawed back from clients on social assistance.
The NCBS, the new Ontario Child Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit are
consolidated into one child benefit cheque that is sent out to eligible,
low-income families (including social assistance clients) by the Canada Revenue
Agency.
This new OCB program
uploads some children’s social assistance benefits to the Province with no 20%
cost-sharing requirement from municipalities.
Municipal funding that currently results from the NCBS claw back will
instead be realized from social assistance restructuring and the introduction
of the new 100% provincially-funded OCB.
The Canada Revenue
Agency will be providing the OCB to low-income families with children,
regardless of their income source, based on families’ completed tax
return. For social assistance clients
who are eligible to receive the OCB but who are not receiving it, (e.g. because
they have not yet filed their income tax return for the previous year, they are
newcomers to Ontario, or they have a newborn who is not yet registered for the
Child Tax Benefit) the Province created a transition child benefit that is
available to eligible clients pending their receipt of OCB.
The Province's intention with social assistance
restructuring and the new OCB program is to change the way it provides benefits
for children of low-income families, regardless of source of income. Ultimately, families with children on OW
will be slightly better off and the programs will benefit all children of
low-income families in Ontario, whether the parents work or receive social
assistance. Also, the OCB will help
families make the transition from social assistance to employment because
parents will continue to receive the OCB even after they begin working.
RÉSUMÉ
En
juillet 1998, le gouvernement fédéral a créé le Supplément de la prestation
nationale pour enfants (SPNE), ce qui a entraîné des économies pour les
municipalités, celui‑ci étant déduit des prestations d’aide sociale. Au
mois d’octobre suivant, la Région d’Ottawa‑Carleton a approuvé le plan
global concernant le réinvestissement (annualisé) de deux millions de
dollars ainsi économisés.
Tel qu’il est prescrit par le gouvernement de
l’Ontario et approuvé par le Conseil, les gains réalisés devaient être
réinvestis dans des programmes et des services qui touchent les priorités
suivantes :
1.
prévenir la pauvreté chez les enfants et en réduire
l'ampleur;
2.
faciliter l’intégration au marché du travail.
Depuis 1998, ces fonds ont servi à soutenir des
organismes sans but lucratif, comme des centres d'activités communautaires, des
programmes de lutte contre la faim et des programmes pour enfants, afin de
fournir des services essentiels aux familles qui vivent dans la pauvreté. Les
services subventionnés comprennent notamment des programmes d'aide à la
famille, de soutien à la jeunesse, de mentorat et de loisirs destinés aux
familles et aux enfants de divers quartiers. De plus, ce financement a permis à
des particuliers et à des familles touchant des prestations du programme
Ontario au travail (programme OT) d’avoir accès aux loisirs et à la
culture, d’obtenir des laissez-passer d’autobus afin de chercher un emploi, de
participer à des programmes d'emploi et de recevoir du soutien par
l’intermédiaire de programmes de maintien de l'emploi.
En 2008,
60 organismes qui fournissent une gamme de services communautaires
essentiels ainsi que des programmes d’emploi et de garde d’enfants ont touché
3,19 millions de dollars et aidé 426 187 adultes et enfants.
L’investissement équivaut à 7,48 $ par client.
Le financement du
SPNE est un élément important du budget annuel de tous les organismes, car il
représente en moyenne 6 p. 100 de leur revenu total.
Le 14 mai 2008, le Conseil a approuvé des
recommandations et un rapport de Services communautaires et de protection,
lequel visait à l’informer de deux changements importants et connexes apportés
par le gouvernement de l’Ontario : le premier consistait à cesser de
déduire le SPNE des chèques d’aide sociale, et le deuxième, à le prélever plutôt
des prestations versées aux enfants dont les parents bénéficient du programme
OT ou du Programme ontarien de soutien aux personnes handicapées (POSPH) aux
termes de la nouvelle initiative appelée Prestation ontarienne pour enfants.
Le nouveau programme
POE a été instauré en juillet et en août 2008 et sera entièrement mis en
œuvre d’ici 2011. Grâce aux modifications ainsi apportées, le SPNE n’est
plus récupéré auprès de personnes touchant des prestations d'aide sociale. Le
SPNE, la nouvelle POE et la Prestation fiscale canadienne pour enfants sont
consolidés en un chèque unique de prestations pour enfants envoyé par l’Agence du revenu du Canada aux familles à faible revenu admissibles (y
compris les prestataires de l’aide sociale).
Ce nouveau
programme POE transfère
le paiement de certaines prestations pour enfants à la
Province sans que les municipalités soient tenues d’en assumer 20 p. 100
des coûts. Le financement municipal, qui découle actuellement du transfert du
SPNE sera plutôt assuré par une restructuration de l’aide sociale et la mise en
œuvre de la nouvelle POE sera entièrement financée par le gouvernement
provincial.
L’Agence du revenu du Canada versera la POE aux familles à faible revenu
qui ont des enfants en fonction de leur déclaration de revenus, quelle que soit
la source de leurs revenus. Pour les prestataires de l’aide sociale qui sont
admissibles à la POE mais ne la reçoivent pas (par exemple, parce qu’ils n’ont
pas encore rempli leur déclaration de revenus de l’année précédente, sont
nouvellement arrivés en Ontario ou ont un nouveau-né qu’ils n’ont pas encore
inscrit à la prestation fiscale canadienne pour enfants), le gouvernement
ontarien a créé la prestation transitoire pour enfants (PTE), qui est
offerte aux clients admissibles en attendant qu’ils touchent la POE.
Par la restructuration de l’aide sociale et le
nouveau programme POE, le gouvernement de l’Ontario veut changer la façon de
fournir des prestations pour les enfants de familles à faible revenu, indépendamment
de la source de revenu de celles‑ci. En définitive, les familles avec
enfants qui participent au programme OT se trouveront dans une situation un peu
plus avantageuse qu’auparavant et les programmes profiteront à tous les enfants
de familles à faible revenu de la province, que les parents travaillent ou
qu’ils reçoivent de l’aide sociale. De plus, la POE facilitera aux familles le
passage de l’assistance sociale au marché du travail, car les parents
continueront à recevoir la POE même après avoir trouvé un emploi.
With the
introduction of the OCB and resulting social assistance restructuring, the
province expects municipalities to "maintain and build on
local programs for families and children in need that are currently supported
by NCBS reinvestment dollars. Since
social assistance is being restructured, and the OCB is funded 100% by the
province, local programs for families and children should not be negatively
impacted by these changes".
(Province of Ontario, Q&A, Dec. 21, 2007).
The Community and Social Services Department supports the
continued investment of $3.19 million to the 60 community agencies that deliver
essential programs that provide social services, children’s services, access to
recreation and culture and access to employment.
These programs support the reduction of child
poverty in our community, increase attachment to the labour force, reduce
reliance on social assistance, and provide a range of social, health and
recreational activities that improve the social, emotional and physical
well-being of targeted groups. These
programs include employment
preparation supports; community capacity building; Success by Six; Healthy
Babies, Healthy Children Program; Community Health and Resource Centres;
Community Houses; Child Care Programs.
The
services are delivered through community partners, ranging from
neighborhood-based agencies such as Community Houses to agencies providing
specialized services such as counseling and personal support and community wide
multi-service agencies such as Community Health and Resource Centres. Please
refer to Annex 1 for a detailed list of the organizations receiving funding.
Maintaining
this funding program is consistent with Council’s support for the
development of a Poverty Reduction Strategy as well as Council’s commitment to
the Community
Development Framework.
There are
no financial implications associated with this report.
This report supports the following City Strategic Directions:
E. Sustainable Healthy and Active City:
4. Upload
the cost of social services, social housing and public health while retaining
responsibility for local administration to reflect the needs of the community.
7.
Ensure that cultural and recreation programs are offered across a range
of levels of activity such that every resident, and in particular, every child,
has a chance to participate.
Document 1: List of Agencies Funded in 2008
Community and Social Services
Department will action any direction received as part of consideration of this
report.
Document 1
NCBS Funding
NAME OF ORGANIZATION |
NCBS FUNDED PROGRAM & SERVICE |
2008 $ |
Banff
Avenue Community House |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Big
Brothers/Big Sisters of Ottawa |
Meet You
In School Mentoring Program |
$61,689 |
Blair
Court Community House |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Boys and
Girls Club of Ottawa |
Children
in Shelter Program & Britannia Club house |
$73,512 |
Britannia
Woods Community Association (Community House) |
House
coordination |
$10,210 |
Canadian
Mothercraft of Ottawa-Carleton |
Birth and
Parent Companion |
$30,630 |
Carlington
Community and Health Services |
Cool Aid
program |
$24,384 |
Centre de ressources communautaires de la
Basse-Ville (CRCBV) |
Club de
devoirs/Homework Club and youth Sport Activities |
$145,626 |
Centre de ressources communautaires
Orléans-Cumberland |
Young Families |
$70,074 |
Centre de ressources communautaires Overbrook-Forbes |
Jeunesse entraide/Youth support |
$59,364 |
Centre des services communautaires de Vanier (budget
is 2007 audited) |
Family
Support Groups |
$53,749 |
Centre des services communautaires de Vanier - Partage Vanier |
Food
Cupboard |
$2,336 |
Centretown
Community Health Centre |
Outreach
to isolated families |
$90,638 |
Christie
Lake Kids |
STAR
Program |
$76,909 |
Christmas
Exchange of Ottawa-Carleton |
|
$1,889 |
Confederation
Court Community Organization (Community House) |
House Coordination |
$20,420 |
Coopérative AMI-Jeunesse |
Food
Distribution |
$26,546 |
Debra
Dynes Family House Inc. |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Dovercourt
Recreation Association |
Special
needs Rec |
$25,525 |
Eastern
Ottawa Resource Centre |
Youth and
Student Assistance |
$19,545 |
Family Services à la famille Ottawa |
Families
and School Together |
$24,960 |
FOCUS Vanier - Action Anti-drogue |
Drug/Drinking
Prevention |
$27,567 |
Foster
Farm Family House |
Hamper
Program |
$10,210 |
Lowertown
Good Neighbours Community House |
Clothing
Distribution and Family Outings |
$10,210 |
Manotick
Co-operative Nursery School |
Nursery
Program |
$1,029 |
Nepean
Community Support Services |
Baby
Cupboard |
$75,006 |
Ottawa
Children's Treatment Centre |
Caution:
Parent Learning (special need parent) |
$51,050 |
Parent Resource Centre |
Growing
up Downtown |
$70,449 |
Patro
d'Ottawa |
Youth
Sports Program |
$14,832 |
Pinecrest-Queensway
Community Health Centre |
Leaping
Lizards and United Sisters |
$45,576 |
NAME OF ORGANIZATION |
NCBS FUNDED PROGRAM & SERVICE |
2008 $ |
Pinecrest-Queensway
Community Health Centre Re: Morrison
Gardens |
House Coordination |
$10,210 |
Pinecrest-Queensway
Community Health Centre Re: Pinecrest
Terrace |
House
Coordination |
$10,210 |
Russell
Heights Community House |
House
Coordination |
$19,118 |
Social
Network For Youth of Ottawa-Carleton |
Recreation
for Francophone youth |
$9,189 |
Somali
Centre for Family Services |
Counselling
for Youth |
$69,428 |
South-East
Ottawa Community Health Centre |
Community
Connections Play & Learn |
$40,840 |
St.
Mary's Home |
Outreach
to Pregnant Teens at Risk |
$39,819 |
The
Children's Welcome Centre |
Operational
expenses |
$10,210 |
The Door / La Porte |
Youth
Program |
$41,134 |
The
Ottawa Food Bank |
Food
Cupboard |
$43,238 |
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre / Centre de
ressources communautaires d'Ottawa West |
Youth
Kanata and Bully Prevention |
$57,759 |
Other -
NCB Funding |
|
$80,700 |
Total NCB Community Funding |
|
$1,586,420 |
Success
by Six - Payable to United Way/Centraide (funds go to 19 agencies) |
|
$350,000 |
Fee
Subsidy for Recreation and Culture |
|
$320,000 |
Childcare
|
|
$180,352 |
Employment |
|
$758,714 |
TOTAL NCBS
Reinvestment |
|
$3,195,486 |