Minutes

Human Services Planning Board

Meeting #:
Date:	Friday, October 18, 2019
Time:	9:00 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.
Location:	Seminar Room 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket

Co-Chairs:

• J. Heath
• and R. Shields

Members:

• C. Bisanz,
• M. Braithwaite,
• N. Cheong,
• C. Cullen,
• R. Doobay,
• W. Emmerson,
• M. Ferri,
• C. Grant,
• D. Gray,
• T. Macgregor Walter,
• I. Maxwell Rodrigues,
• I. Nyman,
• C. Roach,
• D. Rokos,
• L. Sobel,
• D. Stolte,
• J. Taylor,
• R. Veerappan,
• A. Wilson,
• C. Zakoor,
• C. Beer (Advisor),
• H. Bezruchko (Advisor),
• N. Din (Advisor),
• N. Venafro (Advisor),
• and M. Wong-Tam (Advisor)

Staff:

• K. Chislett,
• P. Chow,
• C. Clark,
• J. DeGagne,
• K. Hobbs,
• N. Lennox,
• J. Li,
• J. Silva,
• J. Tiboni,
• J. Tsui,
• and D. Wainwright

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A.

Call to Order

Regional Councillor Jack Heath, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. and made the following remarks:

“I would like to begin today’s meeting by acknowledging that York Region extends over lands originally used and occupied by Indigenous Peoples, and on behalf of York Region, I would like to thank First Nations and the Métis for sharing this land.

I would also like to acknowledge the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation as our closest First Nation community.”

B.

Disclosures of Interest

None

C.

Opening Remarks

Regional Councillor Heath provided an overview of the agenda and introduced Joseph Silva, the new Director, Strategies & Partnerships, Community and Health Services.

D.

Commissioner's Update

Katherine Chislett, Commissioner, Community and Health Services provided updates on the following:

1. Nation Cheong - new representative for United Way Greater Toronto on Human Services Planning Board
2. Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for York Region
3. Inclusion Charter
4. UNITAR (The United Nations Institute for Training and Research)
5. Community Investment Fund
6. Bill 108 - More Choice, More Homes Act, 2019
7. Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference
8. Homelessness
9. Ontario Health Teams

E.

Presentations

E.1

Comprehensive Review of Centralized Waiting List - Social Housing

• The Board received the presentation by Jody DeGagne, Manager, Housing Strategy & Program Delivery, Housing Services, Community and Health Services.

E.2

Homeless Count

• The Board received the presentation by Christine Hill, Manager, Community Investment, United Way Greater Toronto and Nancy Lennox, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Homelessness Community Programs, Social Services, Community and Health Services.

E.3

Community Safety and Well-Being Plan for York Region - Update

• The Board received the presentation by Joseph Silva, Director, Strategies and Partnerships, Community and Health Services and endorsed augmenting York Region's Community Safety and Well-Being Plan with a place-based approach.

F.

Deputations

None

G.

Member Updates

G.1

Blue Door's "Construct" Program

Michael Braithwaite, Blue Door Shelters, introduced a new employment social enterprise called ‘Construct’ which will be launched in the Spring of 2020.  The program targets individuals facing barriers to employment and includes partnerships with YMCA and LiUNA Local 506 Training Centre.  It is an 11 week paid program which includes training within the trades followed by work placement.

G.2

"Help Wanted: Modernizing Employment and Skills Training Services in Ontario" Report

Nation Cheong, United Way Greater Toronto, provided an update on the “Help Wanted: Modernizing Employment and Skills Training Services in Ontario” report, developed by the Toronto Region Board of Trade, United Way Greater Toronto and the Metcalf Foundation.  The report provides guiding principles and recommendations for the provincial government to enhance the current employment and skills training system to better serve people and businesses and create more value for the economy.

G.3

Retirement of Harry Bezruchko - Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

Regional Councillor Heath announced the upcoming retirement of Harry Bezruchko, Senior Manager, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and thanked him for his contributions to the Human Services Planning Board.

G.4

Youth Housing Stabilization Strategy

Clovis Grant, 360 Kids, announced a broader community launch of the Youth Housing Stabilization Strategy on October 24, 2019 to address the issue of youth homelessness.

H.

Communications

None

I.

Other Business

I.1

Next Meeting

The next public meeting of the Human Services Planning Board is scheduled on September 18, 2020.

J.

Adjournment

The Board meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.