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The goal
of the Community Services and Housing Committee is to enhance
the social and economic well-being of York Region residents.
In 2004
the Committee achieved these objectives through the activities
of its Housing, Child Care, Social Assistance, Community Development
and Investment and Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) implementation
programs.
ONTARIO
WORKS
Focus:
Enhance return-to-work supports for Ontario Works participants.
Achievements:
| • |
Implemented a Pre-Employment project that engaged local
employers in specific sectors in helping Ontario Works
participants to prepare for and gain jobs. |
| • |
878
Ontario Works participants found employment through education,
training, volunteer opportunities and job search supports. |
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Delivered
skills training in partnership with local agencies in
targeted occupational areas, including call centre, construction
and hospitality. |
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Implemented
a client support model helping Ontario Works participants
who face return-to-work barriers associated with mental
health issues. |
FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Focus:
Improve access to services for children and improve opportunities
for families.
Achievements:
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Under
the Provincial Early Learning and Child Care Initiative,
Regional Council approved the 20% funding share to provide
fee subsidy to 236 additional child care spaces; to increase
wage subsidy funding to staff in licensed child care programs;
and to increase service levels in Early Intervention Services
by 10%. |
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4,512 children participated in local recreation and developmental
programs through our Family Strengthening programs, which
support enhanced social, emotional and educational outcomes
for children, and provide increased employment supports
and opportunities for their parents. |
HOUSING OPTIONS
Focus:
Increase housing
options and develop strategies to reduce homelessness.
Achievements:
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Partnered
with the Town of Georgina to finalize the development
of a multi-service centre for youth in Sutton which will
provide much-needed services for homeless and at-risk
youth and children. |
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Strengthened
partnerships with Private Sector Landlords to provide
395 York Region households with rent supplements, an increase
of 66 units during 2004. |
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In
partnership with the Salvation Army across York Region,
helped 284 households maintain their housing through
the Region’s Homelessness Prevention Program.
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Opened
Armitage Gardens in Newmarket, providing 58 units of
new seniors housing and partnering with Long Term Care
to provide supportive housing in 26 of these units.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Focus:
Enhance the Region's
role in community development and service planning.
Achievements:
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Implemented
a Community Development and Investment Fund Strategy which
directed $2.69 million to over 50 community service agencies
for the delivery of services to more than 30,000 York
Region residents and their families. |
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Enhanced
support for community service planning by developing “made-for-York”
service data and information. |
ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING
Focus:
Lead the development
of York Region’s Accessibility Plan and ongoing implementation
of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001.
Achievements:
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Successfully
led the corporation in the implementation of Understanding
Barriers: York Region’s First Annual Accessibility
Plan, resulting in enhanced accessibility through the
identification and elimination of barriers in programs
and services across all departments, including York Regional
Police. |
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The
Regional Chair and CEO and other York Region representatives
participated in consultations for the development of the
new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act;
many of the Region’s suggestions were included in
the draft legislation. |
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Successful
implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act
(ODA) resulted in the Province of Ontario developing a
case study outlining the Region’s accessibility planning
process. This case study is currently being used by other
organizations across the province. |
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878
Ontario Works participants found employment through education,
training and job search supports. |
| • |
Opened
Armitage Gardens in Newmarket, providing 58 units of new
seniors housing and partnering with Long Term Care to
provide supportive housing in 26 of these units. |
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4,512
children participated in local recreation and developmental
programs through our Family Strengthening programs, which
support enhanced social, emotional, and educational outcomes
for children and provide increased employment supports
and opportunities for their parents. |
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