A pair of controversial proposals that would have impacted London’s response to the homelessness crisis failed to get support from the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee on Monday. Several frontline homelessness agencies expressed concern about implementing the conditions set out in a Good Neighbour Clause (GNC) that could be added to future municipal contracts. “When we put this kind of language into our contracts, you are actually saying step-up so we can hit you. So we can put you down. So we can actually further stigmatize this population. It’s not appropriate!” said Sarah Campbell, executive director of Ark Aid Street Mission. In December, Council directed city staff to prepare the draft agreement that would require shelters: The requirements However, the staff report also advised that GNCs, “become contractual obligations, subject to remedies for breach such as termination or non-renewal.” “This part of the framework demands a higher level of public accountability for service providers than is asked of elected officials, and without access to any comparable resources,” explained Chuck Lazenby, executive director of Unity Project. The committee voted 4 to 1 against recommending the GNC be added to future contracts. The CAPS Committee also defused some of the tension created over the weekend by a motion from Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, Coun. Susan Stevenson, Coun. Jerry Pribil, and Coun. Steve Lehman. It would have reallocated London Cares’ outreach funding ($1,896,768) and housing stability funding ($989,431) to expand service to seven days a week (with longer hours) at The Commons (602 Queens). The motion would have also changed the focus of the housing first program Project Home from high acuity individuals to graduates of London’s Hart Hub and Quintin Warner House “It is not an overreaction to conclude that the motion in front of you would decimate London Cares’ program and compromises the system’s ability to respond to people living unsheltered,” Lazenby warned the committee. “Eliminating housing stability funding for London Cares compromises housing for nearly 100 people, maybe even more, including dozens of veterans.” Instead, the committee backed the original staff recommendation to endorse a multi-year Housing Stability Services procurement framework, extend existing contracts with frontline agencies for two years, and explore other funding options for providing basic needs to the unhoused. Lewis said he would take up the agencies on their offer to collaborate on potential improvements to contracts and services, but would like to see the current contracts extended for only a single year so that the next council will be able to make decisions earlier in their term. “What I heard from the delegates in the gallery was actually a recognition that there may need to be some changes and some evolution of things, and that they’re willing to discuss that. So I am willing to provide opportunity for that discussion to happen,” Lewis told CTV News after the meeting. Council will make a final decision about the Good Neighbour Clause and HSS Procurement Framework on Feb. 10.
