Homelessness Task Force Report – Edmonton Housing Trust Fund

Recommendation:
That this report be received for information.

Report Summary

This report summarizes the merits of entrusting municipal funds to the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund (EHTF).

Previous Council/Committee Action

  • In December 1999, Council included $1.3 million in its 2000 Budget to meet an Edmonton Homelessness Task Force recommendation regarding the provision of affordable housing units.
  • At its August 31, 1999 meeting, Council approved the following motion:

“That the Administration prepare a report evaluating the merits of entrusting these funds, less the administrative costs outlined in Recommendation 5 (of the July 12, 1999 Community Services Department report) to the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund (Edmonton Homelessness Task Force Recommendation 7.1 – Attachment 1 of the July 12, 1999 Community Services Department report).”

Report

  • To help meet significant and growing housing needs in Edmonton, in 1996 the Edmonton Coalition on Homelessness studied the concept of a housing trust fund and concluded that the concept was feasible for Edmonton.
  • The EHTF was established in 1999 as an independent, non-profit organization to generate predictable, sustainable and dedicated funding to meet affordable housing needs in Edmonton.
  • It its Policy Framework: Homelessness (January 26, 2000), the Province expressed its desire to work through community organizations like the EHTF to address homelessness issues. The Federal Government has agreed to flow its Supporting Community Partnerships Initiatives (SCPI) funding through the EHTF.
  • Based on a review of the EHTF Indenture of Trust and Business Plan described in the accompanying report titled “Homelessness Task Force Report – Edmonton Housing Trust Fund Implementation”, the Community Services Department, in consultation with the Corporate Services Department, has observed there are four major merits of entrusting the majority of the $1.3 million to the EHTF:
  1. By donating to the EHTF, the City demonstrates its active partnership with other agencies to help address the need for affordable housing in Edmonton and demonstrates its support of the Edmonton Task Force on Homelessness.
  2. The City’s donation will be a major catalyst to attract funds from other sources. Provincial and Federal Government funding is expected to follow the City’s contribution to the EHTF.
  3. The EHTF is a community-based vehicle for the raising and allocation of funds and as such is consistent with the Integrated Service Strategy’s theme of community building. As community based initiatives, Housing Trusts are widely used in the United States and are being established in five Canadian cities (Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Montreal, St. John and Calgary)
  4. If the funds are retained within the Community Service Department’s budget, the Department will need to allocate resources to seek out and evaluate housing projects. The EHTF has shown its ability to analyze projects from a business perspective. This is demonstrated through its application requirements and a review process for all projects as outlined in the Indenture of Trust establishing the EHTF. The Indenture also requires that the EHTF provide to the City and the Province, within 30 days of the end of each year, particulars of financial assistance made and anticipated to be made to projects. Such projects are the social housing developments based on priorities determined by the Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing. The EHTF is also compelled to provide audited financial statements annually and at the request of the City or the Province, such other details of financial operations. The City and the Province are the beneficiaries of the Trust.

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