GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
Monday, April 7, 2014 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Central Public Library, 2 nd floor Meeting Room - 251 Dundas Street
1. Call to Order – Abe Oudshoorn, Chair
2. Mission Statement (The London Homeless Coalition exists to advise, shape and coordinate community responses to homelessness, and related needs to the London area)
3. Introduction of and Welcome to those in Attendance
Abe Oudshoorn, Chair Grant Martin, London CAReS
Hasmina/Val, London Housing Registry Gordon Russell, Mission Services
Melissa Hardy-Trevenna, London St. Thomas Association Realtors
John Thompson, St. John Evangelist
Jason Westbrook, City of London
Josh Browne, City of London
Nancy Powers, Centre of Hope
Deb Peckham, London Housing Advisory Ctte
Anne Harris, EMDC
Chris Loblaw, Independent
Mallory Carion, Independent
Amanda Feairs, CMHA
Tanya Dorie, ADSTV/ASH
Doreen Hodgkinson, Independent
Mark Gowing, St Leonard ’s Community Services
Michelle Lynne Goodfellow, London Middlesex Housing Corporation
Michele Murray-Smith, St. Leonards Courtney Coqu, John Howard Society
Alex Paterson, John Howard Society (UWO)
Shelley Yeo, Women’s Community House
Jan Richardson, City of London
Michele Reid, City of London,
Susan Macphail, My Sisters’ Place
Jan Regan, City of London, Recording Secretary
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion: To approve the agenda for April 7, 2014.
Moved: Melissa Hardy-Trevenna
Seconded : Doreen Hodgkinson
Carried.
5. Approval of Minutes of The General Membership Meeting March 3, 2014
Motion: To approve the minutes of the meeting on March 3, 2014.
Moved: Doreen Hodgkinson
Seconded : Melissa Hardy-Trevenna
6. General Announcements
6.1 Emergency Shelters/LMHC/London CAReS – Pilot Project – Grant Martin
6.2
The United Way London & Middlesex has provided an additional investment into the pilot project between the Emergency Shelters, LMHC and London CAReS. London CAReS will be hiring an additional Housing Stability Worker.
Community Clean Up Day – April 26, 2014
Volunteers will be cleaning up along the Thames River. Interested volunteers can contact
Tom Cull at goodaywalter@gmail.com
7. Guest Speaker
The group was asked to consider suggestions for a guest speaker for the next meeting. It was suggested to invite Youth Opportunities Unlimited to discuss their new program for young moms.

8. Business Arising from January 6, 2014 minutes
8.1 Structure and Function of LHC/Strategic Planning – Kieran Williams, OrgCode
Consultant
Kieran prov ided an overview of the findings of the ‘London Homeless Coalition Organizational
Review, Final Report’. The report was drafted based on consultations, key informant interviews, document review and analysis and external research.
The final report outlines recommendations for representation, direction and actions. The full report will be circulated following this meeting. At the general membership meeting on May
5, 2014, the recommendations will be considered for approval. The Steering Committee of the LHC are recommending approval of the recommendations.
8.2
8.3
LHC Final Report.pdf
There was discussion related to the definition of membership (member status versus nonmember), additional volunteers to serve on the steering committee, voting rights, and proactive versus reactive advocacy on emerging issues.
Motion: To receive the final report and thank Kieran Williams, OrgCode Consulting, for the work completed.
Moved: Shelley Yeo
Seconded: Doreen Hodgkinson
Carried.
Actions: i) Abe Oudshoorn will circulate the final report. ii) The Steering Committee will present the recommendations at the general membership meeting in May for approval.
As agreed, the Steering Committee elections will be deferred until the Fall 2014 pending the outcome of the report.
Cultural Competency Project - Urban Aboriginal Homeless Individuals and Families –
Learn & Share
Shelly Yeo provided an overview of the learning session on March 18, 2014 hosted by
At^Lohsa. 40 – 50 participants had an opportunity to increase their understanding of
Indigenous Peoples’ experiences with housing and homelessness in an urban setting, and raise awareness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis homelessness. Additional learning and educational opportunities are being planned.
Action : Link the London Homeless Coalition website to other agencies’/organizations’ events and opportunities.
Fair Elections Act
The LHC in cooperation with the OW/ODSP Advocates have submitted a letter to the Minister of State for Democratic Reform expressing concerns with Bill C-23, the Fair Elections Act , in particular the barrier it will create for individuals without a permanent address as it proposes to remove the ability to vouch for an individual without a permanent address.
To view a copy of the letter visit: http://londonhomeless.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2014/04/Letter-Regarding-the-Proposed-Amendments-to-the-Canada-
Elections-Act.pdf
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8.4
Abe Oudshoorn has been scheduled to make a presentation to the Standing Committee on
Procedure and House Affairs at Parliament, in Ottawa on April 9, 2014.
Actions: i) Keep as an agenda item for further discussion. ii) Members were encouraged to write individual letters to their MPs as private citizens, as well as from their agency. iii) The letter of advocacy from Neighbourhood Legal Services to be placed on the LHC website and attached to the next meeting agenda.
New Meeting Guidelines
Abe reviewed the proposed meeting guidelines as listed:
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Motion: To approve the LHC Working Together Respectfully guidelines and observe at meetings.
Moved:
Seconded:
Carried.
Melissa Hardy-Trevenna
Nancy Powers
Action: The guidelines will be posted to the London Homeless Coalition website.
9. Standing Items
9.1 Updates from Other Committees i) London Housing Advisory Committee
Some housing cooperative agreements were put in place by the federal government with a 25 year term. The Inter-Tribal Housing Co-operative is one of many housing co-ops that have reached their 25 year term. The Housing Division, City of London is following up with the Co-op. ii) Memorial Committee
The Memorial Committee has reconvened as a working group and meets starting at
9:00am prior to the London Homeless Coalition general membership meetings. New members are welcome to join.
The committee reviewed the task and timeline approved by the LHC on July 4, 2011 and have identified the following three objectives as their focus for 2014: i) To hold community based memorial services following the death of a homeless individual;
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9.2 ii) To have a verified communication system regarding the death of an individual; and, iii) To develop a community wide data system that tracks the number of deaths due to homelessness in London.
Actions: i) The Memorial Committee has requested the working draft documents and the approved plan of action be housed on the LHC website allowing membership to follow the progress and/or join the Committee. ii) As documents and actions are prepared they will be presented to the LHC general membership allowing for agreement and approval.
City Updates - Jan Richardson, Manager, Homeless Prevention i) London’s Homeless Prevention System a) Request for Proposal - Develop a London Community Plan to Address, Reduce and
Prevent Youth Homelessness
The City of London is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to develop a community plan to address, reduce and prevent youth homelessness. Interested consultants must register with Purchasing and Supply on the City of London website and must have a Biddingo account. The closing date to submit a proposal is Monday,
April 28, 2014 at 2:00 pm.
1. To view the Request for Proposal:
Final RFP14-27.pdf
http://www.london.ca/business/tenders-rfps/bidding-opportunities/Pages/Documents.aspx
b) Develop a Community Plan Regarding Street Involved Sex Work
Maria Sanchez-Keane, Centre for Organizational Effectiveness has been retained as the Consultant and continues to work on the development of a London plan. Maria, with the assistance of Sgt Lorna Bruce, Persons at Risk Program, London Police
Service and My Sisters’ Place and other groups, has been interviewing women with lived experience and is setting up key informant interviews with agencies and services. c) Housing Stability Fund
The Housing Stability Fund (HSF) was introduced April 1, 2013. A review of the trends and uses of the HSF has been initiated. A review of the Fund and recommendations will be presented at the May LHC meeting and at a special
OW/ODSP Advocates meeting.
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ii) iii) iv)
City of London – Job Postings
The City of London is receiving applications for two permanent managers to join the
Homeless Prevention Team. The closing date is April 21, 2014. https://careers2.hiredesk.net/ViewJobs/?Comp=CityofLondon&TP_ID=1&JB_ID=&LAN=en-US
Homelessness Partnering Strategy – 2014-2019
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy is federal funding provided to the City of
London, as the Community Entity and is aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. The current funding agreement concludes March 31,
2104. Written confirmation has been received that London will receive the same funding level for 2014 – 2019. There has been significant change in how the funding will be allocated and projects are required to demonstrate a Housing First philosophy and intervention.
HPS requires that areas receiving federal funding have a Community Advisory Board
(CAB) and a Community Entity (CE). The London Homeless Coalition is the
Community Advisory Board and the City of London, is supported by the Community
Advisory Board to be the Community Entity. The Community Entity maintains the contractual requirements with the federal government, receives the allocation, issues sub-project funding agreements, allocates funding and maintains all reporting requirements.
It was agreed at the January 6, 2014 general meeting that given the high proportion of
Community Advisory Board (London Homeless Coalition) members who are in a position of conflict on HPS funds, that the CAB delegated the formation of an armslength HPS review committee to the Community Entity (City of London). The City of
London has delegated the authority to the London Homeless Prevention System
Implementation Team.
At the time of this LHC meeting, a contract had not yet been received from HPS.
When the contract is received from HPS it will need to go to Community and
Protective Services Committee, assume April 28, 2014 and will require Council approval prior to the City entering into new funding agreements. Council approval is expected on May 6, 2014. The delay is of concern.
At a meeting of the LHC Steering Committee on February 7, 2014, it was agreed to extend existing contracts (At^ Lohsa, CMHA, Mission Services, My Sisters’ Place and
Youth Opportunities Unlimited) until June 30, 2014. It is expected that a public request for proposal will be issued late April/early May 2014 for new projects to commence July 1, 2014 with a Housing First philosophy and intervention focus.
National Veterans Project
The City of London serves as the Project Manager for a two year national research and evaluation project “A Canadian Model for Housing and Support for Veterans
Experiencing Homelessness”. The research and evaluation component concluded
March 31, 2014. A presentation of the findings will be made at a future meeting LHC meeting. A three month contract extension has been provided to the four sites:
Victoria, Calgary, London and Toronto to assist with their transition.
Service providers were encouraged to ask clients “Have you ever served in the
Canadian Forces?” Individuals may be eligible for benefits under Veterans Affairs
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Canada, including Reservists and discharged individuals.
A Peer and Program manual are being developed and will assist other communities in their efforts to start a program.
10. Other Business
10.1 Soup ‘N Bread – May 9, 2014 – Covent Garden Market
The theme will focus and provide public awareness on the All Our Sisters National Forum.
10.2 All Our Sisters National Forum – May 12 – 14, 2014. For more information and to register visit: http://www.alloursisters.ca/registration
11. Date and time for next LHC General Meeting
Monday, May 5, 2014, Central Library 2 nd Floor Meeting Room
12. Adjournment
London Homeless Coalition Steering Committee:
Abe Oudshoorn, Grant Martin, Deb Peckham, Jan Richardson, Melissa Hardy-Trevenna, Alexis Chadwick,
Susan Macphail, Shelley Yeo, Jens Stickling, Leanna Zeyl
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