Tenant Service Committee (TSC) Meeting - January 29, 2019

Agenda

10:00 - Chair’s Remarks

Action: Information

Pre-read: Verbal Report

Presenter: Chair

10:05 - Consent agenda

a. Approval of Public Meeting Agenda

Action: TSC Approval

Pre-read: Agenda

Presenter: Chair

b. Chair’s Poll re: Conflict of Interest

Action: Declaration

Pre-read: Agenda and Conflict of Interest Policy

Presenter: Chair

c. Confirmation of the Public Meeting Minutes of November 2, 2018

Action: TSC Approval

Pre-read: Minutes

Presenter: Chair

d. Business Arising from the Public Meeting Minutes and Action Items Update

Action: Information

Pre-read: Action Item List

Presenter: Chair

10:10 - OCHE Reports

a. OCHE 2018 Annual Report

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2019-04

Presenter: Commissioner of Housing Equity

b. OCHE 2019 Work Plan

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2019-05

Presenter: Commissioner of Housing Equity

10:20 - Tenant Engagement System Refresh Update

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2019-07

Presenter: Acting Vice President, Tenant and Community Services

11:00 - TCHC Report Back to City Council on Community Safety Response

Action: TSC and Board Approval

Pre-read: TSC:2019-08

Presenter: Senior Director, Community Safety Unit

TERMINATION

Minutes

The Tenant Services Committee (“TSC”) of Toronto Community Housing Corporation (“TCHC”) held a public meeting on January 29, 2019, in the Main Floor Conference Room, 931 Yonge Street, Toronto, and via teleconference, commencing at 10:06 a.m.

TSC DIRECTORS PRESENT:

Linda Jackson, Chair
Amanda Coombs (by teleconference)
Debbie Douglas (by teleconference - 10:08 a.m. to 11:39 a.m.)
Ubah Farah (by teleconference – 10:07 a.m. to 11:39 a.m.)
Councillor Michael Ford (by teleconference)
Brian Smith (by teleconference)

    
MANAGEMENT PRESENT:  

William Anderson, Senior Director, Community Safety Unit
Ismail Ibrahim, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Hugh Lawson, Acting Vice-President, Tenant and Community Services
Sheila Penny, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer 
Yi-Mei Ting, Legal Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary (Acting)

ALSO PRESENT:  

Cynthia Summers, Commissioner of Housing Equity
    
A quorum being present, the Chair called the meeting to order and Ms. Sonia Fung served as recording secretary.

ITEM 1 CHAIR’S REMARKS 

The Chair wished all a happy new year. 

TSC will continue to focus on housing in Toronto, Toronto budget, strategic imperatives and operations. 

ITEM 2A APPROVAL OF PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA 

Motion carried ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Douglas, seconded by Mr. Smith and carried, TSC approved the public meeting agenda.

ITEM 2B DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The Chair requested members of TSC to indicate any agenda item in which they had a conflict of interest, together with the nature of the conflict. None was declared.

ITEM 2C CONFIRMATION OF THE NOVEMBER 2, 2018 PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES 

Motion carried  ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Douglas, seconded by Mr. Smith and carried, TSC confirmed the above-captioned minutes without amendment.

ITEM 2D BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES AND ACTION ITEM LIST 

Motion carried ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Douglas, seconded by Mr. Smith and carried, TSC received the report for information.

ITEM 3A OCHE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TSC:2019-04
The Commissioner of Housing Equity (“CHE”) presented the above-captioned report.

TSC and Management discussed the report and the following are highlights:

• TSC members appreciated the comprehensive report. 
• It was suggested that the report include a section on emerging issues.
• As  preventative measure for arrears evictions involving seniors, it was suggested that proactive initiatives be considered for tenants reaching retirement age threshold. 
• CHE advised that OCHE will conduct tenant outreach to offer practical advice for tenants reaching the age of 65.
• It was requested that a report on evictions for arrears and the eviction process be submitted to the next TSC meeting.

Motion carried  ON MOTION DULY MADE by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Coombs and carried, TSC received the report for information.

ITEM 3B OCHE 2019 WORK PLAN TSC:2019-05

Cheryl Duggan deputed on the item.

The Commissioner of Housing Equity presented the above-captioned report.

TSC and Management discussed the report and the following points emerged:

• It was noted that the mandate of OCHE is to sustain tenancies and avoid evictions, not to generate revenue. Thus the work plan does not include financial reporting. The budget of OCHE is included in the TCHC budget, which will be discussed at a TCHC Board meeting.
• OCHE planned for more tenant focused external information sessions to be administered by OCHE staff.

Motion carried  ON MOTION DULY MADE by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Coombs and carried, TSC received the report for information.

ITEM 4 TENANT ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM REFRESH UPDATE TSC:2019-07

Susan Gapka, William Lohman, Anita Dressler and Harriet Shephard deputed on the item. Copies of the written deputation from Mr. Lohman and Ms. Dressler were distributed to members of TSC at the meeting.

The Acting Vice-President, Tenant and Community Services presented the above-captioned report, and a PowerPoint presentation.

TSC and Management discussed the report and the following are highlights:

• Management explained that the tenant engagement system refresh has a good structure: 
  • Representation at building level (tenants);
  • Representation at operating unit level (staff);
  • Representation at corporate level (company);
  • Two significant tenant forums:
    •  the Seniors Advisory Council; and 
    • RPATH that works with management and the Board to represent issues of accessibility.
• Management thanked Ms. Gapka and Ms. Shepherd for their assistance provided to TCHC staff in facilitation and organization of Tenant Engagement System Refresh.
• Management also expressed appreciation for the excellent work done by the Advisory Committee and by city-wide participating tenants and staff in completion of around 300 building level meetings. 
• It was suggested that TSC members participate in some of the future sessions to observe and receive first-hand information.
• Management is asked to provide TSC members with future session schedules.

Motion carried ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Farah, seconded by Ms.  Coombs and carried, TSC received the report for information.

ITEM 5 TCHC REPORT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL ON COMMUNITY SAFETY RESPONSE TSC:2019-08

Cheryl Duggan deputed on the item.

The Senior Director, Community Safety Unit presented the above-captioned report.

TSC and Management discussed the report and the following are highlights:

• The City asked TCHC to list the steps it is taking to reduce number of gun violence.
• TSC noted that community security is of critical importance and is treating it with high priority.

Motion carried ON MOTION DULY MADE by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Douglas and carried, TSC approved the report and recommend the Board of Directors to:

1. Approve the content of this report, as amended, to be used for TCHC’s response to the City Council direction, item CC44.14; and
2. Authorize the appropriate staff to take all necessary actions to implement the above recommendation

TERMINATION

TSC resolved to terminate the public meeting at 11:39 a.m.