Tenant Services Committee (TSC) Meeting - July 20, 2018

Public Agenda (Revised)

12:20 - Chair’s Remarks

Action: Information

Pre-read: Verbal Report

Presenter: Chair

12:25 - Consent agenda

Approval of Public Meeting Agenda

Action: TSC Approval

Pre-read: Agenda

Presenter: Chair

Chair’s Poll re: Conflict of Interest

Action: Declaration

Pre-read: Agenda and Conflict of Interest Policy

Presenter: Chair

Confirmation of the Public Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2018

Action: TSC Approval

Pre-read: Minutes

Presenter: Chair

Business Arising from the Public Meeting Minutes and Action Items Update

Action: Information

Pre-read: Action Item List

Presenter: Chair

Internal Audit Report: Tenant Parking Charges Monitoring (BIFAC:2018-18)

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-16

Presenter: Manager, Internal Audit

2017 Tenant Survey Action Plan Update

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-17

Presenter: Director, Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Relations

12:35 - Update on Ombudsman Report on Priority Tenant Transfers

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-18

Presenter: Vice President, Asset Management

Reports from the Office of Commissioner of Housing Equity (“OCHE”)

1:05 - OCHE Overview

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-20

Presenter: Commissioner of Housing Equity

1:15 - Report on the Loss of Subsidy Audit and Reporting Process

Action: TSC and Board Approval

Pre-read: TSC:2018-21

Presenter: Commissioner of Housing Equity

1:25 - OCHE Quarterly Update (Q1-2018)

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-22

Presenter: Commissioner of Housing Equity

1:35 - OCHE Quarterly Update (Q2-2018)

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-23

Presenter: Commissioner of Housing Equity

1:45 - Community safety - Broader Dan Harrison Community Pilot

Action: Information

Pre-read: TSC:2018-24

Presenter: Senior Director, Community Safety Unit

TERMINATION

Public Meeting Minutes

The Tenant Services Committee (“TSC”) of Toronto Community Housing Corporation (“TCHC”) held a public meeting on July 20, 2018, in the Main Floor Conference Room, 931 Yonge Street, Toronto, and by teleconference, commencing at 12:22 p.m.

TSC Directors Present:

Linda Jackson, Chair

Councillor Frank Di Giorgio

Debbie Douglas (by teleconference)

Ubah Farah (by teleconference)

Brian Smith (by teleconference)

TSC Directors Absent:

Councillor Michael Ford

Amanda Coombs (on leave of absence)

Management present:

Ismail Ibrahim, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Graham Leah, Vice President, Asset Management

Kathy Milsom, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cynthia Summers, Commissioner of Housing Equity

A quorum being present, the TSC Chair called the public meeting to order and Ms. Sonia Fung served as recording secretary.

Deputations

Deputations were received at the meeting from the following persons:

• Item 2C: Anita Dressler; 
• Item 2D: Miguel Avila-Velarde; and 
• Item 3: Cathy Birch and Rosemary Frei.

Item 1 - Chairs Remarks

The Chair welcomed Ms. Debbie Douglas, Mr. Brian Smith and Ms. Ubah Farah to the TSC.

Item 2A - Approval of Public Meeting Agenda

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Mr. Smith and carried, the TSC approved the public meeting agenda.

Item 2B - Declaration of Conflict of Interest

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

Item 2C - Confirmation of TSC April 6, 2018 Public Meeting Minutes

The TSC had before it the draft minutes for the public meeting held on April 6, 2018.

Ms. Dressler deputed the item. Copies of written deputation from Ms. Dressler were distributed to members of TSC at the meeting.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Ms. Farrah and carried, the TSC confirmed the above-captioned minutes without amendment.

Item 2D - Business Arising from the Public Meeting Minutes and Action Items Update

Mr. Miguel Avila-Velarde deputed the item.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Ms. Douglas and carried, the TSC received the report for information.

Item 2E - Internal Audit Report: Tenant Parking Charges Monitoring (BIFAC:2018-18), TSC:2018-16

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Ms. Farah and carried, the TSC received the report for information.

Item 2F - 2017 Tenant Survey Action Plan Update, TSC:2018-17

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Ms. Farrah and carried, the TSC received the report for information.

Item 3 - Update on Ombudsman Report on Priority Tenant Transfers, TSC:2018-18

The TSC had before it the above-captioned report (TSC:2018-18).

Ms. Birch and Ms. Frei deputed on the item. Copies of written deputation from Ms. Birch were distributed to members of TSC at the meeting.

The TSC and Management discussed the report and the following points emerged.

• Management thanked staff for the assistance and dedication to bring this project to success.
• Management also thanked tenants and project partners, with specific mention of RPath, for their assistance and consultations.
• Management is confident that timelines will be met and current service levels will be maintained. Management will continue to provide progress updates to the TSC.
• The initial volume of applications received exceeded expectation. Additional resources have been brought in to supplement the ones that will be permanent to ensure timelines are met as set out in the process. 
• Communication campaigns will continue to familiarize the tenants (including those on the previous transfer list) with the new priority transfer process.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Ms. Douglas and carried, the TSC received the report for information and recommend that the report be forwarded to the TCHC Board of Directors.

Item 4A - Office of Commissioner of Housing Equity (“OCHE”) Review, TSC:2018-20

The TSC had before it the above-captioned report (TSC:2018-20).

The Commissioner of Housing Equity (“Commissioner”) provided background information on OCHE and its 2017 status.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Mr. Smith and carried, the TSC received the report for information. 

Item 4B - Report on the Loss of Subsidy Audit and Reporting Process, TSC:2018-21

The Commissioner presented the above-captioned report and answered questions from the TSC. The following points emerged.

• It was noted that the workload is high.
• There is a duplication of resources at OCHE and TCHC.
• Elimination of the monthly LOS audit process will not pose any risk for tenants as tenants with LOS would end up at OCHE due to arrears.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Mr. Smith and carried, the TSC adopted the report and recommended the Board of Directors to: 

• Approve the Commissioner’s request to amend the Commissioner’s mandate to allow the elimination of the monthly LOS audit process and resulting LOS Report. 

Item 4C - OCHE Quarterly Update (Q1-2018), TSC:2018-22

Item 4D - OCHE Quarterly Update (Q2-2018), TSC:2018-23

The Commissioner presented the above-captioned reports and answered questions from the TSC. The following points emerged:

• A new website (www.oche.ca) was launched.
• From July 2017 to date, there was an increase of about 41.7% in website traffic. 
• In May 2018, a tenant satisfaction survey for tenants had been distributed to all tenants referred to OCHE and available on the website. To date, the results have been positive.
• Arrears and referral processes are going well, and breached OCHE brokered Local Repayment Agreements have decreased in number.
• The Early Resolution Officers at the OCHE are at a full complement.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Ms. Farrah, seconded by Ms. Douglas and carried, the TSC received the reports for information.

Item 5 - Community safety –  Broader Dan Harrison Community Pilot, TSC:2018-24

The Senior Director, Community Safety Unit, presented the above-captioned report and answered questions from the TSC. The following points emerged:

• Management commented on various initiatives across the portfolio to reduce anti-social behaviours impacting quality of life and thereby improving community safety.
• Management noted that the broader Dan Harrison community pilot project will commence in September. In response to the Tenant First resolutions by City Council, a safety pilot is also being established at 145 Strathmore. 
• It was noted TCHC also partners with Toronto Fire Services, the City of Toronto and their Crisis Response Team, in support for the tenants.

Motion carried

ON MOTION DULY MADE by Councillor Di Giorgio, seconded by Ms. Douglas and carried, the TSC received the report for information.

TERMINATION

The TSC resolved to terminate the public meeting at 2:07 p.m.