65 Delhi Transitional Housing

County of Wellington Housing Services project planning processes 

In our role as Service Manager the County of Wellington works on an ongoing basis to explore opportunities within our community to prevent and respond to homelessness. This work is undertaken collaboratively with a variety of local stakeholders including municipal partners; Indigenous organizations; health and human service organizations and operators of homeless serving system (e.g., Wyndham House; Stepping Stone formerly known as the Welcome In Drop In Centre that operates Loyola House pilot and Grace Gardens). 

The County of Wellington and the organizations that make up the Homeless serving system are knowledgeable about the needs of those experiencing and/or at risk of homelessness in Wellington-Guelph. As a community, we work to integrate the experience and voices of individuals who experience homelessness into our local planning processes as well as provincial and national initiatives to prevent and respond to homelessness.

From a built form perspective, the County of Wellington Housing Services remains committed to high standards of service and is working with local experts including engineers, architects and planning consultants to review and revise potential layout within the building to ensure effective design layout.

Informed by lived experiences and working in partnership with community-based health and human service professionals and Indigenous organizations we hope to design services and supports that address emerging needs and create staffing models and intake processes to ensure high quality service and supports are available to meet the needs of our diverse community.

The updates are organized by planning comments raised at the May 10, 2021 City of Guelph Council Meeting. 

• Multiple uses for 65 Delhi Street that were proposed in the application  (i.e., emergency shelter and transitional housing and child care).

The requested daycare use will be removed from the Zoning By-law Amendment application. The intent is to use the property at 65 Delhi only for transitional housing with supports.

• Status and function of the greenspace located on the property. The greenspace refers to the area in front of the building and adjacent to backyards of some residents who live on Delhi Street.

The proposal does not include plans to alter the greenspace to the south of the building. The intent is that this space can be used by the patrons of the housing project.

As part of the re-zoning application, planners could include a provision in the zoning to ensure this area is maintained as open space.

We are committed to working with neighbourhood residents and project partners to address questions and concerns about the greenspace.

• Status of parkland adjacent to the property. The parkland refers to the area behind (north) of the building and parking lot. The parkland area is adjacent to backyards of some residents who live on Glenhill Place.

The parkland area is owned by the City of Guelph. There are no plans to change the parkland area as part of the by-law amendment application.

• Status of the existing parking.

The existing 41 parking spaces will be maintained. The existing parking agreements with the hospital will also be maintained. It is anticipated that there will be more than sufficient parking for the proposed use.

The proposed transitional housing with supports would include use of existing parking for a minimum of 3 staff on site at any given time. Additional staff and support workers providing care and support services visiting the site during the day would also use existing parking. It is not expected that a large number of residents would require use of parking facilities.

In accordance with the Housing Services Act 2011, the County of Wellington is responsible for developing, implementing and reporting on a 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan (HHP). Service Managers are required to:

• develop HHPs in consultation with community and community partners.
• ensure that HHP objectives and priorities align with matters of provincial interest as defined in the Housing Services Act (2011) and with 2016 Provincial Policy Statement Directions.
• take actions and carry out measures to meet objectives and targets related to local housing needs. 

The first HHP for Wellington-Guelph was developed in 2014 and then updated in 2018.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME: A 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan for Wellington-Guelph combines local data with input from the community to set objectives and priorities for housing and homelessness services that address local needs in Wellington-Guelph. The analysis shows that there is not enough affordable housing in Guelph-Wellington; and we know that there are individuals from all walks of life who are or have experienced homelessness in our community. 

The updated HHP identifies 8 objectives that guide County of Wellington Housing Services work.

OBJECTIVE 1: To help low-income households close the gap between their incomes and housing expenses.
OBJECTIVE 2: To provide a range of housing stability supports to assist with housing retention and  homelessness prevention.

OBJECTIVE 3: To offer a comprehensive range of supportive housing options for residents with complex needs due to aging, disabilities, mental health issues and addictions.

OBJECTIVE 4: To increase the supply and mix of affordable housing options for low- to moderate income households.

OBJECTIVE 5: To end chronic homelessness.

OBJECTIVE 6: To promote client-centred, coordinated access to the housing and homelessness system. 

OBJECTIVE 7: To support the sustainability of the existing social and affordable housing stock.

OBJECTIVE 8: To foster access to culturally appropriate housing and homelessness services for Indigenous peoples.

The County prepares Annual Reports to share with the province and our community. 

The Homeless Serving System includes a continuum of services and supports: 

• Services and supports to prevent homelessness (e.g., outreach, diversion and housing stability workers, assistance with utilities and rental arrears)
• A range of housing options (emergency shelters; transitional housing with supports; permanent supportive housing; rent-geared-to-income and affordable housing) as well as
• Co-ordinated access to housing supports as well as the health and human services required to respond to complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Since joining the 20,000 Homes Campaign in 2016, we have achieved a quality By-Name List, launched a Coordinated Entry System (CES), and at the end of 2020 we have continued a downward trend in our chronic homeless numbers. Building on this success, we will continue to develop and implement data-driven approaches that focus on optimizing the local homeless system to end chronic homelessness in Wellington-Guelph. Learn more about Built For Zero Canada - Getting to Zero 

Having an effective Coordinated Entry System (CES) streamlines access to housing and supports for individuals and families experiencing and/or at risk of homelessness. 

Service Providers that make up the Housing Stability System work together to assesses people’s housing-related needs, prioritizes them for resources, and links those in need to housing and a range of supports.

The CES is a client-centred and standardized process for assessing and prioritizing housing related needs. Since its implementation, the CES process is used to prioritize an individual’s housing needs, reducing homelessness, and improving the community’s response to homelessness. With the coordinated intake system individuals can access services through any “door agency”.  

Once an individual has been added to the By-Name List (BNL) they are prioritized for housing supports when programme spaces become available. Programme matches are determined by the eligibility criteria for an agency. The individual with the highest prioritization that meets the programmes eligibility criteria will be matched.

While an individual is waiting to be matched, they can continue to access supports and resources in the community and services will continue to be offered by the referring Door Agency.

The entire homeless serving system is in transition as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. System transformation work is focused on strengthening housing stability and prevention supports, investing in more supportive models of care to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness and struggle to find a place to call home. System transformation work also includes a focus on finding ways to bring permanent supportive housing options to our community as well as continued investment in the expansion of affordable housing options.

This work represents a continued shift from managing homelessness to ending homelessness by being housing focused and supporting community members to remain housed wherever possible and ensuring periods of homelessness are as brief as possible and not recurring.

The Transitional Housing with Supports project at 65 Delhi is a strategic investment that will expand County owned assets, increasing housing supply and adding new options to meet the needs of local residents who are experiencing homelessness.

We are involved with this project as part of our responsibilities to plan and manage housing services which includes the delivery and administration of provincially mandated social and affordable housing programmes, as well as initiatives to prevent and address homelessness.

The proposed transitional housing with supports project is funded through a combination of municipal, provincial and federal sources which will cover renovation and ongoing operational costs. These funds are managed by the County of Wellington in their role as Service Manager for Housing Services in Guelph-Wellington as part of our responsibilities to prevent and respond to homelessness.

The proposed transitional housing with supports project at 65 Delhi Street will be designed to provide individuals experiencing homelessness access to the necessary supports and services they require to move from homelessness to housing stability. The creation of this transitional housing with supports project is greatly needed, in our local context, where we lack an adequate supply of affordable/supportive housing.

The County of Wellington Housing Services and project partners will be responsible for the day to day operations of the proposed transitional housing with supports project.

The County of Wellington is responsible for ground maintenance and garbage pick-up as part of our responsibilities for day to day operations of the project.

The County of Wellington has a smoke-free buildings policy for all buildings that was implemented in 2018, which will apply to 65 Delhi.

A designated outdoor smoking area will be included in the design and located appropriately to meet legislative requirements and, with the privacy and well-being of residents, staff and neighbours in mind.

As part of the planning process the County of Wellington has formally reduced the maximum number to 28 individuals (previously the maximum was up to 36 individuals).  

It is important to note that the existing floorplan for 65 Delhi has not been finalized. The final number of supportive housing bedrooms for residents will be developed with project partners and architects who have the expertise required to determine what is most appropriate according to best practices.

We have heard from some that there were concerns about there not being enough common space, kitchen space, offices or meeting rooms. We recognize the importance of these elements and view them as an integral part of program design.

The proposed transitional housing with supports project is still in the planning/design phase. The design of the program and interior of the building will be developed to prioritize the well-being of future residents, staff, service providers as well as the well-being of the surrounding community.

• We want to emphasize that the design will include common kitchen and common areas that residents can access in addition to their own space.
• The design will also include adequate office space for housing staff as well as office and meeting spaces where service providers can meet with residents to deliver supports. 

We recognize the importance of these issues and are interested in exploring options for well-designed pedestrian circulation and access to 65 Delhi Street. We will be carefully reviewing what is possible through the Site Plan Application process, which is the next phase of the project development.

These design elements are an essential part of our plan to support a positive experience for both future residents and neighbours. 

In keeping with best practice, 65 Delhi Street meets criteria as a good location for Transitional Housing with Supports because it is easily accessible by public transit, in close proximity to community-based services and neighbourhood amenities (e.g., grocery stores) as well as employment opportunities. 

The proposed project will be staffed 24/7 with a minimum of 3 staff on site at any given time. Additional staff providing care and support services will visit the site during the day.

The in-house supports and services provided to residents will be based on needs of residents and determined through preliminary and ongoing planning processes.

Residents would be expected to sign a participation agreement indicating that they are open to working with staff and towards a long term housing plan and are open to using supports and services that are available to them.

There has been an appeal filed with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and the timeline for the proposed project is subject to that process. 

Supportive housing is needed by individuals experiencing homelessness and by many other community members who are adequately housed but under supported.

We require all of these housing options and more in order to respond to the housing needs of our community.