Latest Roehampton Community Council meeting minutes

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Meeting Minutes – April 2022

Attendance:

  • Hellen Haziprodromu – SSA – Roehampton
  • Acire Julius Labeja – Program Coordinator – Roehampton
  • Nicole Williams: Manager – Roehampton
  • Diana Goldie- Northern Secondary School
  • Jane Auster – South Eglinton Davisville Residents’ Association
  • Lancelyn Rayman –Watters – EPRA
  • Laura Inglis – 900 Mount Pleasant Road
  • Rev. Stephen Milton – Lawrence Park Community Church
  • Thyra Vankeeken – First Christian Reform Church
  • Wilmar Kortleever – School Board Trustee Representative
  • Sarah Rehou – Mid Town Community Care Team
  • Adam Saunders – Facebook/Mid Town Safety Group

•               Guest Speakers / Roehampton Residence – Samantha and Scott

  • Leroy Miller – Roehampton Counsellor

Updates – Nicole Williams

Housing

  • Housing numbers are consistent, 5 people moved out last month and 3 expected to move this month

Demographics

  • Occupancy of shelter is 135
  • 30 clients over 60 years of age
  • 19 clients apart of the younger demographic, seeing an increase in younger clients
  • 30 couples
  • 39 women, rest are men
  • Continue to serve clients who are trans
  • Not many pets currently

Donations

  • Easter plants
  • Chocolate eggs
  • Books and puzzles
  • Easter cards for our residents

Harm Reduction

  • Decreased need to intervene with Naloxone
  • Variety of factors could be the cause, such as supply issues
  • 10 clients accessing our Inter City Health Clinic for supports
  • Division is working on more robust Harm Reduction framework within shelters
  • Increased Training for staff
  • Overdose prevention site was approved for Seaton House with 24/7 overdose prevention supports and staffing

Council’s most recent votes about Shelter Hotel Programs

  • March 24th SSHA proposed up to 5 sites close in 2022
  • Council approved to extend all Hotel Shelter leases until December 31st
  • Roehampton is unique because there was an option for 2 -3 years
  • Other shelter programs were for 6 month intervals
  • Better Living Center and 1684 Queen Street will close
  • Key focus of the Transition Plan is that the clients staying at the sites closing secure permanent housing before closing, and the remaining clients to be transferred to existing sites….no client from these sites will be without a transition plan and shelter.
  • Number of clients accessing Shelter beds is reaching double digits

Client Programming

  • Sarah will be conducting a survey and sharing the results from this with the group to see what donations are needed
  • Hellen asks RCLC member’s if there is any events going on in the community people can share flyers with Roehampton
  • Getting clients involved and out into the community allows an opportunity for them to

integrate with the community

Thanking the group for their donations

  • Amazing mobilization for one our clients who needed prescription glasses
  • Second Mile Club membership
  • Community Safety Team – Daycare had made t-shirts for our CST Team and socks for our residents

A Client’s Story

Guest Speakers – Current Roehampton Residents / Couple – Samantha and Scott

  • Samantha shared their story what brought them to homelessness and accessing shelter services
  • They were renting a main floor house, owner lost their business and came back for their property, it all happened so fast. They then had trouble finding an alternative place quick enough…this is how they ended up homeless
  • They stated that their experience at Roehampton has been wonderful, and that the Counsellors are always there and available to support them. They have recently returned to Roehampton after having been discharged and transferred to another shelter on Lakeshore. Samantha called Leroy their Counsellor and requested to return to Roehampton, they were not doing well where they were and were ready to work on housing. Leroy advocated for the couple to return to Roehampton and was successful.
  • They are currently in a transition in their lives, and focused on leaving the shelter for permanent housing. Samantha would like to live on Kingston Rd. in Scarborough to be near her father.
  • Scott is currently off work due to an injury, but had previously been with his former employer for 34 years. Scott shared that in his past he suffered a breakdown due to his mother passing away and his son and wife at the time becoming ill…this was all too much to handle alone, and his doctor eventually advised him to take time off work
  • Samantha stated that landlords changed and ‘turned’ on them once they did not appear to have a past stable life, they were judged
  • Scott has recently received an insurance settlement and knew this could be a trigger and immediately advised Leroy and seeked his feedback and assistance to save and/or use the funds wisely

Insight from Samantha and Scott & Counsellor Leroy

Samantha & Scott

  • In order to access a shelter you first need a referral through Central Intake.
  • There are challenges and barriers people face because it is difficult to bare it all to another person if you haven’t built the rapport and trust with that staff. Counsellors are accessible at shelters if you want to work with them.
  • Rental Market is difficult during this time
  • Challenging to go from your own home to a shelter, and can be difficult because the space isn’t yours so it causes some challenges and adjusting
  • Physical and Mental Health are negatively impacted being homeless and the longer you are homeless the harder it is to recover
  • If there wasn’t a place like Roehampton, being homeless and/or living on the streets would affect your mental health on its own

Leroy

  • Leroy has had over 20 years of experience working within the shelter sector
  • Counsellors have to build a relationship and trust with clients but must also know when to hold back and/or nudge clients forward – it is all about Engagement, Communication, and Reliability

Always keeping the perspective and understanding that anyone can be homeless at any time, it takes only second to become homeless

  • Clients will often call Counsellors once housed if they are facing barriers – Eviction Prevention Supports are offered for a year to support with ensuring rent is paid and to address landlord tenant issues

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Roehampton Residence Community Liaison Committee Meeting #3 VIA WEBEX: March 9, 2022, 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Meeting Minutes – March 2022

Meeting Purpose: To identify ways in which the CLC and Roehampton Residence can work together on initiatives and to share general updates of the Roehampton program

1.     Roll Call, Purpose & Agenda Review: Hellen Haziprodromu

Today

  • Hellen Haziprodromu: SSA – Roehampton
    • Acire Julius Labeja: Program Coordinator – Roehampton
    • Nicole Williams: Manager- Roehampton
    • Andrea Villiers: Leaside Residents Association
    • Deb Whalen-Blaize: Church of the Transfiguration
    • Diana Goldie: Northern SS/Community Member
    • Jane Auster: South Eglinton Davisville Residents’ Association
    • Laura Inglis: 900 Mount Pleasant Road
    • Stephen Milton: Minister of Lawrence Park Community Church
    • Rev. John J Mastandrea: Minister of Manor Road United Church
    • Wilmar Kortleever: School Board Trustee Representative
    • Sarah Rehou: Midtown Community Care Team (MCCT)
    • Laura Inglis: 900 Mount Pleasant Road
    • Adam Saunders: Midtown Safety Group
    • Sarah Rahou: Midtown Community Care
    • Leeann Trevors – P.E.A.C.H Senior Support

General Community and Shelter Updates- Nicole Williams, Manager Roehampton

Recent Community Concerns:

  • Dollarama –concerns about a sex offender in the area surfaced after some community members believed unknown offender could be from the Roehampton based on comments made from the Mid-Town community Facebook Group.
    • Claims on social media have not been substantiated
    • If a client was a sex offender, police would have to be provided the address from the offender and police are responsible to verify their address
    • Most high risk offenders could not reside at Roehampton but there are transitional programs and support services for high risk offenders.
  • 5:38 AM a community member reported on the Facebook group that there was a man screaming from outside the Roehampton.
    • Members of the group have been encouraged by Admins of the group to call the police and report concerns so they can be addressed instead of posting it on social media right away

Hellen – advised that there were no objections by any members to having their email addresses shared. Therefore going forward the email address will be visible when the group is emailed.

Roehampton Lease Agreement:

  • Discussion around lease renewal for Roehampton along with all Covid response shelters are in the works, designated team responsible for determining which shelters will close first and the plans of where service users will go are set to begin in April
    • There has been no talks of extending Roehampton’s Shelter lease passed the 3 year mark
    • Better Living Center will be closing
    • Community Centers will also be closing

Events

  • Valentine’s Day Treats were hard to find
    • Program Supervisor called Metro and was able to buy and secure 100 cupcakes to give to our clients due to our supplier shortage
    • St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, clients are excited

Job Calls

  • Have been completed within the division
    • Roehampton will see new counsellors on the team, clients will be able to be supported better
    • Due to Omicron infections decreasing the staffing situation has stablized currently

Donations

  • Community member for her 80th birthday donated 240 pairs of socks
    • Received DVD player from Bloor Street United Church
    • Donations received for clients who had to stay in isolation coordinated with Rev Stephen Milton, Deborah Deer Park United Church
    • Welcome Home Baskets were shared with Scarborough Women’s Shelter and Streets to Homes

Shelter Demographic Statistics

  • 135 clients currently staying at Roehampton
    • 43 of Roehampton clients are over 55 years of age
    • 12 of those clients are over 65 years of age
    • Only have 9 clients who are under 25 years of age
    • 36 of Roehampton clients are together as a couple
    • 92 men 42 women

Senior Demographic Supports

  • Increasingly seeing seniors at Roehampton and accessing shelters for the first time
    • Division is planning more housing options
    • Demographics are not shifting as much in gender but in age
    • A lot of referrals for people needing health supportive services
  • Always in need of more resources

Hellen introduces Guest Speaker Leanne from P.E.A.C.H, Senior Support

  • P.E.A.C.H is a specific program around senior support
    • Roehampton is hoping to offer services from P.E.A.C.H

Kensington Health; Second Mile Club

  • Located in the Kensington Market Neighbourhood
    • Non-profit Community based Organization that specializes in particular areas of health care: long term care, hospice, community care through the Second Mile Club and diagnostic services
    • Second Mile Club’s goal is to address the social, intellectual, psychical wellbeing of seniors who wish to remain living at home
    • Second Mile Club has 5 recreational spaces that just reopened as of March 1st both virtual and in person support is offered, fee is $45 annual membership fee
    • Provides support to seniors over the age of 55 or adults over the age of 18 with a disability

Social Determinates of Health

  • Defining a classification of social, economic components of individual, social, economic and environmental aspects that impact Individual health and population health as a whole; 50 percent of what makes Canadians sick is their life style (income, education level, race, housing status)
    • Structural vulnerability, when their ability to access health care or pursue a healthy lifestyle is constrained due to overlapping or mutually reinforcing power hierarchies
    • Moving from placing the blame from people who suffer and instead recognizes the broader context that might cause the suffering someone is experiencing today

Impact of homelessness on health outcomes

  • Looking at the root causes
    • 75 % with one or more chronic diseases such as hepatitis, heart disease, cancer compared to the general population

P.E.A.C.H Program (Palliative Education and Care of the Homeless)

  • Deals with clients who are in an emergency state of homelessness, those living outside or staying in a temporary shelter who have a life limiting illness
  • Deals with not only people who are homeless but those who may be recently housed or couch surfing
  • Aims to meet people where they are at, through outreach, case management style, work is interdisciplinary, operates from a Harm Reduction Model
  • Program is operating under the Inner City Health Associates (ICHA), works across the GTA in shelter settings
  • Mobile program, street based and shelter based
  • Aims for communication of care without borders

What services are provided through the P.E.A.C.H Program

  • Health care navigation; coordinating palliative care from a trauma informed care
  • Goal is to address social determinates of health; helping with a housing application
  • People who have been diagnosed of under 2 years can apply for special priority housing through the City of Toronto to secure an apartment for them which aims to bring a dignified end of life for people experiencing homelessness
  • Trying to get access to additional benefits such as social assistance, food programs, transportation to medical appointments or accompaniment to those appointments
  • Often clients are surpassing the life expectancy due to improvement of quality of life

Donation for seniors

  • City cannot directly accept cash donations
  • We wanted to hear from the group their thoughts/ideas of what could be purchased with the donation
  • Suggestions included to purchase gift cards for Starkman’s Health Care Depot which supplies assistive devices such as grab bars, canes, walkers, pill organizers, incontinent supplies, etc.
  • Gift Cards are ideal since their distribution and use can easily be tracked
  • Gift Cards could be given to seniors who leave the shelter to housing to offset some of their costs for supplies/devices
  • For Starkman’s or Shoppers it was felt some gift cards in the amount of $500 would be useful for large purchases
  • It was suggested to use some of the funds for Social Recreational Activities, but that would likely require the purchase of Visa Cards which would include service fees; so this did not seem viable

Residents Wish List- Sarah Rehou: Midtown Community Care Team (MCCT)

  • Sarah has created a survey to hear back from the residents of what they would like to receive as donations instead of what we think they might want
  • No funds collected as of yet but are looking to raise money
  • Survey has not yet been finalized and/or distributed
  • Sarah offered to share with the group the Survey Results