Zero-increase budgets threaten Toronto programs to help the homeless

Thestar.com
November 16, 2018
Jennifer Pagliaro

A request for all city departments to prepare zero-increase budgets for 2019 could put new initiatives for Toronto’s homeless population on the chopping block.

Senior staff have asked all divisions and agencies to prepare operating budgets equal to those approved for 2018, which would not take into account the effects of inflation, unionized salary increases and the city’s growing population.

Toronto Public Health is seeking a budget increase of 2 per cent, or $1.32 million, to fund council-approved outreach to those experiencing homelessness.

The request sets the stage for council to have its annual debate about which programs--some of which have already been approved--will actually be funded. In the past, that has left advocates and front-line workers scrambling to fight for investment.

The board of health’s budget committee will be one of the first to consider a 2019 budget request on Tuesday, when it hears from Toronto Public Health. Its report is seeking an increase of 2 per cent, or $1.32 million, to fund council-approved outreach to those experiencing homelessness, among other initiatives.

The proposals include keeping on six additional outreach workers and a supervisor to work on safer drug use with users and the homeless population in the eastern part of downtown, training on overdose prevention (including administering the life-saving drug naloxone), and referrals to other services.

These types of resource, the report to the board of health says, would increase referrals to other health and social services and reduce public drug use, discarded needles and overdose deaths.

These requests come at a time as the city continues to experience an opioid epidemic that claimed 308 lives in 2017. Other initiatives requiring new funds include preventing the spread of infection in shelters and respites, and collecting health data on the homeless population to better provide service. Those initiatives are funded by the province, but require $377,600 in matching funds from the city.

There is also a request for new funding to fulfil a council direction to share in 20 per cent of the cost of student nutrition programs. The city fell behind that target, at 19 per cent, in 2018, the report says. The additional funding will increase the number of breakfasts served.

It will ultimately be up to council to decide if those initiatives are funded.

“I think that outreach piece is still really critical because we’re not seeing any reduction in the issue,” said street nurse and advocate Cathy Crowe. “It’s not a time in our city where we want to cut resources to this segment of the population.”

TPH also recommends a net $267,400 in budget cuts, including a “minor service change” to offset yearly increases that is only detailed in secret attachments. It’s not clear what impact those changes would have for public services, but it suggests there are job cuts.

“They are relatively minor,” said outgoing board of health chair Councillor Joe Mihevc of the proposed cuts, confirming there are jobs up for discussion. Mihevc did not say whether he supports the cuts. “To achieve the target, this is the best that the medical officer of health can do,” he said.

During his first term, Mayor John Tory was criticized by advocates and left-leaning council members for austerity measures, including an insistence on keeping property taxes at or below the rate of inflation--a promise he also made on the campaign trail ahead of the Oct. 22 election.

The report to the board of health says the interim city manager directed all divisions and agencies this summer to submit a zero-increase budget request for 2019, which a city spokesperson confirmed. The first budget of a new term following an election is largely led by staff. Council did not approve a direction for zero per cent increases to budgets, but it is in keeping with Tory and council’s previous directions.

Tory’s spokesperson reiterated the request from staff, saying “this is just the beginning of the budget process.”

“As you know, every year the city manager asks all departments to make sure they are proposing budgets that find efficiencies, ways to contain costs, and savings,” said Don Peat. “That’s the responsible thing to do with public funds.”