This contract based model has enabled Habitat Services to pursue improved standards in boarding home accommodations. With an increase in funding in 2001, an improvement in services was achieved. At that time, the groundwork was also laid for one of the most significant improvements in boarding home accommodations since the beginning of the programme -- the elimination of triple occupancy bedrooms. During Habitat's expansion, beginning in September of 1999, Habitat Services was able to offer contracts to owners operating homes with a higher proportion of single rooms, such that the portfolio now includes more single than double occupancy rooms.
The Contract
Habitat Services enters into contracts with selected owners of boarding homes and rooming houses in Toronto. The majority of the homes are owned by private business people, who in many cases also operate the home themselves. There are also four non-profit boarding homes in the Habitat portfolio. The contract outlines required services and housing standards. Habitat Services provides monitoring of the contract and pays a per diem subsidy to the owners. The subsidy program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the City of Toronto.
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Monitoring
Each Habitat-funded home has a Liaison Worker assigned to it by Habitat Services. The Liaison Worker works with the boarding home owner and operator to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the contract. Their work is known as "monitoring".
The Liaison Worker makes both scheduled and unscheduled visits to the home. They check to see that the house is in good repair and that the tenants are receiving the services and meals they are entitled to. Tenants who have complaints or questions about their entitlements may bring them to the Liaison Worker.
Boarding homes and rooming houses fall under the Residential Tenancies Act (R.T.A.) The R.T.A. is provincial legislation that outlines the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords. The Liaison Worker ensures that the home owner and operator follows the R.T.A. when dealing with tenancy issues.
The Liaison Worker also facilitates "Tenant/Operator Dispute Meetings". A "Tenant/Operator Dispute Meeting" is a meeting that is requested by a home operator when there is an issue of concern that might affect a tenant's housing. The tenant is asked to participate in the meeting. The tenant may be supported at the meeting by the person of their choice (eg. a worker, friend or family member). The owner or operator and a member of the house site support staff also participate. The purpose of the meeting is to look for possible solutions, with the objective of maintaining the tenant's housing. In most cases, "Tenant/Operator Dispute Meetings" have resulted in agreements between home operators and tenants so that tenants do not lose their housing.
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On-Site Support Services for Tenants
On-site support services are provided to tenants by staff of either COTA Health or Habitat Services Site Support. COTA Health has been providing on-site support services to tenants in Habitat funded boarding homes since the beginning of the Habitat program. Site support services are provided by Habitat in boarding homes and rooming houses that joined the program since September of 1999.
Each house has a team of two or more workers assigned to it by one of the above agencies. The number of workers in each team and the number of visits they make varies according to the size and needs of the house. The site support workers assist tenants in many ways, for example, by helping to establish regular tenant meetings and organizing recreation and other activities. Tenant participation in the activities organized by site support workers is voluntary. Tenants may also have their own case managers, workers, or nurses who visit them in their homes from time to time.
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COTA Health
COTA Health, a not-for-profit agency, provides services to people with serious mental health challenges living in the community. The aim of COTA Health Site Support Services is to promote the development and maintenance of supportive home environments that enable people with mental health challenges to achieve heightened levels of independence and quality of life.
COTA Health's programs are provided by visiting teams of Community Site Support (CSS) staff that are assigned to each housing setting. Each site team works collaboratively with tenants, boarding home operators & staff, and workers from other agencies in order to provide effective services geared toward enabling tenants to achieve housing stability and enhanced quality of life. Community support staff:
- Visit each house regularly, 1 to 3 times per week
- Deliver services that support and enrich each individual housing setting, based on the assessment and identification of needs
- Facilitate group activities/events which foster tenant engagement/participation, the development of social networks, and skill acquisition (e.g., Art Group, Music Group, Sports Group, Social Club, Dances, Large Group Excursions etc.)
- Provide individual support to tenants in the areas of community orientation, linking to other services and professional supports, situational dispute/problem resolution and informal counseling
- Establish and maintain ongoing supportive relationships with all those living and working in each housing setting
COTA Health also coordinates a series of training/education sessions for housing providers and their staff.
For more information about COTA Health's Site Support Services, call COTA Health's Client Service Centre at (416)785-9230.
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Habitat Services Site Support
Habitat Services provides on-site support services for tenants in houses that joined the Habitat program since September 1999. Habitat site support workers use a community development model of support. The community development support model involves:
- Providing opportunities for tenants to interact and socialize with one another and build a sense of community in their housing
- Supporting tenants to acquire and practice skills which will enable them to participate in the community
- Supporting tenants to assert themselves and exercise their rights in housing and other areas
Site support workers make regular scheduled visits to homes and offer group social and recreational opportunities to tenants. They are flexible and responsive to the needs and wishes of the tenants in each home.
New tenants are offered support as they settle into their new environment. They are provided with information about the role of Habitat Services and their rights and responsibilities as tenants. Site support workers may also help new tenants to familiarize themselves with the neighbourhood and local services.
Habitat site support workers are available to provide some assistance to tenants individually. For example, they may help tenants to work on personal or interpersonal issues, develop new skills, or link with community or social services. Site support workers may also offer support or advocacy to a tenant in dealing with income supports, community and healthcare services, and/or the operator of the home. Informal counselling and accompaniment to appointments may also be provided.
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