2021 Fourth Quarter Activity Report
February 24, 2022
The following is the most recent consolidated Quarterly Report that the DSB will be sending to member municipalities and posting on the public website. Expect Quarterly Reports in February, May, September, and November of each year.
The program statistics are provided separately and updated monthly. They are available on the website by clicking the following link: Monthly Program Statistics
CAO Overview
The DSB 2021 Fourth Quarter (Unaudited) Financial Report was presented to the Board and projects a year-end municipal surplus of $848,241. Children’s Services and Ontario Works is forecasted to be on budget. Community Housing is forecasted to be under budget by $724,242. Paramedic Services is forecasted to be under budget by $149,673. Interest revenue on non-reserve accounts is forecasted to be $25,673 less than budgeted.
The DSB quarterly financial reports are available on the DSB website by clicking the following link: Quarterly Financial Reports
Paramedic Services
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Paramedic services continues to be an integral participant in home bound vaccination and testing in our communities. With the advent of the Omicron variant, staffing pressures are ongoing due to isolation requirements post exposures but we have managed to maintain service levels as per our Deployment Plan throughout. Access to Rapid Antigen Test kits continue to be a challenge and we have prioritized our current inventory for our unvaccinated staff (who are exempted) and for those who qualify for an at-work self-isolation process. Due to our staffing pressures, Paramedic Services have unfortunately scaled back our presence at the Manitoulin Health Centre Assessment Centres.
Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care (CPLTC)
Our Community Paramedicine team continues to roster patients and provide vital services to our most vulnerable and marginalized populations. The Team is looking at enhancing their capacity by deploying a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program that will permit greater agility for planning visits and resource allocation. The Team anticipates the full RPM program to be operational by the first week in February 2022.
Fall Training sessions
Paramedic Services were fortunately able to resume in-class training for the 2021 Fall sessions. 10 face-to-face sessions were held in Sudbury and Espanola where 137 Paramedics received essential training and re-certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Paramedics were also fit tested to a new N95 mask as a measure to deal with global Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortages and discontinued products.
Influenza Vaccination
Through the Community Paramedicine Program, we have engaged with Public Health Sudbury and Districts and participated in the 2021-22 Influenza Vaccination campaign. For the first time, Paramedics were able to get their influenza vaccine “in house”. Our Community Paramedicine Team were available at all 10 fall training sessions and provided influenza vaccines to a total 66 staff members which was a significant achievement. Additionally, our Community Paramedics administered a number of flu shots to home bound clients which was also a first.
Children’s Services
2022 Early Years and Child Care Funding Approach
In 2022, the Ministry of Education will be investing more than $2 billion in child care and early years programs. New funding has been invested for the Canada-Ontario Early Childhood and Workforce Agreement, for the retention and recruitment of high-quality child care and early years workforce. Also included is an additional $36.4M from the renewed Canada-Ontario Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (ELCC), to support child care and early years program delivery. An additional investment amount provided in 2022 stems from the renewed ELCC Agreement with the federal government for 4 additional years.
The Ministry will provide a one-time transitional grant of $85.5M to help offset and assist with the new 5% administration threshold, effective January 1, 2022, and to continue to help offset a portion of the 50/50 administration cost share that was introduced in 2021. This one-time grant may also be used to assist with the provision of child care programs and services as well as other COVID-19 related operating costs such as, but not limited to support for reduced capacity, enhanced cleaning and PPE.
CMSMs/DSSABs will continue to cost share Expansion Plan operating funding at a rate of 80/20 provincial/municipal.
Ministry of Education Updated Health and Safety Guidance
The ministry, based on advice from the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMHO), will be implementing additional health and safety measures in child care programs effective January 2022. These measures will supplement and build on the existing health and safety measures to ensure as safe and healthy environment as possible, as outlined in the Operational Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19 Outbreak.
Reporting of COVID-19 Cases - In light of the Omicron variant of concern and how quickly it is spreading, the COVID-19 case, contact and outbreak management approach is being updated across all sectors, as directed by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH). As a result, cohort-based dismissals may not occur in schools and child care settings.
Given recent changes to case and contact management by the Ministry of Health and OCMOH, the ministry will suspend reporting of COVID-19 cases in child care. Further information will be shared shortly with reporting expectations of absences in and program closures due to COVID-19. Child Care Licensees will continue to submit serious occurrences when a child, staff, student, home child care provider has a confirmed case of COVID-19 (positive test result).
Supports for Staff Absences to Minimize Operation Child Care Centre Closures – In anticipation of increased in staff absences, child care centres are permitted to add staff and children to different groups to better accommodate staffing needs and minimize program closures for operational reasons. Licensees must ensure ratios and maximum group size requirements are met at all times and must maintain clear documentation.
Ontario Works
Ontario Works Caseload
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Ontario Works/Temporary Care caseload average was 486. Compared to last year at this time, the caseload has decreased 3%.
Canada Recovery Benefit- Outreach Strategy
A memo was sent to all Employment Ontario Delivery Partners on December 1, 2021 to advise agencies of the strategies being put in place to connect individuals previously receiving the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) to Employment Ontario supports. The CRB wound down on October 23, 2021 and had approximately 350,000 beneficiaries receiving the benefit.
A phased approach to CRB outreach is being used to connect clients to the appropriate supports. Phase one involved outreach by mail or email from November 22- December 6th. Phase two is to begin in early January and involves phone calls by EO delivery partners to former CRB beneficiaries without email addresses or home addresses on file. To assist with this work, the ministry will share contact lists with regions and regional staff will provide EO service providers with the contact lists of former CRB recipients in their area. EO providers will have until January 31,2022 to contact the individuals on their calling list. As an EO provider in Sudbury North, we have been advised there are no clients for us to contact.
In addition to this, partnerships with MCCSS will be created and information will be provided to Ontario Works Caseworkers to help identify how to connect social assistance clients with EO supports and services. Resources are being provided to staff to support this work.
Community Housing
Work Orders
During the quarter (October – December 2021) a total of 276 Work Orders were generated: 195 for Community Housing; 17 for Administration Offices, and 64 for Paramedic Services. There was a total of 149 Work Orders closed or resolved during that time. Work orders are closed if the work is done in-house, or when the invoice is paid if from an outside source.
During the period, a total of 13, unit turnovers were started or completed which is more than average.
Projects Underway
Webbwood – Well drilling completed
Well drilling in Webbwood has been completed and water testing continues. Due to some concerns, the well hook up has been delayed to the New Year. Ontario Clean Water in concert with The Water Guys are spearheading the progress of this work and have made some suggestions for equipment modifications to allow the isolation of water supply at various points to make system maintenance easier in the future.
Sudbury East – Windows – sealant and Overhead Doors
Window replacement in St.-Charles is underway and going well. The Contractor has provided a schedule of completion and is on par to complete the work on schedule.
The Overhead doors that are scheduled for installation in St.-Charles and Noëlville are delayed and thus these replacement components are yet to begin.
LaCloche:
Marguerite Street – Sanitary Drain Lines
The successful proponent to the Sanitary Drain line replacement has been awarded and planning for this work has begun. The Contractor will begin work in the Spring in conjunction with the Town of Espanola to replace the unit sanitary drain lines in the units. This work will fix issues experienced with back-flow into the units.
Balcony Studies – multiple locations
The balcony studies are now complete, and the design work is being completed by the proponent. We anticipate having this by the end of January. Once the design specs are completed, we will have a better understanding of the scope of work, and estimations for cost and potential timelines.
Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI)
Funding for Year 3 COCHI has been fully committed with projects funded in LaCloche, Manitoulin and Sudbury East as follows:
• Espanola Municipal Non-Profit Housing – funding for water main repairs and for replacement closet and pantry doors
• Little Current Place – Windows and Doors
• Native People of Sudbury Development Corporation – Foundation Skirt Insulation
• Gore Bay Non-Profit Housing – bath tub cut-outs for accessibility
• Manitoulin-Sudbury – St. Charles window project
Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI)
The planned new building in Little Current has received Board endorsement to move ahead with construction of 12 Seniors’ units in the community. These units will be the first housing capital construction project for the organization. The 3-Year OPHI funding allocated to the organization was pooled to the last funding year, specifically to be allocated towards a proposed build.
Waiting list (Applicants)
Total applications at end of quarter 4 is 593. The applicant breakdown is as follows:
1 Bedroom 462 (+28) 2 Bedroom 58 (+7)
3 Bedroom 46 (+9) 4 bedroom 27(+1)
Direct Shelter Subsidy (DSS)
Staff continue to identify and complete the application process with eligible applicants for the DSS program. All applicants receiving the benefit are deemed housed. As of the end of this quarter there were 220 active DSS recipients.
Income Mixing
Per DSB Policy, every effort is being made where the waitlist allows, to mix the Community Housing Buildings with RGI, Affordable and Market Rent Tenants. As of the end of this quarter we have successfully secured 10 market rent tenants and 79 affordable rent tenants.
Smoke Free Housing – Unit Count-down
As of the end of the 3rd quarter of 2021, 175/275 of the portfolio’s units are designated as Smoke-free. This represents 63.64% of the full portfolio currently. Units are designated as turn-over occurs.
2021 Homelessness Enumeration
In April of this year Service Managers were required to enumerate homelessness in 2021, using a Point-in-Time Count to provide a snapshot of homelessness in their communities. The Point-in-Time Count includes collecting demographic information about people experiencing homelessness using a set of 17 common questions that align with the enumeration approach used by the federal Reaching Home program.
Additionally, Service Managers are expected to begin developing their By-Name List (BNL) in April 2021 and have it operational by January 1, 2022. The By-Name List must include people experiencing homelessness across the entire Service Manager area, who consent to be on the list.
The results from the enumeration will be used to assist program planning with respect to homelessness prevention. The BNL will help connect people to services and work to prioritize their needs and obtain stable housing, in addition to providing opportunities for agencies to evaluate the overlap of care.
In total, 22 surveys were submitted, with 4 surveys screened out for a total of 18 completed surveys. Of those 18 surveys, 15 participants agreed to register on the BNL. Participants were screened out if they responded they had already answered the survey, to avoid duplication of responses, if they were unwilling to participate in the survey, and if they had somewhere to stay the night of the PiT Count date that was permanent and/or safe.
Of the 18 completed surveys completed 8 individuals reside in LaCloche, 6 on Manitoulin Island and 4 in Sudbury East.
The enumeration data shows there is a struggle to find affordable housing options or shelter options, as well as more support needed for the health challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. With this information, as well as the results from the 2018 enumeration, there is an opportunity to engage with community partners and service providers to work together to create a more robust By Names List and to reduce homelessness in the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB area.
The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB will create a network which involves community partners in planning for wrap around supports for the homeless population and will serve as the committee to spearhead any other enumeration work required in future.
The full report can be viewed here.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Housing Case Manager Annual Report
When the Ontario Government declared a State of Emergency in March 2020 due to the ongoing risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the way CMHA conducted services was impacted.
The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB implemented precautionary measures to protect the wellbeing of its tenants and closed all common rooms within our buildings. This resulted in the suspension of in person groups and brief services offered in these buildings, including the suspension of Community Paramedicine Clinics.
Despite limitations to In-Person services the program managed to provide the services needed. Including:
o Providing case management services to 23 individuals
o 206 direct contacts we made with individuals on the caseload
o 49 direct contacts with individuals in other CMHA programs
o 66.6% of referrals with “at risk” tenancies were preserved
o 3,180 brief services were offered
During the year the Housing Cases Managers provided support to the following special projects
o Food Basket deliveries
o Cookie basket delivery
o Virtual check ins
o Flu shot clinics
o Income tax clinics
o Crime Stoppers groups
There were several partnerships created to reflect the needs of the community. Including Manitoulin Family Resources, Better Beginnings Better Futures, and Victorian Order of Nurses to provide food supplies to tenants in the Manitoulin, LaCloche, and Sudbury East areas. A partnership was also formed with Sudbury Crime Stoppers to conduct a Crime Stoppers Group in Gore Bay, Little Current, Mindemoya, and Manitowaning.
A total of 328 referrals were made to community agencies this fiscal year. There is a growing body of evidence reporting on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the mental health of individuals. Due to several lockdowns, Stay at Home Orders, and a general fear around the virus, people have been isolated in their units and unable to go about their daily life as usual. This change in routine, excessive loneliness, and feeling of not knowing what the future holds could contribute to poor mental health and increased substance use, ultimately resulting in calls to emergency services.
We note, in some locations, Espanola in particular, a significant increase in police calls and resident complaints. These increases have a direct relation to the COVID-19 restrictions. Many of the complaints were behaviour related and neighbour disputes. Polices calls were generally placed for illegal activity, noise complaints and unwanted guests.
The year we also note an increase in paramedic calls, this increase is connected to the cancellation of Paramedicine clinics due to COVID-19.
The full report can be viewed here.
Summary
The DSB had a very busy quarter. If municipal Councils have any questions or would like DSB staff to attend a municipal Council meeting, please feel free to contact me directly.
Fern Dominelli
Chief Administrative Officer
Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
Phone: 705-222-7777
E mail: fern.dominelli@msdsb.net
Website: www.msdsb.net