PHSSC

That Report COM 21-2024, dated July 9, 2024, respecting Approval of 2024 Community Services Program Audits, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the draft audited annual reconciliation return for the Community Support Services Program (Appendix 1 to Report COM 21-2024) for the period ended March 31, 2024, BE APPROVED; 2. That the draft audited schedule of Revenue and Expenses for the Reaching Home Program (Appendix 2 to Report COM 21-2024) for the year ended March 31, 2024, BE APPROVED; 3. That staff BE DIRECTED to coordinate with the auditor to finalize the statements as presented; and 4. That Report COM 21-2024 BE FORWARDED to the Region’s Audit Committee for information.

That Report COM 22-2024, dated July 9, 2024, respecting Niagara Prosperity Initiative Grant Process, BE RECEIVED and the following recommendations BE APPROVED: 1. That the use of granting BE APPROVED for the funding allocation pursuant to the “Niagara Prosperity Initiative” (NPI) as a second pilot project (of the granting approach) to respond to the recommendations in the Niagara Poverty Reduction Strategy (NPRS); Public Health and Social Services Committee Open Session Minutes PHSSC 7-2024 July 9, 2024 Page 3 2. That the Commissioner of Community Services BE AUTHORIZED to build on the learnings from the” Building Safer Communities Grant Program” when developing the necessary procedures to implement the use of granting for the Niagara Prosperity Initiative and execute any agreements and ancillary documents as required to allocate funding under the Niagara Prosperity Initiative in a form satisfactory to the Director, Legal and Court Services, and contingent on annual operating budget approval of NPI investments from 2025 to 2027; and 3. That staff REPORT BACK on the outcome of the second granting pilot and the potential to establish a corporate grant policy and procedure, subject to Council approval, to provide a fair, open and transparent method for allocating funding to advance future Community Services’ programs and initiatives.

That the following items BE RECEIVED for information: COM-C 10-2024 Homelessness Services “Niagara Counts” Point-in-Time (PiT) Count 2024 COM-C 11-2024 Correspondence from Niagara Regional Housing Respecting Social Non-Profit Housing Mortgage Renewal for September 1, 2024