Social Innovation Policy

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BACKGROUND

  • Surrey launched a Plan for the Social Well-Being of Surrey Residents (Social Plan) in 2005-2006 to provide strategic direction for the City’s involvement in social issues. It includes:
    • Child and Youth Friendly Strategy
    • Learning for Life Strategy
    • Community Development and Inclusion
    • Homelessness and Housing
  • The Social Planning Advisory Committee (SPAC) is a Committee of Council whose purpose is to provide advice to Council and undertake initiatives to enhance the social well-being of Surrey residents.
  • Created the Heart in the City Award, to honour selfless acts of community spirit.
  • 18% of Surrey residents live in poverty, lower than the Greater Vancouver average of 21%.
  • 2014 Metro Vancouver Homeless count found 403 homeless in Surrey, which represents no increase from 2008 despite significant overall population growth.
  • Master Plan for Housing the Homeless was developed in 2013 in partnership with BC Housing and Fraser Health. Other government and non-profit agencies, the business community and homeless task forces and committees in Surrey all contributed. [1]
    • Identified four population groups in need of supportive housing:
      • Individuals with mental health and addictions
      • Women and women with children
      • Youth
      • Aboriginal people
    • Identified priorities:
      • Creation of an additional 450 units of transitional and supported housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
      • Replacement of the Gateway emergency shelter in Whalley with a new purpose-built facility that also incorporates transitional housing units
      • Enhancement of supportive housing, shelter and drop-in services that focus on vulnerable population groups with unique needs.
      • Continuing to strengthen partnerships and collaboration with BC Housing, Fraser Health Authority, Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society and other government funders and foundations.
    • 5-year plan (2013-2017) to generate 450 units of supportive housing accounts for the homeless identified in the 2011 Metro Vancouver Homeless count with a 10% contingency.
      • 340 studio units to be created through new construction and acquisition (renovation, repurposing) of existing buildings. These facilities would be operated by non-market housing providers. The capital cost of the 340 units is estimated at $45.7 million and assumes local partnership contributions of 10% reducing the net capital cost to $41.2 million.
      • 110 rent supplemented units will be made available through market rental housing, with outreach workers providing supports to these tenants. Year 5 rent subsidy and support costs are estimated to be $748,000.
    • The City of Surrey established the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society with a grant of $9 million.
    • Poverty reduction strategy developed 19 priorities and 75 recommendations meant to address the needs of all low-income citizens. Four main focuses: [2]
      • Transportation
        • Develop higher density, transit-oriented communities
        • Promote walking and cycling
        • Advocate for increased transit services
        • Advocate for more affordable and accessible transit services
      • Housing
        • Advocate for a national housing strategy
        • Address homelessness with the Housing the Homeless Master Plan
        • Maintain and increase the supply of non-market and social housing
        • Ensure market rental housing is accessible and affordable for low-income households
        • Support the provision of affordable and appropriate housing for all
      • Income
        • Advocate for federal and provincial policy and program improvements
        • Increase awareness about income services and supports
        • Promote local economic development
        • Encourage employers to adopt a living wage
      • Support
    • Initiatives brought in to improve social well-being through partnerships
      • Funding for six outreach workers
      • Phoenix Treatment Facility – 67 addiction beds
      • YWCA supportive housing for single moms and children – 36 units
      • Timber Grove Mental Health Centre – 52 units
      • Quibble Creek Sobering Centre – 92 beds
      • Maxxine Wright Centre & Health Clinic Women & Children – 36 units & 59 daycare
      • Bolivar Court (19 mental health units)
      • Peterson Place (39 homeless units)
      • Alder Gardens (36 units single moms & children)
      • Rising Sun (70 units opening in 2015)
      • Sophie’s Place Child Advocacy Centre (1st in BC)
    • Anti-bullying programs launched to protect vulnerable children
    • 1st Steps Early Childhood Development program gives young children the best start in life as possible.
    • Youth Outreach programs launched by the city to give vulnerable young people positive opportunities and role models.
    • WRAP Program launched with RCMP provides outreach to youths identified as high-risk for gang-recruitment, engaging approximately 60 youths a year.

PLATFORM

Surrey First will build on the social policy foundations laid through the Poverty Reduction Strategy, Housing the Homeless Master Plan and the Social Plan while adding emerging tools in social innovation. Surrey First is committed to:

  • Following through with the creation of 450 supportive housing units by 2017 to ensure a home for every Surrey homeless resident.
  • Protecting our rental stock, seeking partnerships and encouraging tax incentives to create new rental projects.
  • Work with the Surrey City Development Corporation to create partnerships with business and developers to create co-op housing and a Land Trust for Affordable Homes.
  • Partner with community groups and the federal government to create an Immigrant Partnership Council to address needs of newcomers to Surrey.

Working with the BC Ministry of Social Development and Innovation and in line with the Action Plan Recommendations to Maximize Social Innovation in British Columbia [3] , Surrey First will launch a Surrey Social Innovation Strategy with the following components:

  • A Surrey Social Innovation Summit which will bring together City government officials, provincial and federal representatives, non-profit and business leaders, academics, media and Surrey residents to examine lessons learned and opportunities for Surrey to leverage social innovation.
  • A five-year property-tax holiday for Community Contribution Companies that establish themselves in Surrey, to enable them to get on their feet during the crucial and difficult first five years of operation.
  • A $300,000 Social Innovation Fund that will act as an enabling fund for a broader Social Finance Strategy to be developed at the Innovation Summit. This fund could be used as a matching fund for investments in Community Contribution Companies, a financing vehicle to help scale up successful social ventures or as a matching fund for Social Impact Bonds.
  • Recognizing the central issue of mental health and addictions in Surrey’s vulnerable population, Surrey First will fund a five-year research Centre of Excellence to bring multi-disciplinary partners to develop and experiment with programs aimed at the unique challenges of Surrey’s mental health and addiction patients.

FINANCING

$100,000 for the Surrey Social Innovation Summit

$600,000 for the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence and Innovation

$300,000 for the Social Innovation Fund

$1,000,000 to be provided within the existing four-year Surrey First funding envelope

[1] http://www.surrey.ca/files/130703_NS_Surrey_MasterPlan_FINAL.pdf

[2] http://www.surrey.ca/files/Surrey_Poverty_Reduction_Plan_Web_Version.pdf

[3] http://www.aletmanski.com/files/social-innovationbc-april-2012_c-2-1.pdf

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