Housing Focused Community Groups

Learn more about how the District supports Housing for Everyone through the housing focused community groups listed below:

The Muskoka Housing Task Force

In March 2019, Muskoka District Council endorsed the recommendation for the creation of a grass-roots, diverse and action-oriented “task force” to identify and promote strategies and opportunities for a range of housing options across Muskoka.

The Muskoka Housing Task Force mandate is to:

Set goals and targets;
Research best practices;
Support the development and implementation of projects and programs; and
Educate the Muskoka community.

The Task Force has created a project page on the District's Engage Muskoka platform.

You can learn more about the Muskoka Housing Task Force and sign up to receive task force updates at: www.engagemuskoka.ca/muskoka-housing-task-force.

Muskoka Homelessness Sharing Table

The Muskoka Homelessness Sharing Table is made up of representatives from the various organizations in Muskoka who provide programs and services focused on helping people get or stay housed. Table members meet quarterly to strengthen our community's support to people who are experience homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

How Does the Table Help?

Support for People Who Are Experiencing Homelessness or Who Might Become Homeless

Members work together to fill gaps and stop duplication in services that are available to people who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless
The work is focused on finding answers that fit the exact needs of each person or family as much as possible, and that are based on their personal main concerns and wishes

Similar Services Working Together

Have a better understanding of what other groups offer
Work as a team to put a clear process in place that will use all resources available
Access and make the best use of limited resources

Information, Ideas and Best Practices

Information sharing is necessary to community-based planning
The Table will make it easy to exchange information with each other's services
Sharing information with other programs will help give ideas on new approaches and best practices
This will include efforts to inform and encourage the public about what is available and how to access it

Planning Together Opportunities

Planning together builds a strong system that will compliment all services. Planning activities could include:

System planning
Needs assessments
Environmental scans
Service inventories
Developing system navigation mechanisms
Program evaluations

Quality Enhancement

Explored by sharing and gathering of best practices across sectors

Administrative Efficiencies

The Sharing Table will understand other programs administrative practices
Common approaches to technology systems and information may be clearer and helpful to everyone

Program Development Feedback

Agencies and organizations that are looking to expand their programs, or develop new programs, may wish to get ideas from the Table partners

Opportunities for Staff Growth and Development

The partnerships established through the Table will facilitate:

Enhanced employment
Staff development
Training opportunities across multiple organizations

Stronger Capacity to Negotiate and Work with External Partners

A strong, united, well-coordinated delivery system at the community level is capable of bridging potential government barriers between levels of service. The Table will be well-positioned to relate to external partners with respect to:

Program development
Program integration (combining services together)
Supplementary funding through grants and incentive programs (inside and outside of government)

Membership and Roles

Membership is open to people who work with homelessness as part of their jobs. Where possible, people who make decisions or develop programs and policies will be encouraged to attend.

Decisions will be made by everyone's agreement wherever possible
Opportunities for people and groups to address the Table's members on issues of services for homelessness will be encouraged
Part of the success of the Table will depend on members communicating back to their own organizations
To become a member, contact Sandra Daleman, Manager of Homelessness Programs and Services