J Consulting Group, in partnership with Vink Consulting, completed a comprehensive review of over 30 tools and options available to municipalities to encourage the development of affordable housing. Policy options were evaluated based on costs, impact and implementation. This research informed a series of recommendations including options for pursuing or encouraging the development of affordable housing in Chatham-Kent; potential incentive options and tools that Chatham-Kent should consider; and specific policies to assist Chatham-Kent in working towards its adopted targets for affordable housing; and actions towards securing other government-owned surplus properties for the development of affordable housing.

J Consulting Group, in association with Vink Consulting, worked with the Region of York to research the efficacy and best approach for the York Region Community Investment Strategy: a community funding program for not-for-profit agencies to deliver services to low and moderate income York Region residents. Core activities included a review of the current program and logic model, a best practice review of community funding programs, a review of current literature and regional strategies, and various engagement activities with funded and non-funded community agencies, other funders, and regional staff. The review resulted in the development of a renewed model for administering the funding process to the community. 

J Consulting Group and Vink Consulting worked with The Regional Municipality of York to develop a “made in York Region” model for coordinated access to homelessness and housing stability services. To inform the model, they conducted best practices research; a jurisdictional scan; an environmental scan of York Region’s current service system; a review of York Region program data and existing policies and procedures; and engaged over 100 stakeholders, including both system staff and clients. They worked closely with an Advisory committee to use the key findings from the research to develop a recommended model and implementation considerations which was then pilot tested in 2018.

Working with a consulting team comprised of the University of Toronto Balance of Care Group, Snyder Architects and SHS Consulting, on behalf of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Jodi led the team to prepare content for an updated, web-based, Housing Options for Persons Living with Dementia Guide.  The Guide is aimed at providing information and guidance, through a web-based platform, to individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, and to operators and providers of housing for persons with dementia.   Jodi facilitated online consultations with providers and operators of existing community-based housing for persons living with dementia across the country, with caregivers of persons living with dementia, and with people living with dementia themselves. The Guide was developed using a conceptual framework informed by a person-centered care philosophy.

This research project, prepared by Cassandra Vink with assistance from Steve Pomeroy and Jodi Ball, was aimed at preparing a comprehensive review of policy options that would form the basis of an Indigenous housing strategy.  J Consulting Group, assisted in this important project by conducting a review of academic and grey literature on Indigenous housing which examined: key issues in Indigenous housing; principles and desired outcomes; recent historical and contemporary programs and policies that have targeted Indigenous housing; program and policy recommendations; and international program and policy examples. The review involved a search of scholarly databases and an Internet search of published and unpublished information from both Canadian and international sources. 

The importance of providing safe, appropriate, and accessible care for our seniors is vital to the health and wellbeing of our communities.  The senior care sector in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has been experiencing several challenges related to the recruitment and retention of senior care staff. Because of these challenges, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Employment and Social Services, and Riverview Gardens in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Workforce Planning Board engaged Jodi Ball, J Consulting Group, to research and provide recommendations regarding the challenges encompassing the recruitment and retention of staff in senior homes and residential care organizations. The final report put forward several opportunities to address the challenges related to four broad themes: Resources, Work Environment, Education & Training, and Promotion & Outreach.

On behalf of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and in partnership with Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), J Consulting Group, in collaboration with SHS Consulting, led a research study aimed at increasing the understanding of approaches used by local governments in Canada to allow and encourage secondary suites in residential areas.  Activities included a survey all municipalities in Ontario as well as a case study analysis of 10 municipalities.  Together with CMHC, Jodi shared the research results at the 2016 OPPI annual conference.   Results were published in the CMHC Research Insights (May, 2017).

J Consulting Group was retained by the Chatham-Kent Workforce Planning Board to conduct research aimed at helping local employers prepare for the pending shift of knowledge and experience in their current workforce and support their current challenges in the recruitment and retaining of staff. Activities undertaken as part of this research include: engaging with employers from a variety of sectors to gather information on the challenges of recruitment and retention of staff; conducting a review of literature and identifying best and promising practices in recruitment and succession planning; facilitating a workshop with key sector employers to further explore challenges and potential responses to address current recruitment challenges and future succession planning needs; and preparing and presenting a final recommendations report.

Quote:

“Jodi’s expertise and guidance allowed us to bring together a highly competitive sector to help them identify commonalities and devise a specific Chatham-Kent solution” – Kristy Jacobs, Project Manager, CKWPB

This study was aimed at identifying the needs and challenges facing social housing tenants across the North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) geographic area, and to work with stakeholders to identify strategies and solutions to these challenges.  The study included a comprehensive literature review, gap analysis, comprehensive stakeholder engagement process and final research report.  As part of the consultation strategy, several community engagement initiatives were undertaken including in-person focus groups with housing providers and community stakeholders, in-person and telephone interviews, web-based focus groups, questionnaires for housing providers, community agencies, and social housing tenants, and a full day ‘think-tank’ with various levels of government, housing providers, and service agencies. The study included community engagement across five hub regions, noting unique needs of each area while also highlighted broad regional trends and gaps.  A final research report was prepared and submitted to the NE LHIN and its partners including recommendations on a service delivery system.  Working with a multi-organization consulting team, Jodi was the Project Manager for this study, consultation lead, and the lead author in the final report and recommendations.

As part of a review of the Women’s Transition House, J Consulting Group facilitated a series of interviews with comparator shelters from across Canada. Results from these interviews helped strengthen the services for survivors of domestic violence in Whitehorse.