Affordable Housing

Second Phase of the Housing Now Initiative released; new City-owned sites identified to create more affordable homes in Toronto

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the release of the Phase Two sites of Housing Now, a signature initiative to increase the supply of new affordable rental housing within mixed-income, mixed-use and transit-oriented communities on City-owned lands across Toronto.

Housing Now is a key component of the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan (HousingTO) and contributes towards the City's target of approving 40,000 affordable rental homes, including 18,000 supportive homes over the next 10 years. HousingTO is a comprehensive blueprint to assist more than 341,000 households over the next ten years by addressing the need across the housing spectrum – from homelessness to affordable rental and ownership housing. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an even greater number of residents experiencing housing challenges while also underscoring the importance of having a home in order to practice physical distancing and self-isolation. The City is looking to expedite delivery of the HousingTO plan in partnership with other levels of government in order to quickly provide more housing options for residents.

City of Toronto and partners open second COVID-19 recovery site for homeless

News Release

May 6, 2020

City of Toronto and partners open second COVID-19 recovery site for homeless

As part of the City of Toronto's comprehensive three tier response to COVID-19 for people experiencing homelessness, a second recovery program will open this week and enhanced PPE measures will be in place across the shelter system.

A second COVID-19 recovery site will open on Friday for individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive through a unique partnership between the City of Toronto, University Health Network (UHN), Inner City Health Associates (ICHA) and community health partners. The new downtown site has a capacity for up to 250 individuals who test positive for COVID-19

Implementation plan for up to 250 modular supportive housing units released, CMHC’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund to cover 40 per cent of capital costs for Phase I

News Release

April 29, 2020

Implementation plan for up to 250 modular supportive housing units released, CMHC’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund to cover 40 per cent of capital costs for Phase I

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the proposed implementation plan for a modular supportive housing initiative to create 110 modular homes on two City-owned sites. The new modular homes are expected to be ready for occupancy by September 2020 and will provide stable, affordable housing and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

City of Toronto taking action to help vulnerable tenants who need it most

March 24, 2020

City of Toronto taking action to help vulnerable tenants who need it most

Mayor Tory calls on private landlords to put policies in place to help unemployed tenants and communicate them

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the City is taking action to help Toronto's most vulnerable tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After consulting with Mayor Tory and City staff, who approved both the form of the help and the financial implications for Toronto Community Housing, TCHC confirmed today that it will be flexible and work with market rent and rent-geared-to-income (RGI) tenants whose employment income has been impacted by COVID-19.

Toronto to investigate the shocking rise of renovictions in the city

February 20, 2020 By Lauren O'Neil, BlogTO

As rent prices surge with wanton abandon across the city of Toronto, so too do rates of landlords who try to get sneaky with illegal eviction techniques.

A November report from The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario showed that the city has seen a staggering rise in "renovictions" over the past four years, not-so-coincidentally alongside skyrocketing market rental rates.

'Renoviction' rates soar due to big-city housing crunch

December 30, 2019 Melissa Mancini & David Common · CBC News 

It was a knock at the door that ignited the battle.

As Yanick Marion hustled early one morning to get to work, the manager of his apartment building had a message: "You have to leave. You don't have a choice," he recalls.

The manager, Marion says, was insistent that electrical upgrades were needed in the aging 36-unit complex in Montreal.

Queen and Coxwell revitalization will bring new affordable housing to area

Housing affordability is one of the most pressing issues facing us today so I am pleased to support the proposed Queen Coxwell Revitalization on the current site of the Don Summerville Apartments on Queen Street East.

For a year following the city election, I pushed to ensure that Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) added new affordable housing to their proposed revitalization. The new plan does just that. City staff, TCHC and Context Development have now agreed to a redevelopment plan for the property that would add 100 affordable rental apartments and as well as 180 market rental apartments.

A better way to get the housing mix Toronto needs

October 29, 2019 Toronto Star Editorial Board

Two aging Toronto Community Housing buildings are being demolished to make way for new and improved social housing units, rentals and condominiums.

The new buildings aren’t up and the old ones haven’t even been torn down yet, but this project is already a big success.

New Affordable Rental Housing at 685 Queen Street East

At its June 2019 meeting, City Council approved entering into a pre-development agreement with Riverdale Co-operative Houses Inc. ("Riverdale Co-operative") to provide up to $500,000 in section 37 funds to conduct pre-development activities for the purpose of redeveloping Riverdale Co-operative's property located at 685 Queen Street East, adjacent to the 77-79 East Don Roadway and 661-677 Queen Street East site. The intent of the redevelopment is to revitalize the existing nine units and add up to 23 additional, accessible affordable rental units.

Public encouraged to share views about draft policy aimed at increasing Toronto's supply of affordable housing

The City of Toronto is hosting public consultations starting Monday to obtain input on a new policy that would create mixed-income housing by requiring new residential developments to include affordable housing units, also known as inclusionary zoning.

The use of an inclusionary zoning policy creates inclusive communities by providing affordable housing that keeps pace with the growth of new market housing, resulting in neighbourhoods that offer housing options for a range of incomes and households across the city. Inclusionary zoning, one policy solution to help address Toronto's housing needs, is geared to low- and moderate-income households earning roughly between $35,000 and $88,500 a year, depending on household size.