Affordable Housing

City of Toronto advances the new Inclusionary Zoning policy to facilitate the creation of affordable housing

October 28, 2021

Today, the City of Toronto’s Planning and Housing Committee voted to advance the new Inclusionary Zoning policy to get more affordable housing built.

Toronto City Council creates more than 500 supportive homes and more than 100 new affordable rental homes with the approval of multiple projects

This week, Toronto City Council voted to create more than 500 supportive homes and more than 100 new affordable rental homes with the approval of multiple housing projects.

Council unanimously approves creating 971 new affordable rental homes through the City's Open Door Program

Today, Toronto City Council unanimously approved creating 971 new affordable rental homes in 15 developments through the Open Door Program.

With today's endorsement by Council, a total of 11,143 affordable rental homes have now been approved through the City of Toronto's Open Door Program (ODP). This program is designed to accelerate affordable housing construction by providing a range of incentives from the City, which could include an exemption of fees, charges or property tax; capital funding; the fast-tracking of planning approvals; and activating surplus public land. Approved projects must begin construction within three years of the date of approval in order to maintain access to the capital grant and/or incentives. 

971 new affordable homes to be created through the City of Toronto’s 2020 call for Open Door affordable housing program applications

The City of Toronto has released the results of its Open Door 2020 call for applications, which will create 971 new affordable homes.

A City report going to the Planning and Housing Committee next week outlines staff recommendations, which include 15 developments, representing a total of 971 new affordable homes, for approval by City Council. Eleven of the 15 affordable housing developments are proposed by non-profit housing providers, and of these, three are by Indigenous groups. Terms of the program require the homes to be affordable for a minimum period of 40 years, and in many cases the recommended applications will be affordable in perpetuity.

City of Toronto announces the next two affordable supportive housing sites as part of Phase Two of its Modular Housing Initiative

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the details of the second phase of the City of Toronto's Modular Housing Initiative (MHI). The two sites announced today will create approximately 128 modular homes, 64 at each of the City-owned sites, which are located at 175 Cummer Ave., next to Willowdale Manor, and on the corner lot at Trenton Ave. and Cedarvale Ave. The new modular homes will provide stable, affordable housing and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

City of Toronto continues to take extraordinary steps to help and protect people experiencing homelessness during COVID-19

Since the start of the pandemic, the City of Toronto has moved at unprecedented speed to adjust its services for those experiencing homelessness by creating 2,300 spaces in new temporary shelter and hotel programs for physical distancing.

So far in 2020, the City has also referred more than 2,500 people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing through a combination of housing allowances and rent-geared-to-income units, representing a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year.

City of Toronto recommends a tax on vacant homes in Toronto

Today, Mayor John Tory announced a City of Toronto staff report will be going to Executive Committee next week recommending a tax levy on vacant Toronto homes starting in 2022.

A vacant home tax increases the housing supply by encouraging homeowners to sell or rent their unoccupied home, and if they choose to continue to keep the home vacant, a tax is levied. This revenue can then be used to fund affordable housing projects.

City Council moves to rapidly build new affordable and supportive homes for Toronto’s most vulnerable with $203 million federal investment

Following this week's announcement from the Government of Canada that the City of Toronto will receive $203.3 million through the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), today City Council approved Mayor John Tory's motion directing staff to take the next steps to plan and implement the work needed to move forward.

The RHI is delivering $1 billion in grant funding nationally to rapidly create new affordable rental housing in response to the urgent housing needs of vulnerable and marginalized individuals. Specifically, the RHI aims to support: women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans, LGBTQ2+, racialized groups, Black Canadians, recent immigrants or refugees, and homeless people or those at risk of homelessness.

City of Toronto marks milestone in delivery of first modular, supportive housing

Mayor John Tory was joined today by the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development; Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão (Ward 9 Davenport) and Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest) to mark a key milestone in the delivery of the City’s first modular housing building. At the 11 Macey Ave. site, the modular homes are being installed this week by crane, bringing the project a significant step closer to occupancy, which is anticipated to take place next month.

City of Toronto issues Open Door program call for applications to support building new affordable rental housing

The City of Toronto has released the 2020 Call for Applications for the Open Door program. The program provides an opportunity for private, co-op and non-profit affordable housing organizations to apply for support from the City to create affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income households in Toronto.

The Open Door program encourages private, co-op and non-profit housing organizations to develop affordable housing by providing successful applicants with a range of financial contributions, which could include an exemption of fees, charges or property tax as well as capital funding. Successful Open Door applications also benefit from the Open Door Planning Service which fast-tracks approvals.