Affordable Housing

Tackling Toronto’s housing affordability crisis is a key priority. There are new affordable housing projects in the works in Toronto-Danforth at the Riverdale Co-op, Danforth Church at Bowden Street and Don Summerville Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) site. The latter is part of an initiative to make sure TCHC revitalization projects not only replace the existing homes, but also build new affordable housing. You can read the latest report on the Don Summerville revitalization project online.

The city’s Housing Now initiative is a plan to build 7,400 purpose built rental units in Phase 1, half of which are to be rented at below market rates. These will be part of mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented neighbourhoods on 11 city-owned properties. We’re also developing a tool called Inclusionary Zoning that requires developers to build affordable housing units as part of development projects. These are key components of the city’s overall Housing 2020-2030 Action Plan.

The Planning and Housing Committee also created the Subcommittee on the Protection of Affordable Rental Housing in 2019, which I chaired.

It was mandated to fight illegitimate renovictions. These profit-driven evictions are reducing our already limited supply of affordable housing and impacting many tenants across the city.

Learn more about my work to tackle renovictions and protect tenants.

Tenant resources and info can be found here.

Update on the Gerrard and Carlaw 'Transit-Oriented Community'

I've been pressing the province and developer to add affordable housing and public realm improvements to the planned 'Transit-Oriented Community' for Gerrard-Carlaw North, around the future Gerrard Station on the Ontario Line.

Read my Statement on Bill 39

The Ford government is introducing Bill 39 which gives Toronto mayors much more power. Read my response to the bill.

Update on Bill 23

The Ford government introduced Bill 23 which changes many of the City's planning rules. Read more about the bill and why I oppose it.

Ontario should limit rent hikes between tenants, Toronto city hall committee says

Toronto's planning and housing committee calls for vacancy control legislation

CBC News · Posted: Jul 20, 2022 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: July 20

Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation – a seniors-focused social housing provider - officially launches

“The launch of the new Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation is an exciting step for the City. It will ensure that these senior tenants have better access to the housing, health, and community supports they need." – Councillor Paula Fletcher

WoodGreen celebrates opening of affordable housing for seniors building in Leslieville

By ALAN SHACKLETON | Beach Metro News | April 28, 2022

WoodGreen Community Services and the City of Toronto celebrated the opening of an affordable housing building for seniors in Leslieville this week.

New Ward 14 affordable housing for seniors and EarlyON Child and Family Centre officially opened

“Parents can now bring their children to this beautiful new centre and seniors who may have lived in this neighbourhood their entire lives can continue living here, but in a home that’s affordable and with services that support their health and well-being. This is truly a win-win for this wonderful community.” – Councillor Paula Fletcher

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.