📋 Tender Overview
Mayor John Tory was joined by the Honourable Ahmed Hussen Minister of Housing Diversity and Inclusion Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin Member of Parliament for TorontoDanforth and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Jag Sharma President and Chief Executive Officer of Toronto Community Housing TCHC along with representatives from Circle Community LandTrust Neighbourhood Land Trust and YWCA Toronto to officially announce the transfer of ownership and operation of 760 TCHC homes and selected properties as part of the final phase of the City of Torontos Tenants First plan.As part of the City of Torontos ongoing commitment to make housing more affordable TCHC standalone homes portfolio of approximately 760 homes comprising approximately 630 properties has been transferred to two affordable housing non-profits Neighborhood Land Trust and Circle Community Land Trust. This change will improve services for tenants bring the homes into a state of good repair protect the affordability of the homes and build capacity in the non-profit housing sector.To ensure that these properties are brought into and maintained in a state of good repair the Government of Canada through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund has invested nearly 90.2 million in funding and financing over five years. The City is also providing ongoing funding to support operations and capital sustainability. Work has already commenced on the properties.Toronto City Council directed the transfer of the homes to the non-profit sector as part of the Tenants First plan which recommended ways to make Toronto Community Housing more responsive and efficient. The City and TCHC carefully selected the new non-profit operators to ensure they are qualified to engage with tenants and will bring the houses to a state of good repair. Transferring the standalone homes portfolio means the City has completed the major initiatives directed by Council through the Tenants First plan. Other key accomplishments include the creation of a seniors-focused housing corporation with a seniors-focused housing program and tenant supports for TCHC-owned rooming houses.Circle Community Land Trust has assumed ownership and operation of more than 600 homes Neighborhood Land Trust has assumed ownership of 153 homes which are operated in partnership with YWCA Toronto a multi-service agency specializing in women-focused housing. Both land trusts are committed to providing and expanding affordable housing options to low-income tenants and will ensure that the properties remain affordable housing in perpetuity in accordance with the social housing agreement registered on the title which protects the properties and their use. The City will continue to have a strong oversight role in the operations of these social housing assets. The two land trusts have already completed more than 600 urgent work orders committed more than 600000 in urgent repairs and safety work and 12 formerly vacant homes have been renovated and are now safe healthy homes for Toronto residents.This transfer of standalone homes will help advance the Citys 10-year housing plan HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan HousingTO Plan and help strengthen the non-profit sector in Toronto. Actions in the HousingTO Plan include supporting TCHC and its tenants to ensure that the homes are well maintained and operated and remain affordable long term. The HousingTO Plan prioritizes appropriate measures to preserve existing affordable housing and facilitate the creation of additional affordable housing. Beyond helping tenants to achieve housing stability and preserving Torontos existing rental housing stock the HousingTO Plan calls for the approval of 40000 new affordable rental homes including 18000 new supportive homes by 2030. Since the start of the HousingTO Action Plan the City has approved almost 20000 new affordable rental homes and there are currently 15000 actives in the development pipeline.
