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Housing Opportunities Toronto
A Framework for Affordable Housing
Presentation by
Sue Corke, Deputy City Manager
to the
Affordable Housing Committee
June 14, 2007
Why a Framework?
- Mayor's Taskforce report almost 10 years old
- New Official Plan now in force
- Now's the time to plan for the next 5 to 10 years and to hear from the public
- Framework will provide focus for consultations and result in long-term plan to come forward in 2008
- Chair of Affordable Housing Committee has advocated need for comprehensive plan
Housing as a Building Block
Affordable housing contributes to:
- Safe, healthy, sustainable communities
- Social inclusion
- Economic well-being
- City building
- Education attainment
- Healthy children
Housing Challenges
Toronto faces eight strategic housing
challenges:
- Create support for the range of affordable housing opportunities across all city wards
- Create sustainable affordable housing solutions through diverse partnerships including federal/provincial governments
- Build on efforts to support homeless people, persons in shelters and vulnerable residents
- Assist 20% of Toronto's residents who pay more than 30% of their income for housing
- Make it possible for first time homebuyers to purchase an affordable home in an expensive market place
- Marshal affordable housing resources and co-ordinate affordable housing investments to renew neighbourhoods
- Secure the resources to fix and revitalize existing social and private rental housing - including the backlog of $300 million in TCHC repairs
- Create new affordable housing to meet the needs of low-income residents, including 67,000 on the waiting list
How the Framework is Being Developed
- Committee Chair providing oversight
- Active Interdivisional Steering Committee
- AHO research initiative
- Expert and key stakeholder input
- Framework report released by Chair Aug/Sept followed by public consultations
What to Expect
- Framework will be similar in approach to the city's "Change is in the Air" report
- Framework will be used by Committee Chair to guide consultations for a 10 year Affordable Housing Plan
- Framework will address the continuum of housing needs and propose supporting actions
Framework will focus on entire spectrum of
affordable housing issues including:
- Revitalization and new construction
- Public and private partnerships
- Seniors, newcomers and key workers
- Green standards
- State of good repair in social/private housing
- Building on "street to homes" initiative
- Affordable home ownership sustainability
DRAFT Strategic Themes
Overarching Themes |
Ensure wider community acceptance for affordable housing |
Work together with all governments and the non-profit and private sectors |
People Focus Themes |
Building Focus Themes |
Support people with special needs
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Create and renew neighbourhoods to achieve sustainability and other city-building objectives |
Assist people to afford Toronto rents |
Preserve and fix rental housing & keep it affordable
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Help people buy in Toronto |
Create new affordable housing |
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Getting Involved
- Committee members are encouraged to attend the "Tale of Three Cities" forum on June 28th and other events
- Committee Chair and city staff working with Councillors and experts
- Encourage your constituents to become involved
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