Today, Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Paul Ainslie (Scarborough-Guildwood) were joined by the Honourable John McKay, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood, and Crystal Samms, Chair of the Board at Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes, to announce funding for a new affordable housing development to create 68 new rent-geared-to-income (RGI) homes at 4201-4203 Kingston Rd. This announcement is part of the third phase of the federal Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), a capital funding program that helps create new affordable and supportive rental housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
These new homes will be built and operated by Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes (GDNP), an Indigenous housing provider. This new, deeply affordable housing has been made possible through a partnership between the City of Toronto, the Government of Canada and GDNP. This project is one example of a systemic shift in Toronto’s housing system that will create more public and non-profit owned and operated homes affordable for Toronto residents.
About homes at 4201-4203 Kingston Rd.
The building will include 68 new homes that will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and includes amenity spaces for tenants. These homes will be dedicated to Indigenous people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and will be offered RGI homes with no tenant paying more than 30 per cent of their income or the shelter allowance of their income support benefit on rent.
The site at 4201-4203 Kingston Rd. will advance the City’s plan to meet the ambitious housing goals outlined in a report adopted by City Council called “Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes.”
Investments that made it possible
RHI is delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation under the National Housing Strategy. RHI has been critical in scaling up the supply of supportive homes in Toronto and is one of the key strategies to address Toronto’s homelessness crisis. To date, the City has received almost $440 million in capital grant funding through the RHI Phase 1 and 2 with over 1,000 homes completed or underway.
The 4201-4203 Kingston Rd. project received $28.1 million in capital funding from the federal government. The City has committed $6.29 million in funding and financial incentives including waiving development charges, and planning and building fees and property tax exemptions.
HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan:
RHI funding supports the implementation of the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan (HousingTO Action Plan) that targets 65,000 new affordable rental home approvals across the city over 10 years, of which at least 6,500 will be new rent-geared-to-income homes. All orders of government need even stronger action across the full housing continuum in response to the worsening housing and homelessness crisis.
More information on the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan is available on the City’s Website.
More information is available on the “Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes” report.
Quotes:
“Everyone needs a safe place to call home. Today’s announcement of federal funding for the development 68 new rent-geared-to-income homes, led by our valued partner Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes, is yet another example of the kinds of investment and partnership required to address Toronto’s housing and homelessness crisis. The new homes here on Kingston Road will make a critical difference in the lives of many Indigenous residents and I’m excited to see the Government of Canada supporting this opportunity to develop more ‘for Indigenous, by Indigenous’ housing.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“The City is committed to supporting Indigenous communities and organizations in Toronto. We are happy to partner with the Government of Canada and Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes to deliver 68 new rent-geared-to-income homes that will provide stability and support to vulnerable residents. Scarborough is full of dynamic, diverse and compassionate communities, and with initiatives like this, we aim to ensure that all community members have access to the resources they need.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park)
“I am grateful to the Government of Canada for their important investment of $28.1 million in Indigenous-led modular housing. This initiative will provide safe and dignified homes for Indigenous people in our city. I look forward to working with our partners to support the delivery of this project and improve the lives of Toronto residents.”
– Councillor Gord Perks (Parkdale-High Park), Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee
“This new Rapid Housing Initiative funding for Indigenous-led housing will make a significant impact on the lives of many Scarborough residents, and ensure that we remain a diverse, welcoming community. I remain grateful to the Government of Canada for this investment which will quickly strengthen the supply of affordable housing in Toronto.”
– Councillor Paul Ainslie (Scarborough-Guildwood)
“The federal government will always step up to ensure that all Canadians have a safe and secure place to call home. Through programs like the Rapid Housing Initiative, and by working with all levels of governments, we are quickly providing new affordable homes for people who need them most, right across the country.”
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“The Government of Canada is dedicated to helping those in need, which is why we are proud to have invested in the Rapid Housing Initiative here in Toronto. These new homes are more than just safe and affordable places to live, they are key to a better life for the residents who call Toronto their home.”
– Honourable John McKay, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood
“Aaniin, this housing initiative is vital for the changing landscape of what urban Indigenous people need to thrive in the city of Toronto. We need to meet the changing needs of our Indigenous community. One of our long time residents and board members says “As we enter into the future we must know where we came from.” The effort to reduce Indigenous houselessness is being born here in this community today.”
– Crystal Samms, Board Chair, Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes
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