Today, on National Housing Day, Mayor Olivia Chow announced the opening of 57 new permanent, rent-geared-to-income (RGI) modular homes with wraparound supports (customized 24/7 support services provided on site) at 39 Dundalk Dr. for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The Mayor was joined for the announcement by the Honourable Rob Flack, Associate Minister of Housing Government of Ontario; David Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough Centre; Patricia Mueller, Chief Executive Officer, Homes First Society and Bob Macdonald, Assistant General Manager, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC).
Each year on November 22, the City of Toronto observes National Housing Day to recognize the vital work done by housing partners, including providers, across Canada to improve access to safe, adequate and affordable housing for everyone. The City reflects on what has been achieved and raises awareness of what still needs to be done to ensure that all residents in this city have access to an affordable and supportive home. The City recognizes that safe, adequate and affordable housing is essential to the dignity and well-being of a person and necessary for building sustainable, inclusive and complete communities.
About the homes at 39 Dundalk Dr.
Residents will begin moving into their new homes at 39 Dundalk Dr. – which began construction in 2022 – at the end of this month. The building will be operated by Homes First Society, a non-profit housing organization with expertise in providing affordable, stable housing and support services to people who have experienced chronic homelessness. Tenants will pay rent based on their incomes and have access to experienced staff in the building 24/7, consisting of professionals who are trained to support residents exiting homelessness to improve their health and wellbeing.
The 57 new homes will be private studio apartments with a kitchenette and a bathroom including 20 barrier-free homes. The new building will also have common amenities for residents including a laundry room, dining and communal areas, an outdoor patio and garden, as well as administrative offices and a commercial kitchen that will provide on-site meals for residents.
Investments that made the project possible
This project is the result of a partnership between the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City combining approximately $4.275 million in federal capital funding, approximately $2 million in annual provincial operating funding for support services and municipal capital funding, land and project delivery. TCHC owns the land for this project that has been unlocked for development through a lease between TCHC and the City.
The project at 39 Dundalk Dr. is an example of the kind of intergovernmental partnership and collaboration with non-profit housing partners that is required to address Toronto’s housing and homelessness crisis.
About modular housing
Modular housing is an innovative, cost-effective, rapid way to build new homes quickly and provide a dignified response to homelessness in Toronto.
The City continues to experience unprecedented demand for shelter space, currently sheltering close to 11,000 people in and out of the shelter system in bridging hotels and programs run by the Canadian Red Cross. Despite continuously investing in the shelter system, the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness continues to grow. Modular construction provides a unique opportunity to respond rapidly to Toronto’s urgent need to create more permanent, deeply affordable homes while reducing pressure on the City’s emergency shelter system.
The City’s use of modular housing has been successful to date. Since launching in April 2020, seven sites are completed or underway across Toronto, for a total of almost 400 modular homes. A total of 216 modular homes have been completed at four sites: 11 Macey Ave., 321 Dovercourt Rd., 540 Cedarvale Ave. and 39 Dundalk Dr.
HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan
The City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan targets 65,000 new rent-controlled homes across the city over 10 years including 6,500 RGI homes and 18,000 supportive homes with a focus on helping people exit homelessness. All orders of government need even stronger action across the full housing continuum in response to the worsening housing and homelessness crisis. The City’s staff report “Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes” charts a way forward to transform Toronto’s housing system and improve housing outcomes for low- and middle-income Torontonians. More information is available on the City’s website.
Information is available on the City’s website on the “Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes” report.
More information about the 30 Dundalk Dr. project is available on the City’s website.
Quotes:
“National Housing Day recognizes the vital work done by housing partners, including providers, across Canada to improve access to safe, adequate and affordable housing for everyone. Supportive housing is critical to addressing chronic homelessness. Projects like the modular homes at 39 Dundalk Dr. reflect the importance of combining an affordable home with the right supports to help people who are exiting homelessness stay housed and improve their lives. This kind of partnership between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, in collaboration with non-profit housing providers, is what we need more of in Toronto. We thank the federal and provincial governments for their significant partnerships to date and look forward to doing more together to address the housing crisis in Toronto.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“The federal government will always step up to support those in need of affordable and supportive housing from coast to coast to coast. By creating more affordable housing like the ones here at 39 Dundalk Dr., we are moving towards a fairer society where everyone can have adequate housing. Congratulations to everyone who worked hard for this project and I hope the new residents find great happiness in their new homes.”
– Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre
“Our government’s historic increase to the Homelessness Prevention Program is providing much-needed support to the City of Toronto and municipalities across the province. Today is National Housing Day, which is a chance to reiterate our commitment to build more homes of all types across Ontario. Supportive and affordable housing is a key part of that plan, as is the use of modular housing and other innovative solutions that use high-speed homebuilding to help people find homes faster.”
– The Honourable Rob Flack, Associate Minister of Housing, Province of Ontario
“Modular housing can be an effective way to get people housing sooner. Providing the residents at 39 Dundalk Dr. access to supportive staff around the clock will be crucial to their health and well-being and help them stay housed. We need to continue to work across sectors and across orders of government on all solutions that address the housing challenges in Toronto.”
– Councillor Gord Perks (Parkdale-High Park), Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee
“The opening of the supportive homes at 39 Dundalk Dr. will help us maintain a healthy and thriving community in Scarborough. We need to continue to work together to address homelessness and build a more inclusive society for all.”
– Councillor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre)
“Homes First is excited to have been chosen as the operator of the new program located at 39 Dundalk, which adds 57 greatly needed units of supportive housing into the system. Individuals who were formerly experiencing homelessness will now have a home and access to 24-hour staff, specialized case managers available throughout the week, along with an on-site cook and full meal program.”
– Patricia Mueller, CEO, Homes First Society
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