Today, Mayor John Tory announced the proposal for the next modular supportive housing site, to be located at 75 Tandridge Crescent in Etobicoke. The site is currently owned by Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and will be repurposed to allow for the creation of affordable homes with support services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness including women, seniors, Indigenous peoples, Black Canadians, racialized community members and those with disabilities.
Mayor Tory was joined for the virtual announcement by the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Kirsty Duncan, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North and Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão, (Davenport), Planning and Housing Committee Chair.
It is estimated that there are about 7,800 people in Toronto currently experiencing homelessness. To respond to this urgent need, the City of Toronto is proposing modular housing as an innovative and cost-effective way to build housing while providing a rapid, dignified response to connect people experiencing and at risk of homelessness with homes and appropriate supports to help them achieve housing stability.
The building will be managed by a qualified and experienced non-profit housing provider that brings professional building management experience and expertise coordinating customized supports tailored to meet the unique needs of each resident. Supports could include medical and mental health care; life skills training and support; food and income supports; and health and wellness services.
The five-storey building will include approximately 113 self-contained studio apartments each with a kitchen and bathroom and furnished with a twin bed, a lounge chair, a dining table and chairs, and a dresser. The building will also include common areas such as a dining room and program space, as well as administrative offices and a commercial kitchen that can provide on-site meals for residents.
Local residents will have an opportunity to learn more about this project and to provide input into design elements during upcoming virtual community engagement sessions on May 18 and June 29. Details on how to participate in this process are being delivered to local residents and are also available on the project’s website.
A request for proposal (RFP) will be issued to select the building manufacturer and another to select a qualified non-profit housing provider to operate the homes and provide supportive services for residents.
The capital costs of the homes at 75 Tandridge Crescent are being funded through the Government of Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), through CMHC. As part of the RHI’s Major Cities Stream, the City has been allocated $203.3 million to create approximately 540 new affordable homes.
Modular supportive housing is just one of the ways that the City is addressing the need for more affordable housing options in Toronto. The HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan targets the approval of 40,000 new affordable rental homes with 18,000 supportive homes, including 1,000 modular homes, to help increase housing stability for Toronto residents over the next 10 years. On December 18, 2020, City Council approved the 24-month COVID-19 Housing and Homelessness Response Plan. This plan was developed to accelerate the delivery of new affordable and supportive housing, particularly housing suitable for those living outside in encampments or in the shelter system. More information about the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan.
Quotes:
“This new project in Etobicoke is another example of the work we are doing to expand affordable housing in Toronto while focusing on much-needed support services for vulnerable residents in our city. None of this would be possible without the help of our federal partners so I would like to thank the federal government for their continued support. With their commitment through the Rapid Housing Initiative, we are able to move forward at unprecedented speed towards meeting our ambitious affordable housing goals. With this funding, we can help more of our most vulnerable residents have access to stable, long-term housing.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Our Government is taking steps, right now, to ensure that every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home. Our investments will go a long way to effectively support those who need it most by quickly providing new affordable housing units to vulnerable individuals and families in Toronto, while addressing the unique barriers faced by at-risk communities, including women and black Canadians. The $1 billion Rapid Housing Initiative has been a tremendous success – that’s why in Budget 2021, we’re proposing to increase that fund by another $1.5 billion in order to rapidly build much-needed homes across Canada. This is the National Housing Strategy at work.”
– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
“We are working hard to ensure that every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home. Partnering with municipalities under the Rapid Housing Initiative has proven an effective way to provide new homes to those who need them most, by allowing us to quickly build new housing stock that is affordable, accessible, and energy efficient. This housing is much needed in Etobicoke and across Toronto.”
– Kirsty Duncan, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North
“One of the most challenging aspects of this pandemic is how it has impacted so significantly the most vulnerable people across our City. These new modular supportive homes will provide a stable, comfortable and safe place for approximately 113 people who would otherwise find themselves in shelters, outside or in other unsuitable living conditions. These new homes are not only a place to live but an opportunity for people to live to their fullest potential.”
– Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão, (Davenport), Planning and Housing Committee Chair
“This proposed supportive housing will provide stable and permanent homes for some of our city’s most vulnerable residents. Not only will this initiative help get people back on their feet, but it has also proven to be a better investment than other ways of helping those who need it most. Going forward, I will work to ensure this project’s success by working closely with the local community to address any questions, concerns or feedback they may have.”
– Councillor Michael Ford (Etobicoke North)
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