Today, the City of Toronto released the proposed HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, which provides a comprehensive blueprint to assist more than 341,000 Toronto households over the next decade.
The HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan provides 13 strategic actions addressing the full continuum of housing from homelessness, social housing, rental housing, long-term care, and home ownership. The Action Plan builds on the City’s historic partnership with the provincial and federal governments in addressing the housing needs of residents.
Implementation of the full plan over 10 years is estimated to cost governments $23.4 billion with the City’s commitment through current and future investments being $8.5 billion – the City has already committed to about $5.5 billion in operating, capital investments, and other financial tools demonstrating its leadership and commitment to improving the housing situation in Toronto.
The Action Plan calls for new housing investments for the federal and provincial governments in particular to support households who are struggling to pay the rent and stay housed, and to assist in the development and operation of new supportive and affordable rental housing. It also calls for enhanced partnerships and collaboration with residents, the housing sector, community groups and people with lived experience to jointly deliver solutions.
To address these issues the Action Plan calls on the federal and provincial governments to step up with their own investments in housing to assist Toronto households at a cost over 10 years of $14.9 billion.
The Action Plan contains 76 separate actions to address the needs of people across the housing continuum. Key highlights of the actions include:
• Adopt a revised “Toronto Housing Charter: Opportunity for All”.
• Enhance measures to prevent evictions and people becoming homeless.
• Preserve the rental homes that currently exist.
• Adopting a new program definition of affordable housing based on income.
• Create a multi-sector land bank to support the approval of 40,000 new rental and supportive homes.
• Engage the federal and provincial governments to implement the new Canada Housing Benefit and support the creation of supportive and affordable rental homes.
Following its consideration at the Planning and Housing Committee on December 10, the report is expected to be considered by City Council at its meeting scheduled for December 17 and 18.
Quotes
“I will be working hard with the other orders of government to ensure the entire HousingTO Action Plan is fully funded. This has to be a priority — we have to come together to support households who are struggling to pay the rent and keep, or put a roof over their heads. Ensuring that residents in our city have access to housing will benefit our entire city. It gives people the opportunity to meet their full potential and to participate in our city’s success. Together we can make a difference and make Toronto a place that anyone who wants to, can call home.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The proposed HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan sets out a bold vision for Toronto where the City works to progressively realize the right to housing for all residents. It also sets out the specific targets and resources required to assist residents stuck in Toronto’s housing crisis. Thank you to all Toronto residents who have had a hand in shaping the Action Plan – moving forward your participation in implementation will remain essential.”
– Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão, (Ward 9 Davenport), Planning and Housing Committee Chair
“Toronto is facing a homelessness and affordable housing crisis. This plan sets out an ambitious vision and framework for action and measures to be taken immediately, as well as over the longer term. It also commits to implementation through partnerships and collaboration informed by people with lived experience and sector partners.”
– David Reycraft – Co-chair, HousingTO Action Plan External Advisory Committee
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit http://www.toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.