Today, Mayor John Tory was joined by the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to announce new supportive housing at 292-296 Parliament St. They were joined by Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão (Davenport), Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee; Marcie Ien, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre; and Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre). The new homes will be dedicated to women, Indigenous residents, seniors, people with disabilities and other people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It is estimated that about 7,800 people in Toronto are currently experiencing homelessness.
The City purchased the three-storey building at 292-296 Parliament St. for $12.6 million and will renovate it on an expedited basis to initially provide homes for approximately 24 people by December 2021. The building will have a mix of one- and two-bedroom self-contained apartments with their own bathroom and kitchen. It will also include shared laundry, a dining area, a communal area and programming space. A non-profit operator will run and manage the building and provide the residents with wraparound programs and services (comprehensive set of programs and services that are tailored to the needs of each individual), as well as 24/7 support.
Local residents are invited to learn more about this project at an upcoming virtual information session on June 23. Details on how to participate in this session are being delivered to local residents and are also available on the project’s website .
Creating these new homes is an integral part of the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. The project is funded jointly by the City and the federal government through the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). As part of the RHI’s 2021 Major Cities Stream, the City has been allocated $203.3 million to create approximately 540 new affordable homes. RHI provides funding to develop new, permanent affordable multi-residential homes through: modular multi-unit rental construction; conversion of non-residential to affordable, multi-residential homes; and, rehabilitation of buildings in disrepair and/or that have been abandoned. The project has also secured incentives from the City’s Open Door Program.
More information is available:
Quotes:
“By creating new affordable supportive homes such as these, we are making an investment that will result in healthier communities by moving people permanently out of homelessness and into safe, secure housing with all the supports needed to support their well-being. We can’t do it alone, which is why it’s so important to have all orders of government onboard for these investments. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of so many people in this city.”
– 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 marginalized Canadians in Toronto, while addressing the unique barriers faced by at-risk communities. The Rapid Housing Initiative has been a tremendous success – that’s why through Budget 2021, we will increase our total program funding to $2.5 billion in order to rapidly build much-needed affordable 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
“As we work to meet the challenges of homelessness in our city, we must continue our collaboration with our willing partners on implementing innovative solutions for those most in need. With commitments from our federal and provincial partners and the strong support of Council and community partners to meet these challenges, we are well on our way to reaching our goal of creating 1,200 new affordable supportive homes within the next year.”
– Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão (Davenport), Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee
“We are working hard to ensure that every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home. Building rapid housing in major urban centres like Toronto, and addressing the specific needs and challenges that municipalities face in the housing sector, is a crucial and necessary step our government has taken to end chronic homelessness. This housing is desperately needed in our community and across Toronto.”
– Marcie Ien, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre
“The Toronto Centre community is one that embraces diversity and welcomes all who call it home. As we continue to create more affordable and supportive housing opportunities such as these, we are building stronger communities and a more inclusive city where everyone can feel like they belong.”
– Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre)
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 the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
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