Toronto, Ontario Action Plan for Affordable Housing
Type: Policy
Status: Adopted on 2/1/06
Source File: Click here
Description:
Council approves Toronto Action Plan for Affordable Housing calling for 1,000 new rental homes
Today, Toronto City Council approved key recommendations in a report calling for 1,000 new affordable rental homes in Toronto in 2006.
“Council has approved a road map to achieve our 2006 target of 1,000 affordable rental homes together with our federal, provincial and community partners,” said Mayor David Miller. “Affordable housing is a key priority for Toronto and is essential in meeting the social and economic needs of our city.”
“The City is open for business and ready to work with all housing stakeholders interested in making affordable housing happen in Toronto,” said Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee.
The Action Plan was requested by Toronto City Council at their meeting of October 2005. The Plan was developed based on the results of a focused consultation with housing stakeholders in December 2005, ongoing discussions with federal and provincial officials, and learning from the City’s experience in delivering affordable housing since 2000. Key elements of the Action Plan include:
- adopting a comprehensive set of criteria to guide the selection of proposals by Council later this year
- setting aside specific allocations under the Affordable Housing Program of a minimum of 400 units for non-profit, co-operative and private proponents, 200 units for potential development on City owned sites, and 200 units for Toronto Community Housing initiatives
- allocating the City site at 60 Richmond Street East to Toronto Community Housing for Regent Park revitalization off-site housing
- targeting affordable housing proposals that would provide low rents aimed at serving families and individuals on the City’s social housing waiting list
- adopting a local initiatives strategy aimed at locating affordable housing in all wards of the city.
Funding for the Plan includes $56 million from the federal/provincial Affordable Housing Program, $7 million from the federal Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, $8.9 million from the City’s Capital Revolving Fund and Mayor’s Fund, and implementation on a development by development basis of other existing City of Toronto policies.