Mayor John Tory today unveiled a new Open Door program to fast track affordable housing across Toronto. He was joined by Toronto’s Housing Advocate Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18 Davenport) and Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina).

"We need to do everything we can to build more affordable housing in Toronto, and we need to do it much faster. This action plan will help deliver more affordable housing to people who need it," said Mayor Tory. "As part of this affordable housing action plan, the City will re-double its efforts and say yes to developers who want to work with us and get the job done in half the time.”

The Open Door program to fast track affordable housing brings together critical elements needed to kick-start affordable rental and ownership housing construction: surplus public land designated for new affordable rental and ownership housing; fast-tracked planning approvals through a Gold Star review process; additional City financial incentives and federal/provincial funding.

It also calls on the federal and provincial governments to speed the delivery of affordable housing by releasing surplus public land, making new investments in affordable housing and increasing financial and tax incentives for developers.

The Open Door program to fast track affordable housing includes:

• activating five surplus City sites for the construction of 389 affordable rental and ownership homes
• releasing an inventory of 13 other City sites with affordable housing potential
• encouraging the private sector to build more affordable housing by offering City financial incentives currently limited to non-profit groups
• supporting the creation of 200 affordable ownership homes annually through a development charges deferral initiative, and
• providing a minimum of 500 housing allowances to increase affordability in buildings constructed under Open Door.

City staff will report back in May 2016 on the implementation of these initiatives and how to make the Open Door program permanent.

"Affordable housing is critical to the social and economic health of Torontonians," said Councillor Bailão. "The Open Door program is about a comprehensive approach to stimulating new affordable rental and ownership homes to deliver real results for residents.”

The announcement was made on a property known as Block 36 North, surplus City land zoned for affordable housing that has been vacant for more than 20 years. A request for proposals (RFP) based on Open Door incentives will be issued in early 2016 to select a developer. Funding for the new Block 36 affordable housing site will be obtained partly through a Ward 20 Section 37 agreement under the Planning Act.

"We have a housing crisis in our city, with more than 91,000 families on the waiting list for affordable housing," said Councillor Cressy. "Today's announcement that the Block 36 North site is finally being activated for the construction of 80 new affordable rental homes through the Open Door Program is an important step towards building a more equitable city."

A report outlining the Open Door Program will be considered at the December 9-10 City Council meeting. The report also requests staff to bring forward the implementation plan on a range of Open Door initiatives by May 2016. You can read this report by clicking here. 

September and October was an exciting time for action on affordable housing in our city. As Toronto's Housing Advocate I have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of different housing related announcements and activities ranging from announcing new public investments and partnerships in Toronto Community Housing to calling on our federal political parties to make affordable housing commitments. I have included a snapshot of some of the activities I took part in during the past two months.

TCH TAF TowerWise Retrofit Announcement

On Tuesday September 22 I had the pleasure in announcing the TowerWise Retrofit Project – a partnership between the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCH). TAF is investing $4.2 million to implement energy efficiency upgrades in seven TCH buildings across Toronto. This project will help create local jobs, improve the environment, reduce carbon emissions, save TCH money, and improve the health and comfort of TCH residents. Supporting this partnership is one example of how the City is working hard to improve the quality of life for TCH residents. With further investment from all levels of government, I sincerely hope that we can make these types of projects a reality in all TCH buildings across Toronto.

Big City Mayors' Caucus Meeting

In late September, Toronto hosted a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Big City Mayors' Caucus to specifically discuss the issue of affordable housing. The Mayors of Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, London, Kitchener, and Halifax came together and urged all federal political party leaders to play a leadership role on the issue. Affordable housing is an issue that is directly related to the issue that all federal political leaders have decided to focus on during this election campaign: the economy and jobs. I was honoured to participate in their meeting, tour the YWCA's Elm Centre and kick off the press conference. Hopefully following October 19, our federal government will have a renewed focus and energy on this very important issue. 

TCH ReSet Announcement
On September 25 I had the pleasure of helping to announce the launch of ReSet, an innovative approach to capital repairs being piloted in three TCH communities with nearly 900 households. The ReSet program will bundle multiple capital repair jobs in each community and deliver them as one project, resulting in cost savings, faster repairs and safer communities. I am excited that the ReSet program will engage Toronto Community Housing residents while providing quicker, less disruptive and significant capital repairs to their communities. With new investment from the provincial and federal governments, I am confident that we can make the ReSet program a reality in Toronto Community Housing buildings across Toronto. To find out more about this program please click here.

World Habitat Day

The first Monday in October is World Habitat Day and I had the opportunity to read the Mayoral proclamation on behalf of Mayor Tory.

"World Habitat Day is a time to reflect on the state of our cities and towns, emphasize everyone's right to adequate shelter and to remind the world that we all have the power and a responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

This year's theme, "Public Spaces for All," sheds light on the importance of providing public spaces that enhance community cohesion and promote health, happiness, and the well-being of all citizens.

The City of Toronto's affordable housing and homelessness initiatives are guided by Toronto's Affordable Housing Action Plan, 2010–2020. It is a plan that helps to affirm the City's commitment to continue working with its partners to address housing needs.

This year, with the assistance of the federal and provincial governments and private and non-profit groups, the City of Toronto is opening 217 affordable rental and ownership homes, while assisting more than 2,500 residents with home repairs."

Lawrence Heights Announcement
Earlier this week, I joined my colleagues Mayor John Tory and Councillor Josh Colle in announcing that phase one of the Lawrence Heights Revitalization project will be getting underway. Prior to the announcement I had the pleasure of meeting with some local residents to discuss life in Lawrence Heights, the revitalization, and their future hopes and dreams. I strongly believe that everyone in our city deserves a secure home where they can build their dreams and enjoy a better life and this partnership will help deliver real results for residents in the vibrant Lawrence Heights community with new, clean, safe, and affordable homes. I am particularly excited by the creation of local employment opportunities and scholarships for residents in Lawrence Heights as part of the revitalization. To find out more about the project please read this backgrounder. 

On Tuesday September 22 I had the pleasure in announcing the TowerWise Retrofit Project – a partnership between the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCH). TAF is investing $4.2 million to implement energy efficiency upgrades in seven TCH buildings across Toronto. This project will help create local jobs, improve the environment, reduce carbon emissions, save TCH money, and improve the health and comfort of TCH residents.

The wide range of upgrades in the selected TCH buildings will include the installation of low-flow faucets and toilets, high efficiency boilers, double-glazed windows, and LED lighting. This project is also expected to trim utility costs by 20% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. Data and results from the TowerWise Retrofit Project will be will be used to help inform the energy efficiency efforts of TCH, Toronto Hydro, the City, and other municipalities.

Supporting this partnership is one example of how the City is working hard to improve the quality of life for TCH residents. With further investment from all levels of government, I sincerely hope that we can make these types of projects a reality in all TCH buildings across Toronto.

Last week, the cities of Toronto and Rio de Janeiro officially became friendship cities. This is an important step for the City of Toronto in building relationships with South America. With Toronto's increased profile in the Americas and the Caribbean as a result of us hosting the successful 2015 Pan Am Games, it is important now more than ever to capitalize on economic development through trade and relationships in the Americas and around the world.

I am proud to have started the establishment of this agreement with my motion that was passed unanimously at City Council back in 2012 to invite the City of Rio de Janeiro to join the City of Toronto in forming a friendship city alliance.

Toronto and Rio de Janeiro share many similarities and opportunities for future synergies. Both cities have thriving film industries, are major economic centres, and are major culture and tourism destinations both nationally and globally. I firmly believe that both cities through this agreement will have the opportunity to learn best practices from one another, which will strengthen Toronto's society, economy, and municipal functions.

Rio de Janeiro becomes the 10th city in the City's International Alliance Program. The program maintains and grows business-oriented relationships with these cities in order to strengthen economic, cultural and multicultural links internationally and to share best practices. These city relationships are based on demographics, economic growth and social similarities, GDP, and the potential for export and trade development.

This new relationship will assist Toronto businesses enter one of the most rapidly growing markets in the world. it would also provide an entry point for Toronto companies to do business with other countries in the southern South America region including Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

More information about the International Alliance Program and how the City helps business is available at http://www.toronto.ca/business.

You can view the official City of Toronto Press Release here.

Statement from members of the GTA Housing Action Lab

City of Toronto “Open Door” program will build more affordable housing in Toronto

April 29, 2015 – Members of the GTA Housing Action Lab released the following statement today:

This week the City of Toronto announced a new ‘Open Door’ housing policy to support the construction of new affordable rental units. This $20 million fund is an important step towards changing the trajectory and building the affordable housing our city needs.

We strongly support Mayor Tory’s and Councilor Bailão’s announcement. The creation of this program will enable the City to work more effectively with the private and not-for-profit sectors to deliver the affordable rental housing we need.

While Toronto has built a huge number of new housing units in the last decade, the cost of housing has become increasingly unaffordable. 1 in 5 households live in housing that is too small, in need of repairs, or that costs more than 30% of their income. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are solutions, like this program, and it’s vital that we take action now.

We look forward to working with the City of Toronto and the development community as they work to implement the Open Door program. We also encourage the province to look at how this could scale across Ontario. small, in need of repairs, or that costs more than 30% of their income. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are solutions, like this program, and it’s vital that we take action now.

We look forward to working with the City of Toronto and the development community as they work to implement the Open Door program. We also encourage the province to look at how this could scale across Ontario.

Signed by:
Alan Broadbent, Chairman and CEO, Avana Capital Corporation, Chairman and Founder, Maytree
John Brodhead, Executive Director, Evergreen CityWorks
Daryl Chong, President & CEO, Greater Toronto Apartment Association
Anne Golden, Co-Director, City Building Institute, Ryerson University
Sharad Kerur, Executive Director, Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association
Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO, CivicAction
Graeme Stewart, ERA Architects, Co-Founder, Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal 
Bryan Tuckey, President and CEO, BILD
Ene Underwood, CEO, Habitat for Humanity GTA
Joe Vaccaro, CEO, Ontario Home Builders’ Association

The above organizations are all members of the GTA Housing Action Lab, a cross-sector collaboration working to deliver scalable solutions to the issues of housing affordability and sustainability. More information can be found at www.gtahousingactionlab.ca. 

The statement appears in its original form on Evergreen's website - http://www.evergreen.ca/en/blog/entry/statement-from-members-of-the-gta-housing-action-lab

Mayor John Tory today unveiled the City of Toronto's Open Door initiative designed to encourage private and non-profit developers to build affordable rental and ownership housing. 

"The Open Door Initiative is the City saying 'yes' to developers who want to work with us,” Mayor Tory said. "We’re going to streamline the process and cut red tape for developers who want to do business with the City so we can build much needed affordable housing quicker.” 

The Open Door approach would include measures to: 
• unlock opportunities on private, public and non-profit land 
• fast-track the planning-approval process 
• expand City financial incentives to reduce construction costs, and 
• challenge provincial and federal governments and private and non-profit developers to scale up their efforts. 

Specific proposals under these four themes will be developed by interdivisional staff this year following Council consideration of Open Door. 

"Toronto is a city of opportunity and that includes the opportunity to rent or own an affordable home," said City Housing Advocate Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18 Davenport). "This package will make it easier to provide new affordable housing for residents." 

Mayor Tory challenged developers to do more to build affordable housing. He also called on the federal and provincial governments to release more government-owned land and commit other resources in Toronto for affordable housing. 

To demonstrate how Open Door will work, the announcement was made at 200 Madison Avenue, a surplus City site in Ward 22. The City will fast-track the issuing of a request for proposals (RFP) in May for applications to build affordable rental housing on the land. 

The approvals process will be accelerated to facilitate a construction start in 2016. Through financial and other incentives, rents will be set below CMHC's average market rent. Residents will be selected from the Housing Connections waiting list. 

[Also read John Tory and Ana Bailão letter to members of the Affordable Housing Committee regarding the Open Door approach]

Media Coverage as of April 28

CP24
'Open Door' initiative will mean 'more affordable housing faster,' Tory says

City News
Tory hopes to get more developers building affordable housing

Global
Mayor Tory announces Open Door initiative to get more affordable housing built in Toronto

Toronto Sun
City to make building affordable housing easier

CBC
John Tory offering developers city land for affordable housing

Globe and Mail
To spur affordable housing, Toronto looks to loosen red tape for developers

Urban Toronto
City of Toronto Cutting Red Tape for Affordable Housing

Metro
Mayor John Tory wants to ‘open doors’ to new affordable housing

Toronto Star
Mayor John Tory wants to "open doors" for new affordable housing

Dear Members of the Affordable Housing Committee,

As you know, Toronto is facing a serious housing crunch as low and moderate-income families and individuals find it harder to find an affordable home to rent or own.

We value our reputation as a welcoming and livable city.  We believe Toronto is a city of opportunity and that includes the opportunity to rent or own an affordable home. To stimulate the creation of affordable housing, we believe we must change the way the City does business with the groups that build it.

Five years ago, City Council set a goal of creating 1,000 affordable rental and 200 affordable ownership homes annually.  The City’s 10-year housing action plan Housing Opportunities Toronto recognizes that by 2020 we require 10,000 additional affordable rental and 2,000 affordable ownership homes to keep pace with growth and demand 

Progress in meeting our goals was made during the past five years with some 2,792 new affordable rental and 750 new affordable ownership homes being completed.  But we are falling behind.  While there is some new affordable housing under construction and in the pipeline, there is still a significant potential shortfall.

The extension of the federal/provincial Investment in Affordable Housing program to 2020 will help provide housing allowances to very low- income families and individuals in need and spur some new affordable and ownership housing – but much more must be done.

The City has supported the creation of affordable rental and ownership housing through policies and programs such as exemptions from development charges, building permit fees, planning application fees and property taxes for non-profit, affordable rental housing.

Since inception, the Development Charges reserve fund has raised $56 million for new affordable housing, and the city has extended to the private sector exemptions from development charges and property taxes for affordable rental housing.

Still, at the current pace, by 2020 the City will significantly under- achieve our affordable housing objectives by an estimated 6,810 rental and 734 ownership homes. It is clear the City must refocus its efforts if it is to meet the 10-year affordable housing targets.

In working with our private and non-profit housing partners, it has become apparent that we can do a better job by adopting an “Open Door” approach to the business of affordable housing.

We can do better by addressing key factors that reduce the cost of doing business and thereby increase affordability.  An “Open Door” approach would include:

• Unlock opportunities on private, public and non-profit land including working with Build Toronto, Parking Authority and Toronto Community Housing

• Fast-track the planning-approval process

• Expand City financial incentives to reduce construction costs

• Challenge provincial and federal governments and private and non-profit developers to scale up their efforts.

To move forward with the “Open Door” approach, we are recommending the Executive Committee approve the following actions.

Recommendations:

Mayor Tory and Councillor Bailão recommend that:

1. The Executive Committee direct the Director, Affordable Housing Office, in co-ordination with City Planning, and in consultation with Finance and other relevant Divisions and Agencies, to co-ordinate a staff report to the Executive Committee through the Affordable Housing Committee on the development of an “Open Door” program. The program is to be comprised of land, planning and financial actions aimed at enhancing the City's ability to deliver affordable housing and achieve its approved housing targets, to include:

• Reporting on options for activating quick-start housing developments through the investment of $20 million from the Development Charges Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing and seeking cost-sharing partnerships with the federal and provincial governments and private and non-profit developers.
• Improving the City’s approach to its surplus lands suitable for housing, including opportunities to reduce the cost of land through providing long-term leases to private and non-profit groups.
• Finding opportunities with the development industry to pilot six-story wood construction buildings for affordable housing.
• Developing a “gold star” fast-track planning approval process for affordable ownership, affordable rental and mid-range rental applications.
• Considering reduced parking standards on a site-specific basis for private and non-profit affordable rental housing well-served by public transit.
• Encouraging city staff and City Councillors to increase efforts in all wards to prioritize the voluntary use of Section 37 contributions for affordable housing.
• Expanding policies and procedures for the discount, exemption and waiver or deferral of City development charges, planning and building permit fees and property taxes for affordable rental housing.
• Establishing criteria for grants and loans from the Development Charges Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing.
• Enhancing City efforts to encourage purpose-built, mid-range rental housing (up to 150% of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation average market rent), and leveraging these opportunities to secure a portion of these buildings as affordable rental housing (at CMHC average market rent or less), resulting in buildings with a mix of rent levels.
• Reviewing opportunities to increase affordability of new rental homes through income support programs such as housing allowances, rent supplements and provincial income supports and through a centralized, coordinated housing registry.
• Securing additional provincial and federal government funding and/or legislative changes that would support the creation of long-term affordable rental and ownership housing in the City.

2. The Executive Committee direct the Director, Affordable Housing Office, in consultation with City Planning, Finance and other appropriate Divisions to co-ordinate an inter-divisional targeted consultation with external housing stakeholders to inform the report and recommendations to be submitted to the Affordable Housing and Executive Committees resulting from this request.

3. The Executive Committee direct the Director, Affordable Housing Office, in conjunction with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and in consultation with Finance and other Divisions, to submit a report to the Affordable Housing Committee, Executive Committee and City Council in November and December of this year on the results of the work arising from this report, with policy and program recommendations, including options for immediate implementation.

Sincerely,        

John Tory                                                                         Ana Bailão
Mayor                                                                              City Councillor, Ward 18
City of Toronto                                                                

[Also read Media Release and coverage from Open Door announcement on April 27th]

One year after a fatal fire in Kensington Market, the city has announced a $5-million program to upgrade safety conditions in rooming houses.

The investment, which is being made with provincial and federal affordable housing funds, will be used to make health, safety and accessibility improvements to rooming houses and bring them up to fire code. The city estimates that 400 tenants in 30 buildings will benefit.

Councillor Ana Bailão made the announcement Thursday afternoon in front of the building on St. Andrew St. where a blaze killed two people and injured 10 others on March 20, 2014. The city alleges the building was operating as an unlicensed rooming house, and its owners are now facing charges.

Bailão, who is council's housing advocate, said the goal of the program is to prevent similar tragedies. "We are committed to doing all we can to make sure rooming houses continue to be safe and healthy options for lower-income people seeking a home," she said.

Rooming houses are dwellings in which multiple tenants rent rooms at low cost and share amenities like bathrooms and kitchens. They are permitted in the preamalgamation municipalities of Toronto, York and Etobicoke, but are prohibited in Scarborough, North York and East York. Some housing advocates see them as an important part of the city's affordable housing mix.

In Toronto roughly 5,000 people live in 214 licensed rooming houses and 48 "bachelorettes" in Parkdale. The licensed facilities are regulated and face yearly inspections. But it's believed many more people live in unlicensed houses, which are not inspected.

The city hopes the repair funding will encourage landlords who don't have licences to come forward and obtain them.

Councillor Joe Cressy (open Joe Cressy's policard) says his Trinity-Spadina ward is dotted with illegal rooming houses that aren't up to code, including one building recently discovered on Dundas St W that was housing dozens of people. Some of the tenants were living in units only 42 inches high.

Cressy expressed hope that the repair program would help ensure more low-income housing is made safe and regulated. "Where you live and how you chose to live should never be a death sentence," he said.

The city began public consultations on rooming house regulations last week. A report is expected at Mayor John Tory (open John Tory's policard)'s Executive Committee in June.

[This article was re-posted from the Toronto Star April 17th]

The City of Toronto today announced that it has issued a request for proposals for repairs and upgrades to rooming houses and single-occupancy residences in Toronto. The investment, which will improve the living conditions of about 400 tenants in approximately 30 rooming houses, will draw upon federal and provincial funding in support of affordable housing in the city. 

Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18 Davenport), the City's Housing Advocate, made the announcement outside a former illegal Kensington Market rooming house where two people died and 10 were injured in a fire last year. She was accompanied by Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina) and officials from Municipal Licensing and Standards (ML&S) and Toronto Fire. 

"Council understands the important role legal, regulated rooming houses play in providing homes for lower-income residents," said Councillor Bailão. "As a result, we are taking a number of steps to promote their safety and security." 

Preserving and repairing licensed/legal rooming houses and developing new licensed rooming houses are priorities under the City's 10-year housing plan, Housing Opportunities Toronto. As directed by Council, ML&S and City Planning have launched a consultation process with the public, stakeholders and rooming house owners to improve living conditions for rooming house tenants and understand the impact that rooming houses have on surrounding communities. 

"I am pleased the City through the consultation process is seeking to uncover diverse perspectives on rooming houses and begin a constructive conversation about possible solutions for all stakeholders - without jeopardizing housing for vulnerable tenants," said Councillor Cesar Palacio (Ward 17 Davenport), Chair of the Licensing and Standards Committee. 

The city's housing crunch has made licensed and regulated rooming houses an important source of housing for low-income and vulnerable individuals.Some 5,000 people live in approximately 214 licensed, regulated rooming houses and 48 Parkdale bachelorettes in the pre-amalgamation cities of Toronto, York and Etobicoke, where they are permitted. Many more live in unregulated rooming house properties across present-day Toronto. 

More information is available on the Municipal Licensing and Standards website at toronto.ca/roominghousereview and the Affordable Housing Office website at 
toronto.ca/affordablehousing. 

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us@TorontoComms.