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. 

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