Toronto hoping for social housing cash in federal budget

On the eve of the federal budget announcement, Toronto's housing advocates say they hope cash is coming soon for needed repairs

Thestar.com
March 21, 2016
By Jennifer Pagliaro

A rare cheer was heard at city hall on Monday for housing that has not even been built yet.

It was the idea of 250 affordable housing units at a condominium complex in Scarborough now set to begin construction that had a small gathering of advocates, builders and city councillors celebrating.

The development from non-profit Options for Homes puts a small dent in the more than 90,000 applications on a waiting list for affordable housing and puts home ownership in reach for families earning an average of $53,000 annually.

Those advocates hope the good news will continue with Tuesday’s federal budget, which is expected to bring immediate cash relief for repairs to crumbling social housing and steps toward a national housing strategy promised by the Liberal government.

“We are looking forward to having a renewed federal partner at the table, not only coming with money but with ideas and a new energy to tackle the challenges ahead of us,” said the city’s affordable housing advocate Councillor Ana Bailao. “We are now at the tipping point where I believe the shared objectives of the public, the private and the non-profit sectors are coming together as one.”

The Star earlier reported that the budget is expected to include an initial influx of cash that can be used on existing infrastructure projects, including Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) repairs.

The Liberals have committed to $20 billion in “social infrastructure” over 10 years. It’s unclear just how much is earmarked for Toronto and the country’s largest social housing provider.

“We hope that there are funds made available (Tuesday) to continue our repair program. That’s absolutely critical for us,” said TCHC’s interim CEO Greg Spearn. “Without that financing support we’ll have to essentially stop our repair program in 2017.”

Since 2013, the city has led a campaign to “close the housing gap” aimed at pressuring the federal and provincial governments to fund a one-third share of repairs for TCHC, which both governments have yet to respond to.

Spearn said without further funding, units will continue to be boarded up for lack of repairs, adding to the list of 400 homes that already inhabitable.

“I’m hoping to not have to have that conversation,” he said.

In 2017, TCHC has $325 million worth of repairs planned. One more refinancing opportunity would only cover half that cost, Spearn said. Another $325 million in repairs is planned the following year with no funding currently available.

Liberal Senator Art Eggleton, who chairs the city’s task force on housing, agreed money for repairs is the most pressing need after the city already refinanced mortgages to cover costs this year.

“Now it’s time for the other two levels of government to step to the plate and I expect the federal government to do that tomorrow,” he said. “I want the province - urge the province - to match whatever they do tomorrow.”

Eggleton said it will take time to develop a national housing strategy - something the task force called for as part of their interim recommendations released in January - but hoped to see specific mention of a plan Tuesday.

“To me, the most important part of a national housing strategy is long-term funding commitment,” Eggleton said. “The tap is turned on and turned off too many times for housing.”

The task force report outlined a divestment in social housing in Toronto over the past decade, from $175 million in 2003 to $140 million last year. It warned that by 2032 funding would have fully disappeared.

On Monday, advocates said home ownership and affordable rental housing are both critical in a large city like Toronto.

Options For Homes CEO Heath Tremain said the Danforth Village Estates is one of two properties planned in the east end, with units starting from $177,000 for a one bedroom.

Bailao said that provides many people the opportunity to own a home for the first time.

“I believe that in a city like Toronto, people who work in all types of industries, at all income levels and at all age ranges should have an opportunity to live in the same city that they work and where their own personal networks are,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to be priced out of the housing market.”