No new cash for fixing social housing stock
Toronto Community Housing is planning to close 400 more homes next year, because of a lack of repair money needed to shore up the aging buildings.

thestar.com
By EMILY MATHIEU
April 27, 2017

Toronto’s crumbling social housing stock will not receive any new money for desperately needed capital repairs as part of this year’s provincial budget.

The budget lays out the early details of a plan to leverage government-owned land to encourage the development of more affordable housing units, but no new money towards affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs.

Toronto Community Housing Corp. is facing a $2.6 billion repair bill and plans to close 400 more homes next year, bringing to 1,000 the number of properties expected to close by 2018.

The province, as part of last year’s budget, pledged $2 billion for affordable housing and housing supports, over three years.

“The complete absence of money for TCHC is a kick in the gut to the city of Toronto and the residents of Toronto Community Housing,” Councillor Joe Cressy, who sits on the board for the social housing provider, told the Star’s Jennifer Pagliaro.

Mayor John Tory, who previously called it a “grave mistake” for the province to ignore Toronto’s funding needs, said in a statement: “The provincial government appears to have missed an opportunity to partner in the historic investments made by the federal government in much needed future transit expansion and repairs to our vital social housing.”

Tory's housing advocate Councillor Ana Bailao, said she was disappointed by the budget.

“New affordable housing will not replace the social housing units that we have in Toronto,” said Bailao, in a statement. “Every single corner of this city has urgent social housing repair needs.”