TORONTO – Toronto Mayor John Tory says, “I am extremely pleased with the continued development of the Tenants First project, specifically the steps taken today to improve services for seniors. This dramatic change to Toronto Community Housing will ensure that it can better focus on its tenants while the new corporation with a laser-like focus on seniors will provide housing that meets their needs.”
City Council today approved the Tenants First Implementation Plan, which will create better living conditions and experiences for tenants of Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCH) while ensuring their homes are safe and well maintained.
Key elements of the plan include:
• creation of a new Seniors Housing Corporation to manage and operate 83 senior-designated buildings housing 27,000 seniors
• phased implementation of an integrated service model for seniors housing, beginning with 10 sites in 2020 which will include a partnership with the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, and
• transferring TCH’s real estate development functions to CreateTO, the City’s real estate agency.
The report also specifically outlines changes to the governance of TCH’s business areas while increasing the City’s oversight of TCH’s activities. These changes will increase collaboration between the City and TCH, mitigate legal and financial risk, contain operating costs and minimize disruption to tenants.
Toronto Community Housing Corporation will remain a City corporation whose mandate is to operate the 43,000 units in mixed and family buildings and will focus on developing a more tenant-focused service delivery model.
The Tenants First plan is closely aligned with the City’s other strategic initiatives designed to strengthen communities in Toronto, including the Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0, Housing Opportunities Toronto, TO Prosperity: Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy, Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020, the Toronto Newcomer Strategy and the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.
The Tenants First project is working to transform TCHC into a social housing landlord whose buildings are in a good state of repair, and that connects tenants to appropriate services so they can participate actively in their communities. Phase 1 of the Tenants First implementation plan was unanimously approved by Council in July 2017. The City’s work to transform TCHC will continue for the next several years.
“This report is the result of extensive work to focus Toronto Community Housing on their core mandate, which is being a good social housing landlord for Torontonians. The creation of the new Seniors Housing Corporation is an important milestone, and we’re excited to keep working with tenants, Toronto Community Housing, the new Seniors Housing Corporation, Toronto Central LHIN/Ontario Health, and our community partners to improve quality of life for all tenants of the City’s housing corporations,” adds Chris Brillinger, Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.
