Item - 2024.PH15.5

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

Intergovernmental Requests for Successful Delivery of the City's Housing Plans

1. City Council re-iterate its requests to the Government of Ontario to urgently support delivery of the 65,000 new rent-controlled homes target by partnering with the Federal Government on their Canada Builds program and the City of Toronto to launch an Ontario Builds housing program and:

a. allocate between $3.2 billion and $4.8 billion in outstanding capital funding by 2030; and

b. allocate between $6.4 billion and $7 billion in low-cost financing/re-payable loans by 2030.  

2. City Council re-iterate its requests to the Government of Canada to urgently support delivery of the 65,000 new rent-controlled homes target by launching the Canada Builds program in partnership with the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto to:

a. allocate between $3.6 to $5.2 billion in outstanding capital and operating funding by 2030; and

b. allocate between $6.4 to $7 billion in low-cost financing/re-payable loans by 2030. 

3. City Council re-iterate its request to the Government of Ontario to expand on its recent commitment to partner with the City of Toronto to create new supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, by:

a. Renewing current annual investments of $48 million for another three years (2026-2029) to ensure ongoing stability of housing and supports in over 3,000 occupied supportive homes; and

b. providing an additional investment of $12 million in 2025 and annually thereafter for housing benefits and wrap around housing and social supports for over 300 new supportive homes funded and under construction in 2024.

4. City Council re-iterate its request to the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to ensure Toronto’s Year 5 Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit allocation is $54 million, to enable at least 300 households per month to move out of homelessness into permanent housing and relieve pressure on the City's emergency shelter system.

Donation from United Way of Greater Toronto to Supportive Housing Project at 90 Dunn Avenue (formerly 150 Dunn Avenue): 

5. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to accept a donation of up to $120,000 from United Way of Greater Toronto for the City of Toronto, as financial contribution to the supportive housing project at 90 Dunn Avenue and in compliance with the Donations to the City of Toronto for Community Benefits Policy.

6. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to negotiate and sign on behalf of the City a donor agreement with United Way of Greater Toronto, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

7. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, or their designate, to allocate and disburse the donated amount to the 90 Dunn Avenue project. 

Memorandum of Understanding with Parc Downsview Park Incorporated

8. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of the City of Toronto, a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Parc Downsview Park Incorporated, a subsidiary of Canada Lands Company Limited, or a related entity, substantially on the major terms and conditions set out in Attachment 4 to the report and on such other or amended terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

9. City Council exempt up to 2,560 affordable rental housing units, to be constructed on lands owned by Parc Downsview Park Incorporated, or a related entity, within the Downsview Secondary Plan area, from the payment of development charges, parkland dedication fees, community benefits charges, if not exempted by provincial legislation, and planning application and building permit fees.

10. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of the City, any agreements or documents necessary including municipal housing facility agreements, with Parc Downsview Park Inc., a subsidiary of Canada Lands Company Limited, or related entities, to secure the financial assistance for the affordable housing to be developed on lands owned by Parc Downsview Park in the Downsview Secondary Plan area, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

Activating Provincial Funding through Building Faster Fund for Housing Solutions

11. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to adjust the 2024/2025 approved Capital and Operating Plans for Housing Secretariat by $114,000,000 fully funded through the Building Faster Fund, with future year requests subject to Council approval through the annual budget process.

12. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to prepare and submit the City of Toronto's Investment Plans, plan updates, and year-end reports for the Building Faster Fund, in accordance with program requirements, and to enter into a Transfer Payment Agreement and/or related agreement(s) with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing or any other provincial entity necessary for the receipt and expenditure of funding under the Building Faster Fund on such terms and conditions as are satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

13. City Council approve the receipt of Building Faster Fund program funds in 2024 and on an ongoing basis for housing-related projects and activities, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Transfer Payment Agreement, approved Investment Plan, and any related agreements, directives or program guidelines.

14. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to undertake the Building Faster Fund program administration in accordance with the approved allocations, the Transfer Payment Agreement and the approved Investment Plan, including appropriate measures as the program proceeds to adjust program parameter, recipients, and funding among program expenditure categories as required to ensure full and effective use of available provincial funds.

15. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services,  to enter into agreements or other suitable arrangements with the provincial government, other City divisions, community agencies, private entities and/or individuals to deliver the Building Faster Fund in accordance with the terms and conditions of the program guidelines on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat in consultation with Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Toronto is facing housing and homelessness crises - one where rising rents are creating unaffordable conditions for middle-income earners to live and work in the city; while a second crisis is due to a lack of deeply affordable and supportive homes for those with low-incomes, or who are experiencing homelessness, and often physical, mental health and/or addiction challenges. These crises are being driven by factors that range from inadequate housing supply, low wages and social assistance rates that have not kept pace with the rising cost of living, and structural inequities that disproportionately impact Indigenous, Black, and other racialized groups.

As noted in the Perspective on the Rental Housing Roundtable report, these intersecting but separate crises require different policy solutions. The City of Toronto and its partners are taking a range of actions across the housing continuum that are guided by the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan ("HousingTO Plan") and the Housing Action Plan (2022-2026). Together, these plans provide a blueprint for comprehensive action that is rooted in the Toronto Housing Charter - Opportunity for All  which recognizes that all orders of government, including municipalities have a role to play in furthering the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing that is affirmed in international law.

City Council, through EX9.3 - Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes, directed staff to combine the annual update reports for the HousingTO Plan and Housing Action Plan. This report, along with Attachment 1, provide an overview of the progress made in 2023 in implementing these housing plans through five key areas: 

• Creating new supply;
• Protecting, and preserving existing supply;
• Supporting renters, and improving housing stability;
• Prioritizing diverse housing needs; and
• Transforming housing policies.

Building upon the progress made in 2023, the City is advancing transformative initiatives that will further support these objectives including establishing the new Rental Housing Supply Program (RHSP), the Community Housing Sector Modernization and Growth Strategy and developing the City’s first Renovictions By-law. This report also emphasizes the priority actions being taken by the City throughout 2024 to continue making progress towards these objectives.

This report also seeks authority to advance a number of critical partnerships that will further enable the City to deliver more affordable housing and support services for residents:

• Establishing a Memorandum of Understanding with Parc Downsview Park Incorporated to deliver an estimated 2,560 affordable rental homes in Downsview. Parc Downsview Park Incorporated is responsible for the planning and development of lands in Downsview on behalf of its parent company, Canada Lands Company Limited.
• Receiving a donation of $120,000 from United Way of Greater Toronto towards the supportive housing project at 90 Dunn Avenue.
• Investing City of Toronto's 2024 allocation under the provincial Building Faster Fund in affordable housing and housing enabling infrastructure projects.

As outlined in this report, the City and its community partners continue to invest the greatest effort and resources towards addressing the housing crises. While municipal and community action are important to meet the objectives the City's HousingTO Plan and Housing Action Plan, action and increased investment by federal and provincial governments are required to make transformative improvements to housing outcomes for Toronto residents.

The 2023 Housing Update Report is prepared by the Housing Secretariat with input from various City divisions and agencies including: City Planning, CreateTO, Environment and Energy, Financial Planning, the Indigenous Affairs Office, the Office of Strategic Partnerships, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, Toronto Shelter and Support Services, Social Development, Finance and Administration, Strategic Public and Employee Communications, Toronto Building, and Toronto Community Housing Corporation.