Item - 2015.AH1.6

This report seeks the approval of the Executive Committee and the Affordable Housing Committee to proceed with a strategic updating of Housing Opportunities Toronto – An Affordable Housing Action Plan 2010-2020 (HOT). This includes approval of the work plan outlined in this report, which provides for the release of a five-year report card on progress to date, a targeted public consultation process, and a report to Council in early 2016 on proposed changes to update the 10-year action plan.

City Council approved HOT and its 67 proposed actions in 2009. In its first five years the housing action plan has served the City well.  It has provided a City-wide blueprint for actions and guided the work of the many Divisions and agencies that have a role in delivering housing and homeless programs and policies. While federal/provincial investments in housing and homeless services have been made during the first five years of the Action Plan, they have fallen short of meeting needs.  In this regard, the Action Plan will require the federal and provincial governments to step up, rather than step back from, providing sufficient sustainable funding for the City’s efforts to be successful.

The five-year review will incorporate work underway or planned in other divisions that have an impact on the City’s housing and homelessness policies and programming.

The review and update of Housing Opportunities Toronto will also satisfy the provincial requirement under the Housing Services Act to conduct a five-year update and begin reporting annually on progress. The Province has also requested that the City look to identify actions to address housing issues affecting victims of domestic violence, as well work with the Province to develop additional performance measures.

An interdivisional steering committee, co-chaired by the Director, Affordable Housing Office and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, will direct the three phases of the review.