Item - 2020.PH19.11

That City Council adopt the following recommendations in the supplementary report (December 17, 2020) from the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat [PH19.11a]:

Intergovernmental Considerations

1. City Council thank the federal and provincial governments for already committing operating funding that the City will use to create 150 new supportive homes in 2021, and re-iterate its request that the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada provide $48 million in annual ongoing operating funding to create and maintain 2,000 new supportive housing opportunities for vulnerable and marginalized individuals experiencing homelessness, with $14 million per year starting in September 2021 (and ongoing annually) to operationalize 588 affordable rental homes, and $12.24 million per year required immediately for 2021 (and ongoing annually) to operationalize 510  additional homes.

2. City Council request the City Manager establish a Housing and Homelessness Action Table with representation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Health Quality Ontario, Ontario Health Toronto Region, Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, The Access Point, the United Way, the University Health Network, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre and the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness for the purpose of developing a comprehensive plan and aligned funding approach, to help people experiencing homelessness access and maintain housing and supports.

3. City Council request the federal government to expand the Rapid Housing Initiative and enhance the eligibility criteria to include: all types of construction; acquisition of residential properties that are at risk of being lost due to sales or conversions; administrative costs; plus longer project delivery timelines.

4. City Council request that the federal government support the operating costs of affordable housing, in addition to provincial investments, by increasing the Reaching Home program by approximately $300 million per year nationally and accelerating the amount of portable housing benefits.

Financial Approval Considerations

5. City Council approve up to $47 million (net $0) fully funded the 10-Year Capital Plan and cash flowed in 2021 to be used to secure real estate interests suitable for creating new affordable rental housing, including related pre-development, renovation and/or construction costs (e.g. planning, communications, environmental site assessments, cost consultant reports, permits, architectural or engineering reports, appraisals, legal/closing costs related to acquisition and/or leasing of land and buildings, remediation, construction, renovation) and all other costs required create affordable housing, in each instance on terms satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration.

6. City Council delegate approval and signing authority to the City Manager or a Deputy City Manager designated by the City Manager for the acquisition or lease of property for housing purposes, provided the total compensation for each property acquisition or lease does not exceed $15 million, and subject to compliance with the General Conditions set out in Appendix B of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 213, Real Property, with such delegated authority to remain in effect until June 30, 2021.

7. City Council direct the City Manager or designate to report to the appropriate standing committee in fall 2021 on the exercise of any delegated authority in Recommendation 6 above.

8. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, as appropriate, to enter into agreements or other suitable arrangements with City divisions, agencies, the Government of Ontario and/or its agencies/corporations, the Government of Canada and/or its agencies/corporations, health care partners, community agencies, private entities and/or individuals to allocate funding and deliver new affordable rental housing that are part of the City's 24-Month Housing and Homelessness Plan.

9. City Council exempt up to 83 of the 510 affordable rental homes to be developed from development charges, planning and permit fees and parkland dedication fees.

10. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, to administer and manage all transactions in consultation with the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, including the provision of any consents, approvals, waivers, and notices, provided that they may, at any time, refer consideration of any such matters (including their content) to City Council for consideration and direction.

11. City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services (and for required legal services, the City Solicitor) to negotiate and enter into any necessary non-competitive agreements, including those with a value exceeding $500,000 for which Council approval would normally be required under City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 195, Purchasing, for the provision of construction and professional services needed to complete the acquisition of suitable real estate interests and to carry out any necessary pre-development, pre-construction, construction, renovation or conversion of properties for the development of affordable housing, provided that:

a. non-competitive procurement is necessary to meet the timelines of the Rapid Housing Initiative and the 8-12 week timeline outlined in this report;

b. the costs are eligible for and will be funded through the federal Rapid Housing Initiative and re-allocated Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Capital Budget; and

c. the terms and conditions of any such agreements are acceptable to the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Expediting Implementation of Affordable Supportive Housing

12. City Council request the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, to further expedite efforts to allocate and prepare vacant units to provide permanent housing for individuals and families to exit homelessness as outlined in this report.

13. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to work with the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness and Indigenous partners to engage the non-profit sector and select suitable operators, subject to operating funding,  to operate the all new affordable homes prior to occupancy, through a non-competitive process for an initial two-year term (prioritizing those with operating funding and extensive supportive housing management experience), and subsequently conduct a competitive process to select operators for longer term operation of the properties.

14. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to negotiate, approve and execute, on behalf of the City, below market and/or nominal rent leases for up to three (3) years, together with any ancillary agreements, with each of the non-profit operators chosen pursuant to Recommendation 13, for the five (5) sites to be acquired pursuant to this report, on terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

15. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to negotiate and execute on behalf of the City, municipal housing facility agreements (the City's "Contribution Agreement") with the non-profit housing providers selected through the processes referred to in Recommendation 14 above, or a related corporation, to secure the financial assistance being provided and to set out the terms of the operation of the new affordable rental housing, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

16. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to prioritize the review of sites identified as suitable for leases, acquisitions, construction and renovations, and the future conversion of existing buildings to affordable housing, and identify ways to expedite the necessary building and planning approvals.

17. City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to negotiate and enter into any agreements with the non-profits housing providers selected, for any operating funding that may be available, including, but not limited to rent supplement or grant funding agreements, on terms and conditions agreed to by the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

18. City Council direct General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to ensure that access plans and referral pathways for new supportive affordable housing opportunities with appropriate supports, are established to prioritize people exiting chronic homelessness and in alignment with the City's Coordinated Access to Housing and Supports system.

19. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to execute, on behalf of the City, any security or financing documents required by the non-profit housing providers, including any postponement, confirmation of status, discharge or consent documents where and when required during the term of the municipal housing facility agreement, as required by normal business practices, and provided that such documents do not give rise to financial obligations on the part of the City that have not been previously approved by City Council.

20. City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to inform local Councillors in advance of any property addresses being publicly released, and to work with local Councillors on communication, and community engagement where possible, prior to occupancy.

That:

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with appropriate staff, to continue to seek vacant hotel and apartment units until every person in Toronto in need of accommodation has been offered housing.

2.  City Council request the Federal and Provincial Governments to provide the City of Toronto with the necessary tools to offer housing to every person in need of accommodation, including the expropriation of vacant hotel and apartment units under the authority of Section 8(1)(c) of the Federal Emergencies Act; funding for the necessary social supports for housing Torontonians; funding to acquire and/or lease the necessary units; and approvals or funding for necessary harm reduction measures.

Part 2 of motion 2 by Councillor Perks lost.

Councillor Perks, on a Point of Privilege, stated that a report is due on Item PH19.11 and asked the Speaker when Members could expect to receive the report.

Councillor Perks, on a Point of Privilege, stated that at the beginning of the meeting he had inquired as to when Members would receive the outstanding report for Item PH19.11.  Councillor Perks further stated that it is getting near the end of the day and Members have not received the report.