Agenda
Affordable Housing Committee
- Meeting No.:
- 6
- Contact:
- Candy Davidovits, Committee Administrator
- Meeting Date:
- Monday, June 24, 2013
- Phone:
- 416-392-8032
- Start Time:
- 2:30 PM
- E-mail:
- ah@toronto.ca
- Location:
- Committee Room 1, City Hall
- Chair:
- Councillor Ana Bailão
Affordable Housing Committee | ||
Councillor Ana Bailão, Chair Councillor Vincent Crisanti, Vice Chair | Councillor Maria Augimeri Councillor Michelle Berardinetti | Councillor Mark Grimes Councillor Joe Mihevc |
Members of Council and Staff: Please keep this agenda and the accompanying material until the City Council meeting dealing with these matters has ended.
Special Assistance for Members of the Public: City staff can arrange for special assistance with some advance notice. If you need special assistance, please call 416-392-1032, TTY 416-338-0889 or e-mail ah@toronto.ca.
Closed Meeting Requirements: If the Affordable Housing Committee wants to meet in closed session (privately), a member of the committee must make a motion to do so and give the reason why the Committee has to meet privately. (City of Toronto Act, 2006)
Notice to people writing or making presentations to the Affordable Housing Committee: The City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its committees. The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City’s website. The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address, telephone number or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.
The City makes a video record of committee and community council meetings. If you make a presentation to a committee or community council, the City will be video-recording you and City staff may make the video record available to the public.
If you want to learn more about why and how the City collects your information, write to the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2 or by calling 416-392-8032.
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This agenda and any supplementary materials submitted to the City Clerk can be found online at www.toronto.ca/council. Visit the website for access to all agendas, reports, decisions and minutes of City Council and its committees.
Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Confirmation of Minutes – January 29, 2013
Speakers/Presentations - A complete list will be distributed at the meeting.
Communications/Reports
AH6.1 - Launch of Close the Housing Gap, The Campaign for Social Housing
- Consideration Type:
- Presentation
- Wards:
- All
Summary
Councillor Ana Bailão, Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee, will give a presentation on Launch of Close the Housing Gap, The Campaign for Social Housing.
(No written material available).
AH6.2 - Affordable Housing in Ontario: Mobilizing Capital in an Era of Public Constraint
- Consideration Type:
- Presentation
- Wards:
- All
Origin
Summary
Councillor Ana Bailão advising that André Côté, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG), will give a presentation on Affordable Housing in Ontario: Mobilizing Private Capital in an Era of Public Constraint.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59463.pdf
(June 6, 2013) Attachment - Report co-authored by André Côté, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG), and Howard Tam, ThinkFresh Group, on Affordable Housing in Ontario: Mobilizing Private Capital in an Era of Public Constraint
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59472.pdf
(June 24, 2013) Presentation from André Côté, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG), University of Toronto, on Affordable Housing in Ontario: Mobilizing Private Capital in an Era of Public Constraint
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59911.pdf
AH6.3 - Assisting New Home Owners: Affordable Home Ownership Assistance Program Allocations 2013
- Consideration Type:
- ACTION
- Wards:
- 4 - Etobicoke Centre, 11 - York South-Weston, 20 - Trinity-Spadina, 27 - Toronto Centre-Rosedale, 35 - Scarborough Southwest, 36 - Scarborough Southwest, 37 - Scarborough Centre, 38 - Scarborough Centre
Origin
Recommendations
The Director, Affordable Housing Office, and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management, recommend that:
1. City Council approve $4,575,000 in financial assistance under the City's Home Ownership Assistance Program, in the form of grants by way of forgivable loans from the Development Charges Reserve Fund (2009) for Subsidized Housing (XR2116) for the following not-for-profit affordable home ownership housing initiatives selected through Request for Proposal No. 9155-13-7046 up to the following amounts:
a. Habitat for Humanity Toronto Inc. | 697 Danforth Rd. | $60,000.00 |
b. Habitat for Humanity Toronto Inc. | 357 Birchmount Rd. | $135,000.00 |
c. Habitat for Humanity Toronto Inc. | 30-52 Acme Cres. | $180,000.00 |
d. Habitat for Humanity Toronto Inc. | Brimley Road between Lawrence Ave. E. & Britwell Ave. | $225,000.00 |
e. Ownership Alternatives Non-Profit Corporation (Greater Toronto Area) | 10 Wilby Cres. | $1,140,000.00 |
f. Home Ownership Alternatives Non-Profit Corporation (Greater Toronto Area) | 1340-1360 Danforth Rd. | $2,565,000.00 |
g. Artscape Inc. | 210 Simcoe Ave. | $60,000.00 |
h. Artscape Inc. | 155-163 Dundas St. E. | $210,000.00 |
2. City Council grant authority for the City to enter into a delivery agreement with each of the above-mentioned not-for-profit corporations or such other associated parties as the City deems appropriate, for the delivery and administration of the home ownership assistance being provided from the City's Development Charges Reserve Fund (2009) for Subsidized Housing (XR2116), on terms and conditions determined by the Director, Affordable Housing Office and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.
3. City Council grant authority for the Director, Affordable Housing Office to execute the delivery agreement and any other agreements or documents required to give effect to the foregoing and to administer the ongoing grants by way of forgivable loans.
4. City Council grant authority for the Director, Affordable Housing Office to determine when the above projects have reached an adequate and appropriate stage in terms of City Planning approvals and construction readiness to allow the funding to be securely advanced.
5. City Council grant authority to the City Solicitor to execute any documents required to register security for the loans and to postpone, confirm the status of and discharge the loans.
City Council increase the 2013 Approved Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) by $4,575,000 gross $0 net to provide additional funding for the eight affordable housing initiatives recommended in the report (June 7, 2013) from the Director, Affordable Housing and the Director, Purchasing and Materials Management.
Summary
This report recommends funding for eight new non-profit housing developments through the City’s Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP). The developments recommended for Council’s consideration would provide 305 new affordable ownership homes for qualifying families and individuals and are being developed by three established non-profit groups: Habitat for Humanity Toronto, Home Ownership Alternatives, and Toronto Artscape.
These funding recommendations follow a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process run by the Affordable Housing Office (RFP No. 9155-13-7046). City funding will compensate the non-profit groups for the City development fees and charges paid on their developments and assist in making the homes more affordable by providing an average $15,000 down-payment assistance loan for eligible purchasers.
This is the second Home Ownership Assistance Program proposal call the City has undertaken, with the first in 2010 providing funding for 395 affordable homes in five developments. Improving affordable home ownership opportunities is supported by the City's 2010-2020 Affordable Housing Action Plan, Housing Opportunities Toronto, and funding and program eligibility for HOAP was approved by Council in 2010.
HOAP is an example of Council’s commitment to assisting our non-profit partners in providing affordable ownership opportunities to low and moderate-income Toronto households.
Financial Impact
This report recommends that City Council approve eight affordable housing developments selected through Request for Proposals No. 9155-13-7046 for a total of $4,575,000.00 in funding through the Home Ownership Assistance Program. This funding will provide purchaser assistance for 305 homes at an average rate of $15,000 per home. Details of these eight developments are shown in the chart below.
Respondent | Location | Affordable Units | HOAP Funding ($15,000/unit) | |
1. | Habitat for Humanity Toronto | 697 Danforth Rd. | 4 | $60,000.00 |
2. | 357 Birchmount Rd. | 9 | $135,000.00 | |
3. | 30-52 Acme Cres. | 12 | $180,000.00 | |
4. | Brimley Road between Lawrence Ave. E. & Britwell Ave. | 15 | $225,000.00 | |
5. | Home Ownership Alternatives: The Riverstone | 10 Wilby Cres. | 76 | $1,140,000.00 |
6. | Home Ownership Alternatives: Heintzman Development Co-operative | 1340-1360 Danforth Rd. | 171 | $2,565,000.00 |
7. | Toronto Artscape | 210 Simcoe Ave. | 4 | $60,000.00 |
8. | 155-163 Dundas St. E. | 14 | $210,000.00 | |
Totals: | 305 | $4,575,000.00 | ||
Funding for HOAP comes from the Development Charges Reserve Fund (2009) for Subsidized Housing (XR 2116) and is provided by the collection of Development Charges under the development charge by-law. The uncommitted balance in this reserve is $29,208,819 as of the date of this report.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59475.pdf
AH6.4 - Payment of Pre-development Expenses - Block 31 Railway Lands
- Consideration Type:
- ACTION
- Ward:
- 20 - Trinity-Spadina
Origin
Recommendations
The Director, Affordable Housing Office, recommends that:
1. City Council authorize funding of $1,405,705 from the Capital Revolving Reserve Fund for Affordable Housing (XR 1058) to reimburse Toronto Community Housing for costs incurred by it while acting as the City's agent in the pre-development of Block 31 in the Railway Lands.
Summary
City Council, at its meeting of November 27, 2012, directed the Director, Affordable Housing Office, to report to the Affordable Housing Committee to seek authority to reimburse Toronto Community Housing (TCH) for up to $1.5 million for pre-development costs incurred while acting in the capacity of the City's agent on Block 31 in the Railway Lands, and to identify a funding source.
This report provides information on the pre-development work undertaken by TCH on Block 31 and recommends reimbursement in the amount of $1,405,705 from the Capital Revolving Reserve Fund for Affordable Housing (XR 1058).
Financial Impact
This report recommends the allocation of $1,405,705 from the Capital Revolving Reserve Fund (CRRF) for Affordable Housing XR1058 to Toronto Community Housing as reimbursement for pre-development costs on Block 31 of the Railway Lands. The $1,405,705 is comprised of $737,873 previously committed but unallocated funds from Section 37 contributions for pre-development work on the Railway Lands and $667,832 in uncommitted funds. This would leave an uncommitted balance of $7,784,368 in the CRRF.
The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59443.pdf
AH6.5 - Inventory of New Affordable Housing Opportunities 2015 - 2019
- Consideration Type:
- ACTION
- Wards:
- All
Origin
Recommendations
The Director, Affordable Housing Office recommends that:
1. Recognizing the importance of federal/provincial investments in "unlocking" new affordable rental and ownership housing opportunities, Council request the provincial government to expedite negotiations for a new funding agreement with the federal government under the Investment in Affordable Housing Program and that Toronto be given its fair share of funding.
2. The Director, Affordable Housing Office, continue pursuing innovative partnerships with Toronto Community Housing, Build Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and non-profit and private sector affordable housing organizations to assist in achieving the City's affordable housing targets.
Summary
This report responds to a request from the Affordable Housing Committee at its January 29, 2013 meeting for information on opportunities to create affordable rental and ownership housing over the next five years.
A review has determined that there is a current inventory of proposals to develop 9,198 affordable homes, including 6,024 rental and 3,174 ownership homes.
The review of potential new affordable rental and ownership developments was undertaken within the context of the goal to create 1,000 new rental and 200 new ownership affordable homes annually as set out in the City's Housing Opportunities Toronto: An Affordable Housing Action Plan 2010-2020.
In recognition of the Housing Opportunities Toronto priority to support program-ready affordable housing on publicly-owned sites, staff consulted with Toronto Community Housing, Build Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and Shelter, Support and Housing Administration in the preparation of this report.
In addition, staff reviewed the development status of proposals which had been submitted by private and non-profit sectors for federal/provincial economic stimulus funding in 2009 but as yet had not started construction.
The review also covered the results of a recent Request for Proposals for affordable home ownership funding under the City's Home Ownership Assistance Program (HOAP).
While the review did not canvas private sector or non-profit providers for new proposals, it nonetheless found that there is significant, ready-to-go capacity to develop new affordable rental and ownership homes.
Recognizing the importance of federal/provincial investments in "unlocking" new affordable rental and ownership housing opportunities, the report recommends that Council request the provincial government to expedite negotiations for a new funding agreement with the federal government under the recently renewed Investment in Affordable Housing Program.
This report also requests the Director, Affordable Housing Office, to continue pursuing innovative partnerships with Toronto Community Housing, Build Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and non-profit and private sector affordable housing organizations to assist in achieving the City's affordable housing targets.
Financial Impact
There are no financial implications resulting from this report.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59444.pdf
(June 7, 2013) Revised Appendix A - Affordable Housing Rental and Ownership Opportunities on City-Owned Sites; Appendix B - Affordable Rental Housing Opportunities from the Economic Stimulus Program; and Appendix C - Affordable Ownership Housing Opportunities from the Home Ownership Assistance Stimulus Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59445.pdf
AH6.6 - Putting People First - Update
- Consideration Type:
- Information
- Wards:
- All
Origin
Summary
In October 2012, Council adopted Putting People First, Transforming Toronto Community Housing that contained recommendations on an immediate two-year funding strategy for repairs, a five-year capital financing plan and a strategy to re-engage the federal and provincial governments to fund social housing.
Council requested an update report on recommendations 1, 3 and 8 for consideration by the Affordable Housing Committee and Executive Committee in June 2013. This includes establishing a specialized unit and structure to manage the retained single-family homes, conversion of up to 100 Toronto Community Housing (TCH) homes to home ownership and progress on generating funds over the next two years to address TCH's repair backlog.
The City has convened an Interdivisional Staff Working Group and is working in partnership with TCH on the follow up to the report, including recommendations 1, 3 and 8. In light of ongoing staff work, the update report has been deferred to the Affordable Housing Committee and Executive Committee to September 2013. The City Manager will also report on follow-up on other Working Group recommendations in September.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact resulting from this report.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59480.pdf
AH6.7 - Affordable Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Update from the Housing, Outreach and Transportation Working Groups of the Disability Issues Committee
- Consideration Type:
- ACTION
- Wards:
- All
Origin
Recommendations
City Council on April 3 and 4, 2013, forwarded the following Recommendations 2 and 4 in the report (January 28, 2013) from the Disability Issues Committee Housing Working Group, to the Affordable Housing Committee for consideration and review:
"2. Accessible/Affordable Housing and Shelter: Recommendation: Offer incentives to home owners to provide an apartment to a student or someone with a disability (home sharing program). Especially, people with a diagnosis of mental health issues, homeless youth, vision, hard of hearing people with a developmental disability, autism etc., that is safe, clean, and affordable. Subsidy could be offered to tenet to offset rental/ heat/ hydro costs.
4. Youth-in-Transition (with disabilities): That the City of Toronto fully reviews the means by which to increase housing to youth-in-transition that have housing issues that are disability-specific and specific to transitional-aged youth.
Recommendation: That a task force be arranged to review this issue and its complexities if needed."
Summary
City Council on April 3 and 4, 2013, adopted Executive Committee Item EX29.6, on Affordable Housing for Persons with Disabilities - Update from the Housing, Outreach and Transportation Working Groups of the Disability Issues Committee. City Council has forwarded Recommendations 2 and 4 in the report (January 28, 2013) from the Disability Issues Committee Housing Working Group, to the Affordable Housing Committee for consideration and review.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-57547.pdf
AH6.8 - Riverdale Abbey Affordable Home Ownership Development
- Consideration Type:
- ACTION
- Ward:
- 30 - Toronto-Danforth
Origin
Summary
Councillor Paula Fletcher requesting that the Affordable Housing Committee instruct the Director of the Affordable Housing Office to work with Neighbourhood Concepts and convene a process with other City Divisions in an effort to advance the Riverdale Abbey Affordable Home Ownership Development project at 1117 Gerrard Street East.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ah/bgrd/backgroundfile-59838.pdf