Minutes Confirmed on April 27, 2015

The Affordable Housing Committee:

1.         Elected Councillor Ana Bailão as Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee for a term of office ending December 31, 2016, and until a successor is appointed.

The Affordable Housing Committee:

1.         Endorsed in principle the concept of a federal development bond as an additional tool for financing the construction of affordable rental housing and requested the Mayor and the Chair, Affordable Housing Committee to explore the use of development bonds as part of the City's ongoing affordable housing initiatives.

The Affordable Housing Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council again affirm its position that the Federal government re-invest the savings arising from the expiration of current agreements back into social housing.

2.         Executive Committee authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to form an interdivisional steering committee including, but not limited to: City Planning, Toronto Public Health, Long Term Care Homes and Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Corporate Finance, and Social Development, Finance and Administration, to oversee and advise on the review and update of the City's Housing Opportunities Toronto: Affordable Housing Action Plan 2010 – 2020.

3.         Executive Committee authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to execute the work plan outlined in the Comments section of the report (February 19, 2015) from the Director, Affordable Housing Office and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, including strategic public consultations, and to make recommendations to the Affordable Housing Committee, Executive and City Council in early 2016 to update the Housing Action Plan.

The Affordable Housing Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council exempt from taxation for municipal and school purposes, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, for the non-profit development at the location contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 19, 2015) from the Director, Affordable Housing Office, for 15 years.

2.         City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office, on behalf of the City, to enter into a municipal capital facility agreement with Toronto Community Housing Corporation, on terms and conditions acceptable to the City Solicitor, to secure the ongoing affordability of the units being exempted from taxation.

3.         City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office, on behalf of the City to negotiate and enter into any amendments to or discharges or postponements of the municipal capital facility agreement, the City's security and any other documents or agreements required to enact this tax exemption on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director, Affordable Housing Office, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

4.         City Council cancel or refund any taxes paid from the by-law exempting the property from taxation.

5.         City Council direct that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 19, 2015) from the Director, Affordable Housing Office be made public at the discretion of the City Solicitor as it pertains to the security of the property of the municipality or local board.

6.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

This report recommends that City Council approve a 15-year property tax exemption for a Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) property to be renovated into transitional housing for young women who are victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking, (the "Transitional Home").

Recognizing the need to protect the safety and security of residents, the property's location is contained in the Confidential Attachment.

At its June 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2014 meeting, Council approved financial assistance of up to $0.850 million to Toronto Community Housing Corporation for capital repairs to the property. Renovations are expected to start in early 2015 with occupancy of the eight units in late 2015 or early 2016.

A property tax exemption is consistent with City policy. Toronto Community Housing Corporation will be leasing the property to a charitable service agency at a nominal cost. The agency will manage the property and provide support services to assist young women in recovering from their trauma and to move on to more independent housing. These are particularly vulnerable individuals whose housing and social service needs are not being met in Toronto.

The Affordable Housing Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council exempt from taxation for municipal and school purposes, Wigwamen Incorporated for its non-profit development currently municipally known as 745 Front Street East for 25 years.

2.         City Council exempt from taxation for municipal and school purposes, Fred Victor Centre for its non-profit development currently municipally known as 20 Palace Street for 25 years.

3.         City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office, to enter into the municipal capital facility agreements with Wigwamen Incorporated and Fred Victor Centre to secure the tax exemption, on terms and conditions acceptable to the City Solicitor with Wigwamen Incorporated and Fred Victor.

4.         City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office, on behalf of the City, to negotiate and enter into any amendments to or discharges or postponements of the municipal capital facility agreements, the City's securities therefore as well as any other documents or agreements required to enact this tax exemption on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director, Affordable Housing Office, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

5.         City Council cancel or refund any taxes paid from the by-law exempting the property from taxation.

6.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The Affordable Housing Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the City to enter into an agreement with Habitat for Humanity, Greater Toronto Area, Build Toronto, the developer and any other party deemed necessary, to secure the purchase and financing of the Habitat Units at below market value.

2.         City Council authorize the City to be a party to the agreements of purchase and sale contemplated to be entered into for the Habitat Units as a contingent transferee, in order to ensure the benefit of the Habitat Units is secured for the intended purposes, in the event that Habitat for Humanity, Greater Toronto Area or its assignee is not able to complete the transactions.

3.         City Council authorize the City to assign its interests in the Habitat Units to another not for profit housing provider, chosen by the Director, Affordable Housing Office to give effect to the intended purpose of the Habitat Units as affordable housing, or to an arm's length purchaser at fair market value if no agreement can be made with a suitable not for profit, on terms and conditions determined by him and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor prior to the closing date with the developer, with the intention that there are no financial consequences to the City having been a party to the agreements of purchase and sale for the Habitat Units.

4.         City Council authorize the proceeds of the assignment of an agreement of purchase and sale for a Habitat Unit at fair market value to be paid to the Capital Revolving Reserve Fund for Affordable Housing (XR1058) after payment of all expenses incurred in making the assignment of any of the Habitat Units.

5.         City Council approve up to $625,000.00 in financial assistance from the Development Charges Reserve Fund (2009) for Subsidized Housing (XR2116) for Habitat for Humanity, Greater Toronto Area, in the form of a grant by way of forgivable loan for the Habitat Units under the terms of the City's Home Ownership Assistance Program.

6.         City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office to provide up to $1,250,000.00 from the federal/provincial Investment in Affordable Housing Program Extension – Homeownership Component, in the form of grants by way of forgivable loans, for down payment assistance loans to lower-income purchasers, on the properties known as 10, 11, 25, and 30 Ordnance Street and 45 Strachan Avenue.

7.         City Council authorize the Director, Affordable Housing Office to negotiate and execute, on behalf of the City, the agreement referred to Recommendation 1 above and the agreements with Habitat for Humanity, Greater Toronto Area to secure the funding referred to in Recommendations 5 and 6 above, as well as any documents, agreements, or security required to give effect to the foregoing on terms and conditions determined by the Director, Affordable Housing Office and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

8.         City Council authorize and direct the City Solicitor to execute the agreements of purchase and sale for the Habitat Units, together with any documents or agreement relating to an assignment or a re-sale transaction that may occur as a result of entering into that agreement, and to amend and to waive any terms and conditions on behalf of the City, on such terms as she considers reasonable.

9.         City Council grant authority to the City Solicitor to execute any documents required to register security for the funding referred to in Recommendations 5 and 6 above and to postpone, confirm the status of, and discharge security, as required by normal business practices.

10.       City Council increase the 2015 Approved Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) by $1,250,000.00 gross, $0 net, fully funded from Investment in Affordable Housing Program (IAH), to provide funding for the affordable housing initiatives recommended in the report (February 19, 2015) from the Director, Affordable Housing Office.

The Affordable Housing Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the transfer of $782,963 of Section 37 community benefits obtained in the development of 15,17,17R,19,21,27 Beverley Street (Source Account XR3026-3700510) to the Capital Revolving Fund Reserve Fund (XR1058), as per site specific by-law amendments for the lands known as 15,17,17R,19,21,27 Beverley Street.

2.         City Council increase the 2015 Approved Operating Budget for Shelter Support and Housing Administration by $782,963 gross, $0 net, fully funded from the Capital Revolving Fund Reserve Fund (XR1058) for transfer to Toronto Community Housing for the purpose of increasing the amount of affordable rental housing within the Alexandra Park and Atkinson Co-operative Revitalization.

3.         City Council direct that these funds be forwarded to Toronto Community Housing (TCH) for the purposes of developing up to six new affordable rental homes in Alexandra Park once Toronto Community Housing has entered into a Contribution Agreement with the City governing the purpose of the funds, the financial reporting requirements, and other conditions satisfactory to the City Solicitor in consultation with the Director, Affordable Housing Office.

The Affordable Housing Committee:

1.         Requested that the City Manager report to the next meeting of the Affordable Housing Committee on the number of units of affordable housing for which Build Toronto has (a) completed construction; (b) under construction; and (c) agreements in place to construct. And that this report include Build Toronto's action plan to achieve the targets for building affordable housing as outlined in the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding.