Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto is adding 334 homes with support services on site through the Rapid Housing Initiative funded by the federal government.
The first two locations are 877 Yonge St. and 222 Spadina Ave. Both buildings will be dedicated to women, Indigenous residents, racialized groups, seniors, people with disabilities and people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and will offer a variety of support services to the tenants. Both buildings will provide affordable housing for a minimum of 99 years.
The City purchased a 15-storey former retirement residence at 877 Yonge St. that has been closed since 2019. It will be converted into studio and one-bedroom apartments with their own bathrooms and kitchens, along with amenities such as shared laundry, a communal area and a programming space.
“The housing we are announcing today will create a more well-rounded, full-service support system for vulnerable residents in our city. I also want to thank the Government of Ontario for working with us to invest in supportive housing,” said Mayor John Tory.
At 222 Spadina Ave., a three-floor former hotel will be used as a multi-use building to provide new homes for approximately 84 people with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and amenities such as shared laundry, a communal area and programming space.
Occupancy is anticipated to take place in December 2021. The purchase price for the three floors in the building was $22.3 million, which will be covered by RHI funding.
“To truly tackle the affordable housing crisis in our city, we must take bold steps – like acquiring a private hotel in our downtown core and turning it into affordable housing units with fully-integrated supports,” said Joe Cressy, chair of the board of health in Toronto. “The City of Toronto, in partnership with the Federal Government, is taking action to create supportive housing.”
As previously announced, the RHI is delivering $1 billion in grant funding across Canada to rapidly create new affordable rental housing in response to the urgent housing needs of vulnerable and marginalized individuals.
Toronto has allocated $203.3 million to create approximately 540 new affordable homes.
On April 7, the Province of Ontario confirmed $15.4 million in operating funding for 2021 dedicated to supportive housing in Toronto. With this new funding, the city will be able to fully fund support services for 1,098 homes, which will be ready for occupancy this year including the homes created at 877 Yonge St. and 222 Spadina Ave.