Community-Based Tenant Initiative Fund (CBTIF) _ CHTC portal_final.pdfAbove is the grant application submitted by OVCO and CP Planning.
To see what it all means and what we are doing, check-out the Work Plan document below
OVCO is partnered with CP Planning to deliver the Eglinton-Oakwood Tenant Solidarity Program (TSP), based on a grant obtained from the Community Housing Transformation Centre. The successful grant application is to the left. The hope of the grant is:
Increase tenant capacity to positively impact housing decisions and responsibilities, thereby increasing access to affordable, quality housing*.
The Tenant Solidarity Program has two main goals:
Affordable Housing: Giving tenants a stronger voice in local housing decisions.
Tenant Organizing: Supporting new tenants' associations in the community.
*the term "Housing" is used in the broadest meaning of "where we live/shelter' and means apartments, houses, shelters, condos or any other word describing where we live and take shelter.
Affordable Housing Working Group (AHWG) Launched: June 21/21
This meeting is a major step forward to replicating what has led to great success in Bloordale, Parkdale, and Kensington Market. There, residents have secured millions of dollars to protect and produce affordable housing. By joining together, we can accomplish this here! Here is the AHWG launch presentation shared by Cheryll Case, It describes the goals for the AHWG as well as results from the Spring 2021 survey of OV community members on housing with a key result being the focus for the AHWG: We will develop strategies to achieve policies, programs, and investments that:
protect existing tenants from being displaced during major neighbourhood redevelopments, and
increase the supply and availability of housing affordable to Oakwood Vaughan residents!
Together we aim to reach our goal of an inclusive and affordable Oakwood Vaughan. Your engagement in the Working Group is fundamental for our success. We are looking for members who live and/or work in the OV area now or previously lived and/or worked in OV - familiarity with the neighbourhood is key!
City of Toronto staff joined the June 21/21 launch to describe their ongoing affordable housing efforts and how the community can participate to encourage policies for an affordable and vibrant Oakwood Vaughan. Here are the questions submitted to City staff following the meeting - thank you for asking!
We received responses from City staff on Aug 13/21. What is your reaction to their responses?
Speaking of inclusion, there is only one building that's smoke free. Why is that? Speaking for those dealing with disabilities how will new housing reflect disability inclusion? There are buildings with poor ventilation , how would this import better quality in their housing? A/ Sipo Maphangoh: This is more of an Ontario Building Code question. New development must meet current OBC regulations when it comes to ventilation. Older buildings unfortunately must rely on owners retrofitting those mechanicals. The City does have Accessibility Design Guidelines which are currently being updated. Unfortunately I do not have a time frame for when that process will be complete.
I’m wondering if a timeline has been discussed on developing the Planning Framework studies? (inclusionary zoning, MTSA, EHON, Little Jamaica) Will there be a larger orientation for residents to take part in, i.e., Mount Dennis planning framework study has public meetings + smaller advisory group? A/ Christine Ono: Anyone looking for more information on Inclusionary Zoning can visit our website at toronto.ca/inclusionaryzoning or contact me directly at Christine.Ono@toronto.ca or 416-392-1255 A/ Sipo Maphangoh: Given that planning frameworks are generally an implementation tool, final recommendations are something that will occur once all other work on the "Cultural District" is finalized. That said, some of the planning analysis for Little Jamaica will be done concurrently as public engagement commences. Given that Economic Development is leading this project, our timelines are dependent on their work. Those timelines are being finalized and will be public in the early fall. Public Engagement will commence in the fall with both larger meetings and smaller stakeholder or advisory tables.
Is inclusionary zoning being proposed on Eglinton adjacent Oakwood and Dufferin stations? A/ Christine Ono: Based on the draft policy, inclusionary zoning is not currently proposed around the Oakwood and Fairbank (Eglinton/Dufferin) stations. We undertook an analysis of 5 year trends in housing market data and a financial viability analysis to determine areas across the city with strong enough market conditions to support an affordable housing requirement and continued development viability. More information on the analysis that was used to determine where inclusionary zoning would apply can be found here (see pages 44-46 in particular): https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/9730-CityPlanning-IZ-Assessment-Report-Need-and-Demand-2020-update.pdf. We plan to update this analysis in 3 years, so it’s possible that inclusionary zoning would be implemented around Oakwood and Fairbank stations in the future.
In addition to the property at the Allen, have any properties in Oakwood-Vaughan been explored as part of Housing Now or for modular supportive housing? Even just explored in a preliminary sense? A/ Jacob Larsen: The City is examining all its available land assets for consideration for the Housing Now and Modular Housing Initiatives. In the case of Modular Housing, over 50 sites to date have been investigated.
Is the City looking at ways that existing zoning by-laws could be adjusted to support more housing types, "garden suites wont fit in OV" A/ Yes, we are looking at zoning and policy changes through the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON), initiative that intends to support the construction of more missing middle housing (multi-unit housing, garden suites / laneway suites, low-rise apartments, etc) across the City. Please see the EHON webpage for more information. The Garden Suites work is one of several EHON initiatives underway. We’ll be undertaking consultation on expanding policy and zoning permission for multi-unit houses, increasing development permissions on major streets, and making it easier to establish local retail spaces within Neighbourhoods over the fall of 2021. More information on the scope of Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods can be found in this report.
Is the City developing a right to remain policy? A/ Christine Ono: This City is not currently developing a right to remain policy. However, we have an existing rental replacement policy that applies when 6 or more rental housing units are proposed to be demolished for redevelopment. Under this policy, existing renters have the right to return to a replacement rental unit in the new development at similar rent to what they currently pay. Once they move back, any rent increases are limited to the provincial rent increase Guideline. These renters do have to move out of their rental unit while the new building is under construction, but are compensated for moving costs and provided additional compensation to help find interim housing. City Council adopted a similar right to return policy for dwelling rooms, which is currently under appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Does the City have a list of affordable housing that exists now so we could have a baseline to work from in OV, can this be shared? A/Jacob Larsen: The City maintains a list of existing social housing at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/housing-support/rent-geared-to-income-subsidy/subsidized-housing-listings/#location=&lat=&lng=. Note that while social housing is a subset of affordable housing, a list showing all affordable housing sites is not available.
How is the committee of adjustment being included in efforts to maintain affordable housing? A/ Jacob Larsen: Because this relates to the protection of existing affordable rental, Christine can likely best explain how the City's rental replacement policies apply to applications before the CoA.
Can the presentations shared tonight be shared with those who attended the meeting tonight? May they be posted on the City website? A/ Christine Ono: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZFSEC7elJ-We2AUYfQBPI8iIUVINEJRh/view?usp=sharing A/ Graig Uens: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ySHckVngXXjk37PW1tuEOANdv5qUHNfk/view?usp=sharing
Grant Outcomes Measurement Goals- Final draft 18 Jan 2021.pdf High-level Work Plan: This is the 2021-2022 Grant Outcomes, Objectives, Activities, Measurements and Timelines document that OVCO and CP Planning developed.
