Toronto announces 10-year housing plan

Since I learned of Alberta’s recently announced 10-year plan to end homelessness, my interest is now piqued whenever I see reference to similar housing initiatives in other regions.

Yesterday, the City of Toronto announced a proposal for a 10-year affordable housing plan. The plan includes a new Toronto Housing Charter, which affirms the right of city residents to a “safe, secure, affordable and well-maintained home.” The plan intends to combine existing affordable housing services and initiatives, and calls for new investments in affordable housing.

However, the plan has also been criticized for containing inadequate measures and targets on affordable housing. Michael Shapcott of the Wellesley Institute writes:

“A Charter is great, but people can’t live in a Charter. A complete housing plan needs an implementation strategy that includes targets and timelines, funding, legislation, programs and services to meet the range of housing needs in Toronto. And the plan needs a public evaluation and accountability process to measure progress and fine-tune the key elements over time.”

The plan will seek approval at the Toronto City Council in July, so there is time for further recommendations to be heard and included. Toronto is Canada’s largest city, and has some of the highest costs of housing in the country, making affordable housing a particularly critical issue.

I am looking forward to learning more about Calgary’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness when I attend the Canadian Social Forum next week. Stay tuned for a blog on that topic!