City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation (CityHome)
Organization profile published 1982
http://www.torontohousing.ca/
Year Published: 1982
Resource Type: Organization
Cx Number: CX2644
Abstract:
The CITY OF TORONTO NON-PROFIT HOUSING CORPORATION (CITYHOME) and the Housing Department of the City of Toronto are large-scale land assemblers, diversified developers, and mangers of rental accommodation in the City of Toronto. The Housing Department, directly responsible to City Council, acquires and assembles property and carries each project through the planning design, and zoning process. CITYHOME, accountable to a Board of Directors consist of the Mayor and six Members of Council, is responsible for construction and operations.
CITYHOME was established in 1974 to provide affordable rental accommodation for low and moderate families and for the traditional inner-city "roomer". The housing stock for these two groups of urban renters was being drastically reduced by demolitions to make way for highrises (often luxury towers) and office complexes, and by "white-painters" moving into the city centre. Since 1974, CITYHOME has developed over 30 projects, a dozen of which are located in the downtown area. The projects include restored Victorian rowhouses and newly built or renovated low and medium-rise apartment buildings. All are designed to fit into existing neighbourhoods.
The operation of building large public housing development solely for low income families was rejected as "a disservice both to the people being 'helped' and to the community at large." CITYHOME opted instead for mixed income projects. At least one-quarter of the units in each CITYHOME project are available to families, seniors, and individuals requiring rent-geared-to-income housing. These tenants are charged approximately 25 per cent of gross montly income. To be eligible for these units, applicants must be 60 years of age or older, have at least one dependent and/or be disabled. One year residency in Ontario is also required. (As of November 1982, the waiting period for subsidized units is 11/2 - 3 years, with over 3,000 people on the waiting list.) The remaining 75 per cent of CITYHOME units are rented at the lower end of the market value.
This organization has changed its name to Toronto Community Housing.
This abstract was published in the Connexions Digest in 1982.
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