Housing at Risk. Toronto's Ombudsman, Fiona Crean's damning report on TCHC.

An Investigation into the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's Eviction of Seniors on the Basis of Rent Arrears

Al Gosling was 82 years old when he was evicted from Toronto Community Public Housing in 2009.
Source: The Star.com

This report by City of Toronto Ombudsman, Fiona Crean is filled with instances of mismanagement by TCHC.  Her report lists some 30 recommendations, coming after some of the city's most vulnerable and at risk seniors have been evicted because of administrative errors and other TCHC cock-up's.

Which, as you will see below comes after Judge Patrick LeSage already tabled more than 80 recommendations after the death of Al Gosling.

As Joe Fiorito stated in his Star column;

"You and I are the landlord – we live here, we pay taxes, our taxes provide housing for the vulnerable, and we expect TCHC to do its job.

On our behalf.

TCHC has an evection prevention policy, so that people who are vulnerable are not kicked idly to the curb. It is a good policy when applied; it is apparently lethal when it is not.

After Gosling’s death, a series of public hearings was conducted by Judge Patrick LeSage. He tabled more than 80 recommendations designed to prevent such deaths from happening again. His report is measured, and tempered, and damning.

The upshot? The housing corporation should implement its own damn policies, and housing staff should do their damn jobs.

Wasted effort?

You be the judge"

Executive Committee removes controversial sale of Toronto Community Housing homes from the January 24th agenda.

MEDIA ADVISORY
January 23, 2012

Confusion, uncertainty continue to plague hasty social housing selloff
Tenants dismayed at chaotic process driving potential sale of their homes
...
TORONTO - After the close of business today and less than 24 hours before the meeting commences, the Executive Committee has removed the controversial sale of Toronto Community Housing homes from the January 24th agenda.

Tenants expressed concern at the chaotic process that seems to be directing the proposed sale of over 700 homes. Confusion over how many homes would be sold, which homes are actually available for sale and how affected tenants would be treated have caused anxiety among social housing residents and concern among many Councillors.

This evening’s abrupt decision to cancel the roughly 75 deputations scheduled for tomorrow afternoon have created further concern that there is no real plan and little clarity about the proposed sale, despite its significant impact on tenants.

When: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:00a.m.

Who: Tenants For Social Housing Tenants will be available for

Where: City Hall Press Gallery

For more information please contact:

Effie Vlachoyannacos Susan Gapka

416-706-4405 (cell) 647-882-2776 (cell)



TENANTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

WE ARE NOT FOR $ALE!

socialhousingtenants@gmail.com

www.tenantsforsocialhousing.com

* Tenants for Social Housing a tenant-led, volunteer organization that came together when City Council removed the Toronto Community Housing Board and replaced it with the one man Board of Case Ootes. We are concerned about the massive sell-off of social housing in Toronto.

Some 200 Wellesley St. Residents Returning Home Today

Eight days after a six-alarm fire displaced more than 1,200 people from a 30-storey Toronto community housing building, some residents of 200 Wellesley St. E are going home Saturday. 

Toronto Community Housing has announced the building has been deemed structurally sound and the first group of tenants has been allowed back into the building. 

The exact number of residents moving in is still being calculated, said Sinead Canavan, spokesperson for Toronto Community Housing. The organization is holding a news conference this afternoon and should have the details then, she said. 

Links:

Toronto Community Housing

200 Wellesley St. Fire

60 Richmond

Alex Bozikovic has posted an informative article and very nice pictures of the new Toronto Community Housing building on his blog; nomeancity. The post is also featured on the Spacing Toronto blog. It is expected the building will attain Gold LEED certification, which is great news for the city and the environment. Along with being visually interesting the building features a centre atrium that will eventually be covered with green vines and such, bright hallways with windows and a couple of very nice courtyards. According to Toronto Community Housing 59 of the units are designated Regent Park replacement units. The building features one, two, three and even some four bedroom apartments.