Item 6 Update on Putting People May 29, 2014 Building and Investment First Recommendations Committee

To: Building and Investment Committee Report: BIC:2014-32 From: Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Date: May 1, 2014 Page 1 of 3 Strategic Quality Homes: Plan Priority:  Improve Building Conditions  Maximize Land Value and Expand Housing Options for current and Future Residents  Maintain the Condition and Quality of New and Repaired Buildings Service Excellence:  Increase Revenues  Demonstrate Value for Money and Public Accountability

PURPOSE:

To provide the Committee with an update on the implementation of the Putting People First recommendations.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

It is recommended that the Committee receive the report for information.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

The City Manager’s one-year status update report, “Putting People First: Moving Forward” was adopted at Council on November 13, along with the “Ten-Year Capital Financing Plan for TCH.” “Putting People First: Moving Forward” reported on work to date to re-engage the federal and provincial governments in funding for capital repairs; leverage land assets through revitalization and redevelopment; explore investment opportunities such as Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs); improve management of TCHC single family homes; and continue the sale of stand-alone properties and investigate diversification strategies.

Update on Putting People First Recommendations Report: BIC:2014-32 Page 2 of 3

Advocating for Provincial and Federal Capital Repairs Funding

Our primary focus for addressing the Council decisions on the “Putting People First: Moving Forward” report remains lobbying the provincial and federal governments to support the Ten-Year Capital Financing Plan through the Close the Housing Gap campaign.

The campaign’s Queen’s Park Lobby Day was on March 19. Together with the City’s Affordable Housing Office and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Community Housing representatives—including Board Chair Bud Purves, Councillor Ana Bailão, senior executives, and several residents—delivered the message to provincial politicians that funding from governments is critical to addressing our repair backlog.

The campaign was acknowledged during Question Period by officials across party lines, including Premier Kathleen Wynne, then Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Linda Jeffrey, Cindy Forster (NDP-Welland), Jim McDonell (PC- Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry), and Mitzie Hunter (Liberal-Scarborough-Guildwood). Meetings between campaign partners and the following MPPs took place throughout the day:  Hon. David Zimmer (Liberal-Willowdale),  Cheri DiNovo (NDP- Parkdale-High Park),  Rosario Marchese (NDP-Trinity-Spadina),  Michael Prue (NDP-Beaches-),  Cindy Forster (NDP-Welland),  Jim McDonell (PC- Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry),  Douglas Holyday (PC-Etobicoke Lakeshore),  Laura Albanese (Liberal-York South-Weston), and  (NDP-Toronto-Danforth).

The meetings offered an opportunity to deliver the campaign message to MPPs and hear what their priorities were related to affordable housing issues. To close the day, some 34 MPPs and cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Charles Sousa and then Housing Minister Linda Jeffrey, heard about the campaign first hand during a well-attended reception.

Meanwhile, 140 bus shelters across Toronto are displaying Close the Housing Gap posters between March 24 and April 20 to broaden the campaign's reach and engage the general public.

The City has been working on soliciting endorsements from over 100 organizations in additional to those who gave their formal support last year. The campaign will be also featured at several important housing events and conferences over the next few months and planning has begun for federal government lobbying activities co-ordinated with the annual ONPHA conference in November in Ottawa.

Update on Putting People First Recommendations Report: BIC:2014-32 Page 3 of 3

Leveraging Land Assets through Revitalization Updates on revitalization projects have been included in the Letter to the Shareholder accompanying the 2013 Annual Report, approved by the Board at its April 25 meeting (TCHC:2014-09).

Exploring Investment Opportunities Putting People First identified the experience of other Canadian jurisdictions generating revenue for capital improvements through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other innovative investment opportunities. The report recommended that the City Manager and TCH investigate the full range of public-private partnerships, including REITs, as well as the transfer of market units to existing institutional real estate investors.

An update on this, including findings from an Ernst & Young Housing Partnership Market Sounding, was presented in the “Putting People First: Moving Forward” report.

Improving Management of Single Family Homes Updates on the organizational review and creation of unit for single family homes are also included in the Letter to the Shareholder accompanying the 2013 Annual Report, approved by the Board at its April 25 meeting (TCHC:2014-09).

Sale of Stand-Alone Properties and Diversification Strategy Sales and relocation updates for stand-alone properties are presented regularly to the Building and Investment Committee, the latest of which was report BIC:2014-17.

TCH has begun to explore selling up to 100 homes to residents under a home ownership initiative through preliminary talks with the City’s Affordable Housing Office and Habitat for Humanity Toronto. This work is in the process of being transferred to the Development Division.

IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS:

Staff will continue to work closely with the City on Close the Housing Gap campaign efforts and other recommendations as set forth in the “Putting People First” report.

“Greg Spearn”

Greg Spearn Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

Staff Contact: Hugh Lawson ...... 416-981-4216 Director, Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Relations [email protected]