Toronto's new Mayor Olivia Chow made a lot of promises in the mayoral byelection, which is normal for any candidate. Will she be able to keep these promises? Only time will tell. even though We're mostly interested in what she had to say in regards of Housing as well as Taxes.
Chow pledged to raise Toronto’s vacant home tax from one per cent to three per cent with the money going towards affordable housing initiatives.
Chow has also spoke about building 25,000 homes over then next 8 years on city-owned land. Those homes would be developed by the city as well, with a minimum of 7,500 affordable units and at least 2,500 units to be rent-geared-to-income.
Chow wants to spend $5 million for new 24/7 respite spaces and an addtional $5 million for more street outreach and drop-in programs. She wants to spend an addtional $14.6 million on rent supplements for about 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness to find stable housing.
"The municipal land transfer tax will increase leadership on homes sold for more than $3 million. The money collected from this tax increase will be used to support people experiencing homelessness." - CP24
"Property tax in Toronto will increase by a “modest” amount, Chow has said, although she has not provided an exact number. She has, however, said the increase will not be near 25 per cent as suggested by other candidates. This increase will support city improvements, including reducing wait times on 911 calls." - CP24
According to Homeless Hub, as of 2021 the total number of people experiencing homelessness was 7,347. Of those 2,014 experienced chronic homelessness.
In 2018, there were approximately 8,715 people experiencing homelessness in Toronto. The majority of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto are single adults and Indigenous people are overrepresented in the homeless population in Toronto. Approximately 25% of people experiencing homelessness in Toronto are women. The average length of stay in homelessness is approximately 66 days. The number of people sleeping outside has increased in recent years with the lack of affordable housing being a key factor contributing to homelessness in Toronto. Mental health and addiction issues are common among people experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
The City of Toronto invests millions of dollars annually in homelessness services and programs but it doesn't seem to be enough. Housing First, a program that prioritizes providing stable housing to people experiencing homelessness, has been successful in reducing homelessness in Toronto.
Affordable housing in Toronto, Ontario continues to be a pressing issue for many residents. The demand for affordable housing far outweighs the current supply, leading to long waitlists and high competition for available units. The City of Toronto has implemented various initiatives to try to address the issue, including the creation of new affordable housing units and incentives for developers to include affordable units in new developments. However, many advocates argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the housing crisis, such as income inequality and a lack of government funding for affordable housing.
Affordable housing in Ontario is generally defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household's gross income. However, this definition may vary depending on the specific program or organization providing affordable housing. In addition to cost, affordable housing may also refer to housing that meets certain quality and accessibility standards, and is available to individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. There are various government and non-profit organizations in Ontario that offer affordable housing options, including social housing, affordable rental units, and home ownership programs.