Championing Renters: Mitzie Hunter's bold vision for affordable housing

Hunter fights for renters, and is the only candidate with a plan for thousands of city-owned purpose-built below-market rate rental apartments, new protections for existing renters, saving at-risk rental buildings, better compliance enforcement, a new Tenant Advocate. Other candidates offer units too few in number, too expensive, too small for families. 

Toronto – Mitzie Hunter is the only mayoral candidate who is fighting for renters with a far-reaching plan that means more city-owned affordable rental housing than any other proposal, at lower prices, and large enough for families, while providing greater protections for existing tenants, saving at risk-rental buildings and providing the most comprehensive level of tenant protections ever seen in Toronto.

Other candidates talk the talk about renters, but will never walk the walk because a close examination of their proposals exposes them for offering too few units that are too expensive and too small for families.

“We are deep into a housing crisis but you would never know it looking at the proposals of other candidates,” says Hunter. “What they don’t get is that renters are the foundation of the affordable housing picture.

“That’s why we need to unlock public lands to build more affordable rental housing. We also need to marshal the full resources of the City to level the playing field between renters and landlords to protect tenant rights and save at risk-rental buildings.”

Olivia Chow is talking about putting up buildings in which 70 per cent of the units will charge full market rent. Most people renting one of her three-bedroom units will be paying $3,000 based on current asking rents. Meanwhile, Josh Matlow is talking about buildings that will have 55 per cent of their units at market rate rent levels and most of his three-bedroom units will also be in the range of $3,000 per month.

In contrast, the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Hunter’s proposed Toronto Affordable Housing Corporation (TAHC) will be $2,159 a month.

Because we know 70 per cent of Olivia Chow’s units will charge full market rent, we know most people renting one of her two-bedroom units will be paying $2,700 based on current asking rents. For Josh Matlow, 55 per cent will be market rent units so most of his two-bedroom units will also be in the range of $2,700 per month.

In contrast, under Hunter’s plan, the average rent for two-bedroom apartment in her proposed Toronto Affordable Housing Corporation (TAHC) will be $1,900monthly.

Because we know 70 per cent of Olivia Chow’s units will charge full market rent, we know most people renting one of her one-bedroom units will be paying $2,400 based on current asking rents. For Josh Matlow, 55 per cent will be market rent units so most of his one-bedroom units will also be in the range of $2,400 per month.

Under Hunter’s plan, the average rents for the TAHC Studio and one-bedroom apartments will be $1,535 monthly.

“For renters the choice is clear on price alone,” says Hunter.

The majority of Hunter’s proposed rental units are the most family-friendly of any candidate with more than 55 per cent of all units being two and three bedrooms. The proposals of other mayoral candidates have no more than 40 per cent.

“We need to do things differently and that means treating the 50 per cent of our city’s residents who live in rental homes with more respect and more dignity,” says Hunter.

“A home should be a place of safety, security, promise and possibility. As your Mayor, I will fight for renters.”

At the centre of Hunter’s plan are a new Toronto Affordable Housing Corporation (TAHC) and a Tenant Advocate and Rental Housing Integrity Unit to protect tenants.

Over its first six years, the new TAHC will:

• Build 108 new developmentson City owned land. These developments will be between 10 and 20 storeys and be suitable for small and medium sized lots in every part of the city. Other candidates’ proposals rely on massive buildings of 40 storeys or more.
• Deliver nearly 22,700 unitsproviding housing for approximately 53,650 people with 16,556 of these units to be purpose-built rental units.
• Ensure that, unlike every other candidate’s proposal, the majority of these – 68 per cent -- will be affordable units with rents at or below the Average Market Rent (AMR) reported by the CMHC.
• Ensure that there will be 11,236 affordable rental apartments. This is the most of any candidate.

o   5,660 units will be offered at AMR

o   3,468 units will be offered at 80 per cent of AMR

o   2,108 units will be set at 40 per cent of AMR

o   34 per cent of all rental units will be below AMR which is the highest share of any candidate.

• Ensure all rentals on City-owned land will be subject to annual rent control limitsand advocate to the Province to bring rent control back to all units.
• Ensure the lowest average rents of any candidates:

o   The average rent for a TAHC three-bedroom apartment will be $2,159 monthly.

o   The average rents for a TAHC two-bedroom apartment will be $1,900 monthly.

o   The average rents for the TAHC Studio and one-bedroom apartments will be $1,535 monthly.

• Hunter’s TAHC buildings will also be the most family-friendly of any candidate’s proposal.  More than 55 per cent of all units are two and three bedrooms. Other proposals have no more than 40 per cent.
• Under Hunter’s TAHC plan there will be communities with on-site retail stores, space for community services like libraries and childcare and parks and green space.

• Hunter’s plan is also laser-focused on protecting current tenants. 

o   Many older owners of established rental buildings consider selling as they consider retirement. Others look to selling when the costs of maintenance or repair become more than they are prepared to manage. 

o   To protect these building and keep them as rental units, the plan will provide, for the next two years, a $50-million annual increase for the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program drawn from the Land Acquisition Reserve. 

o   These funds will be used to support the purchase, renovation and operation of rental properties by non-profit housing providers, co-ops and land trusts and ensure 20 per cent of projects are dedicated to Indigenous housing organizations. 

• Protect tenants facing eviction by Increasing eviction prevention services by expanding the Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC) Programwhich supports vulnerable rental households to maintain their homes by adding six new staff outreach positions and also triple the Rent Bank to 15 million per year.

• Ensure that City Hall and its resources are on the side of tenants:

o   Create a Tenant Advocate role in the Legal Services division to help tenants fight illegal rent increases and fraudulent evictions.

o   This unit will have an annual budget of $5 million and it will be supported by 25 new Municipal Licensing & Standards inspectors in a new Rental Housing Integrity Unit with an annual budget of $4.5 million.

• Ensure the health and safety of rental units – both in condos and purpose built rental buildings  --  will be protected: 

o   Hire 15 more building inspectors to increase building code monitoring and fines for property standard violations in condos and apartment buildings, including elevator and appliance repair, temperature control and pests.

o   Funding for this will come from the Building Code Act Service Improvement Reserve.

In developing her plan, Hunter drew on her experience as CAO of Toronto Community Housing prior to being MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood and a senior cabinet minister.

The other leading candidates who have released housing plans all continue the failed status quo approach. Their buildings are all too big for most neighbourhoods. The majority of units they create are market rentals or unaffordable condos. The majority of units are one bedroom and not fit for families and none offers anything to people looking to buy an affordable home.

In contrast, Hunter’s plan builds more affordable housing units for renters and buyers alike and more than any other plan in family-friendly buildings that can fit into every part of the city.

Hunter’s Tenant Protection Plan levels the playing field giving tenants a dedicated champion at City Hall.

Hunter’s housing plan is the most detailed, practical and comprehensive plan issued by any mayoral candidate.

“Renters are a big part of a city that works for everyone,” says Hunter. “That means we must grow the supply of affordable housing for both renters and buyers. Let's grab control of the levers as a city and get it done. My plan does this.”

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Contact:

Charmain Emerson

charmain@culturedcommunications.ca

Remarks by Mitzie Hunter announcing additional details of her Affordable Housing and Rental Protection plan, June 17, 2023:

• Since the beginning of this campaign, I have systematically laid out my priorities.

• Investing more in city services… so the city works better. 

• More potholes filled… better snow clearance…

• Seniors ride free on the TTC… and reversing service cuts and fare increases. 

• But everywhere I go people tell me that housing opportunities, both rental and ownership, are simply too far out of reach. 

• That’s why I have a plan to build more affordable housing, more quickly, that any other candidate. 

• For renters and buyers alike.

• Mark, Brad or Ana offer status quo approaches to housing that have not worked. 

• Josh and Olivia’s proposals are public options but require magical thinking for them to work... 

• Olivia relies on federal funding her proposal is not entitled to receive. 

• Josh depends on Council doing a 180-degree turn and get behind his plan to cancel the Gardiner East rebuild. 

• Today I am talking about my plan for renters. 

• My plan will create more city-owned affordable rental housing than any other candidate. 

• I will provide greater protections for existing tenants… 

• I will save at-risk rental buildings… 

• I will provide the most comprehensive level of tenant protections ever seen in Toronto.

• We are in a housing crisis.

• That’s why we need to unlock public lands to build more affordable rental housing. 

• We need to level the playing field between renters and landlords… 

• We need to protect tenant rights and save at risk rental buildings. 

• We need to do things differently. 

• Half of people living in Toronto are renters. 

• We need to treat them with more respect and more dignity. 

• My plan is laser-focused on protecting current tenants.

• We need to protect current rental buildings. I will provide for the next two years a $50 million annual increase for the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program, drawn from the City’s Land Acquisition Reserve.

• These funds will be used to support the purchase, renovation and operation of rental properties by non-profit housing providers, co-ops and land trusts. 

• I will protect tenants facing eviction. 

• I will increase eviction prevention services by expanding the Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC) Program.

• I will also triple the Rent Bank to 15 million per year.

• I will create a Tenant Advocate to help tenants fight illegal rent increases and fraudulent evictions. 

• I will take action to ensure state of good repair in existing rental units.

• A home should be a place of safety, security, promise and possibility.

• As your Mayor I will fight for renters.

• The centrepiece of my affordable housing plan is a new Toronto Affordable Housing Corporation.

• Over its first six years, this corporation will build 108 new developments on City-owned land.

• I will deliver close to 23,000 units providing housing for more than 53,000 people. 

• Almost 17,000 of these units will be purpose-built rental units.

• Close to 70 per cent will be affordable units. 

• In total there will be close to 12,000 affordable rental apartments. 

• This is the most of any candidate.

• The minority of all units will be market rental units. These 5,320 units will be subject to annual rent control limits.

• I will also ensure all rentals on City land are subject to annual rent control limitsand advocate to the Province to bring rent control back to all units.

• The TAHC proposal is the most detailed model so far released by any candidate. And it has the lowest average rents. 

• The average rent for a TAHC three-bedroom apartment will be $2,159 monthly. 

• No other mayoral candidate can match this. 

• My buildings will be the most family-friendly of any candidate’s proposal. 

• More than 55 per cent of all units are two and three bedrooms.

• They will be communities with on-site retail stores, space for community services like libraries and childcare and parks and green space. 

• In developing my Affordable Housing plan, I drew on my experience as CAO of Toronto Community Housing prior to being MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood and a senior cabinet minister. 

• The other leading candidates who have released housing plans all continue the failed status quo approach. 

• Their buildings are all too big for most neighbourhoods.

• The majority of units they create are market rentals or unaffordable condos. 

• The majority of units are one bedroom and not fit for families.

• No other candidate offers anything to people looking to buy an affordable home.

• My plan builds more affordable housing units for renters and buyers alike. 

• My Tenant Protection Plan levels the playing field giving tenants a dedicated champion at City Hall. 

• My plan represents a complete change in how to get it done… 

• So we, the people of Toronto, can control the delivery of affordable homes for real results.  

• We have to do things differently, same old same old isn't working everyone knows that. 

• Let's choose to do better. 

• Toronto is at a turning point, we can’t let it become a breaking point… I want to turn Toronto around for the better.

• Mark Saunders, Brad Bradford, Ana Bailao…

• They are offering a failed status-quo, developer-first approach.

• They will deliver for developers… but not for you.

• Olivia Chow is depending upon a federal program for which it is not eligible to pay for her promises. 

• Josh Matlow depends on cancelling the rebuild of the Gardiner Expressway… 

• That would be a Fast-and-Furious style 180-degree turn.

• Josh Matlow is no Vin Diesel… 

• And Council is not going to reverse itself just because Josh says so.

• I am on the side of renters. 

• I want to Fix the Six. 

• So that people can afford to live in the city they love…

• And new Torontonians can afford to join us! 

• That's what we can build together.

• And I have the ambition 

• The experience…

• The energy…

• And the plan… to do it!

• Let's get going!

• Join me.

END