Mitzie Hunter takes aim at largely-hidden poverty persisting in high-rise buildings in need of repair

Speeding up basic repairs in neglected buildings as well as improved parks and playgrounds to mean better quality of life in “tower communities”.

Speeding up basic repairs in neglected buildings as well as improved parks and playgrounds to mean better quality of life in “tower communities”

Toronto – Mitzie Hunter, mayoral candidate, is taking aim at largely-hidden poverty that persists in high rise buildings that have fallen into disrepair by accelerating repairs in neglected “tower communities”.

Under Hunter’s plan, the existing “Taking Action on Tower Renewal” (TATR) Program will get a $35-million boost in annual funding. This program offers grants and affordable loans to repair these older buildings. This new funding will allow eligibility to be broadened to cover more basic repairs to apartment units and building repairs including “quality of life” items like better elevators, improved community spaces and on-site parks and playgrounds.Finally, the maximum allowable amount for a building project will also be doubled to $10 million. 

“In Toronto, poverty is often vertical, making it almost invisible,” says Hunter. “As CEO of CivicAction, I championed the need to focus on and improve our tower communities. As mayor, I will take action.” 

The measures are included in Hunter’s fully-costed plan to Fix the Six for a Toronto that works for everyone. While others refuse to be clear on their property tax proposals,Hunter has put forward her 3 & 6 plan detailed in her platform released on Thursday.

Under this plan, the 40% of homeowners with household income under $80,000 will have a below inflation increase equal to 3% - $108 per year for the average Toronto homeowner.

More than 50% of all senior homeowners will be able to eliminate or defer their property tax increase so they have no out-of-pocket increase. 

And higher income homeowners who can afford to pay a little more will be asked to pay 6% which is $216 per year for the average Toronto homeowner. This is only slightly more than the 5.5% increase in 2023.

It’s a new, different, affordable and progressive way to adjust property tax increases fairly.

Twenty-five per cent of all rental households are in tower communities which are the 1,715 purpose-built rental buildings dating from the second half of the last century.  

Recent Provincial Conservative Candidate Mark Saunders liked to allude to these buildings at the recent debates, but he has no plan for these homes or the people who live in them.

Candidates like current and recent Councillors Bradford and Bailao have nothing to say to the almost 27,000 households that live in these privately owned rental buildings who live in homes that need urgent major repairs.

Councillor Matlow has said he will “expand Tower Renewal Programs” but his words are not matched by any plan or any new money.

Olivia Chow has money to offer some renters. Her plans only apply if a building is sold to a not-for-profit. MitzieHunter is a proud supporter of the non-profit sector but no program to improve people’s homes should be based on who owns the building where you live.

Olivia Chow offers nothing for the 180,000 households in tower communities.

Only Mitzie Hunter has a real plan with a real budget to meet the real needs of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens.

These buildings offer some of the only affordable privately supplied housing in Toronto with tenants paying on average 14 per cent less for their monthly rent than renters in the primary rental market.

More than half of these towers are in low-income areas especially in the north-western and north-eastern corners of Etobicoke and Scarborough. More than half of residents are racialized or Indigenous peoples.​

The City’s “Taking Action on Tower Renewal” (TATR) Program provides grants and financing to complete energy efficiency retrofits that can also improve tenant comfort. .But many types of repairs do not qualify as attested by the persistence of the required repair backlog.

“As mayor, I will accelerate repairs by broadening the criteria to make improvements and increasing the amount that can be received so that we can improve homes and the quality of life in our tower communities,” Hunter said. 

“I want to lead Toronto’s revival. I have a comprehensive, fully-costed plan to do exactly that. A plan that does not depend upon the wishful thinking that other levels of government will provide a Toronto-only bail out. That has never happened before. And it isn’t going to happen now. We need to get going ourselves, and we can.”

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Contact:

Charmain Emerson charmain@culturedcommunications.ca

Notes for remarks by Mitzie Hunter announcing her plan to repair buildings in “tower communities”, May 26 2023:

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

• More affordable housing, more quickly. 

• Unlocking public lands for affordable housing. 

• Below-market price housing for renters and buyers.

• More affordable TTC with seniors and Wheel Trans users to ride free.

• Reversing the TTC fare increase and service cuts.

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

• More pot holes filled, better snow clearance… 

• Better park maintenance… so water fountains and washrooms actually work.

• Today I am announcing my plan to improve life in our “tower communities.

• Almost 500,000 Toronto households – more than 42 per centof all households in the city -- are in mid- to high-rise buildings. 

• More than 180,000 –  37 per cent of all renter households -- are in so-called tower communities. 

• These tower communities exist in more than 1,700 purpose-built rental buildings from the second half of the last century.

• These buildings offer some of the only affordable privately supplied housing in Toronto.

• Tenants are living there because they paying on average 14 per cent less for their monthly rent than renters in the primary rental market. 

• More than half of these towers are in low-income areas… especially in the north-western and north-eastern corners of Etobicoke and Scarborough.

• More than half of residents are racialized or Indigenous peoples.

• Based on tenant self-reporting, more than 26,700 of these apartment units require major repairs.     

• What this means is poverty is often vertical, and because it is vertical and hidden from most people, it is almost invisible.

• When I was the CEO of CivicAction, I championed the need to focus on and improve our tower communities.

• As mayor, I will take action. 

• I am taking aim at largely-hidden poverty that persists in high-rise buildings that have fallen into disrepair in our often neglected “tower communities.

• Under my plan, the Toronto’s existing “Taking Action on Tower Renewal” (TATR) Program will get a $35-million boost in annual funding.

• At the same time, I will broaden eligibility to cover more basic repairs to units including “quality of life” items.

• Things like better elevators, improved community spaces and on-site parks and playgrounds.

• These measures are included in my fully-costed plan to Fix the Six… for a Toronto that works for everyone. 

• The City’s existing “Taking Action on Tower Renewal” (TATR) Program provides grants and financing to complete energy efficiency retrofits that can also improve tenant comfort. 

• But many types of repairs simply do not qualify… The evidence is the persistence of the repair backlog.

• As mayor, I will accelerate repairs and broaden the criteria to make improvements so that we can improve homes and the quality of life in our tower communities. 

• This means the maximum amount for each project will be increased from a maximum of $5 million to $10 million.

• It also means the building owners will be able to use the program for basic repairs to apartments… as well as common spaces like hallways and lobby areas, 

• Advancing energy efficiency and reducing our Green House Gas emissions will remain the focus… but other  worthwhile and needed repairs will also now be eligible.

• I want to lead Toronto’s revival. I have a comprehensive, fully-costed plan to do exactly that.

• I want to Fix the Six.

• Join me. 

END