By Geena Lee

“Affordable housing is an essential component of a healthy city,” says Mitzie Hunter, Chief Administrative Officer of Toronto Community Housing (TCH). Founded in 2002, TCH represents the amalgamation of two separate housing companies, making it the largest social housing provider in Canada.

Managing $6-billion worth of real estate, TCH has 58,000 housing units across the city of Toronto, with about 164,000 low to moderate income tenants. “Our mandate is to provide affordable housing for those who need access to it,” says Hunter.

Hunter’s role as CAO is to oversee the strategic and business support functions of TCH. She is guided by a community management plan that involves “strengthening people, strengthening places, and ensuring a firm foundation in the organization through good business practices.”

One of these practices is a focus on the revitalization of some of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods, where the housing stock is of poor quality. “Rather than continuing to invest our limited capital dollars into those houses, we’ve looked at transforming the neighbourhoods,” she says.

One clear transformation is in the neighbourhood of Regent Park, already past the first five years of a 15-year plan to convert it into a thriving community. In partnership with a local condominium developer, TCH has torn down and rebuilt housing for seniors and families, reintegrating the area into the larger neighbourhood.

“Now, when you go by Regent Park at the corner of Parliament and Dundas streets, you won’t notice the difference between social housing and privately owned buildings,” Hunter explains. “It’s not separated. It’s now a regular community.” Revitalization plans with similar aims are also underway for Lawrence Heights.

Building a neighbourhood that includes both subsidized and market-rate units creates a mixed income community that attracts new amenities such as schools, parks and improved transit. It also increases the potential for local businesses, which translates into jobs for residents, in turn creating further opportunities for affordable home ownership. Hunter elaborates:“Housing is one of the social determinants of health. When people have stable housing, they can focus on other aspects of their life, whether it’s pursuing education or employment or social cohesion.”

With the high cost of living in Toronto, housing is at a premium, and more than 71,000 families are currently on TCH’s waiting list. Although some new units have been built, there are not enough to meet the overwhelming demand. “We would need to have some capital through various programs at the provincial and federal level in order fulfill demand, and those programs currently do not exist,” Hunter says. This means making the best of the property the TCH does have, and continuing to link residents with services within their communities that will aid them in pursuing social mobility and economic stability. TCH remains focused on its vision to “contribute to a city where quality affordable housing is available in vibrant neighbourhoods, where residents are proud of where they live, and feel connected to each other and their community.”

Befriend Sway on Facebook

Sway with us on Twitter