Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is a public housing agency in Toronto, Ontario. It is the largest social housing provider in Canada with over 58,000 units across 2,100 buildings and approximately 105,000 residents. It is the second-largest housing provider in North America, behind the New York City Housing Authority.
TCHC is a municipal corporation of the City of Toronto, representing a $10 billion public asset. It operates as a non-profit with most of its operating funding coming from the residents' rental payments and subsidies from the City of Toronto. The remainder of funding comes from renting commercial spaces, parking, laundry, cable, and income from other investments.
The City of Toronto is the sole shareholder of TCHC and appoints a board of directors to manage and monitor the TCHC performance. The Board includes two city councillors, a mayor or mayoral representative, three tenant directors and seven citizen members.
TCHC is a 2022 Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winner. TCHC was also named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp Canada’s Inc in 2009 and 2011.
History
In 1998, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, which included six constituent municipalities of East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York, and the original city of Toronto, were amalgamated to create the City of Toronto under one government.
TCHC was created by the City of Toronto on January 1, 2002 with the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Corporation (MTHC) and the Toronto Housing Company. The MTHC was formerly the Metro Toronto Housing Authority, which managed provincial public housing units in the city. Toronto Housing Company was a product of a 1999 merger between the Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company Ltd. and the City of Toronto Non-Profit Housing Corporation (also known as Cityhome). Cityhome was established in 1974 to provide affordable rental accommodation for low-income families.
TCHC took charge of administering all public housing units within Toronto as the newly amalgamated city created an official plan around revitalizing priority neighbourhoods.
Since 2006, TCHC has been engaged in an extensive period of community revitalization work across their portfolio. Projects have been launched in a number of communities, including:
42 Hubbard Blvd
250 Davenport
Alexandra Park
Allenbury Gardens
Don Summerville
Firgrove-Grassways
Lawrence Heights
Leslie Nymark
Railway Lands
Regent Park
Rivertowne
The West Don Lands
A significant project is the revitalization of Regent Park. Demolition work began in February 2006 and was followed by the completion of the neighbourhood’s first building in 2008. The five-phase project was developed by two companies. The Daniels Corporation was responsible for completing Phases 1, 2 and 3, while the remaining Phases 4 and 5 are to be completed by Tridel. As of 2022, work continues on Phases 4 and 5.
In 2019, TCHC launched its 10-year $2.6 billion capital repair plan to revitalize the majority of its buildings, most of which are over 50 years old. This plan was funded through the federal government’s National Housing Co-Investment fund, which contributed $1.3 billion in partnership with the City of Toronto. It was the largest federal housing investment with a municipal partner in Canadian history.
Tenancy
Rent
TCHC offers three types of rent: rent-geared-to-income, affordable rent, and market rent.
Rent-geared-to-income is for subsidized housing. It is 30 per cent of gross monthly household income before deductions, plus utilities and other service changes.
Accessibility
TCHC’s Accessibility Program gives tenants with disabilities an opportunity to work with staff and other residents to make accessibility improvements to their units and common areas. The program supports Toronto Community Housing's Human Rights, Harassment and Fair Access Policy, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the City of Toronto ’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.
TCHC’s Accessible Customer Service policy follows the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA):
Customer service will be provided in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities Customers with disabilities will fully benefit from the same services, in the same place, and in the same or similar way, as all other customers, unless an alternate measure is necessary. Customers with disabilities will be provided the same opportunity to access services as all other customers
Rights and responsibilities
As landlords, the TCHC has a responsibility to: