Ontario Construction News staff writer
A new 57-unit supportive housing site will be developed using modular construction on Glamorgan Avenue in Toronto.
The building will be managed by a non-profit housing provider that brings professional building management experience and expertise coordinating customized supports tailored to meet the unique needs of each resident, Mayor John Tory said at the announcement last week.
Supports could include connection to health care; life skills training and support; food and income supports and health and wellness services.
“Modular Housing has proven to be useful in helping us create affordable housing quickly for those who are vulnerable in our city,” Tory said. “By partnering with the other levels of government we can ensure that we are moving quickly, and able to provide those living in these homes with the support services they need.
“It is clear that there is a need for affordable housing in Toronto and that need has been further exacerbated by the pandemic.”
It is estimated that there are about 7,800 Torontonians currently experiencing homelessness. To respond to this urgent need, the city is proposing modular construction as an innovative and cost-effective way to build good quality housing while providing a rapid, dignified response to homelessness.
Virtual community engagement sessions will be held May 25 and June 17. Details on how to participate in this process are available on the project website .
The homes at 7 Glamorgan Ave. are part of the city’s Modular Housing Initiative (MHI), Phase II, approved on April 30, 2020. One hundred homes were completed in the first phase, and two of the Phase II sites (175 Cummer and at Trenton & Cedarvale Aves.) will be completed by the end of this year.
The City, through its Development Charges Reserve Fund for Subsidized Housing is contributing approximately $11.12 million to the capital costs for Glamorgan, while the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, is contributing approximately $4.27 million in grants and recoverable loans.
Ontario will provide $15.4 million in operating funding for 2021 dedicated to supportive housing in Toronto.
“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That’s why our government is investing in innovative, outside-the-box approaches to housing that will help build more accessible, energy efficient, and affordable homes across the country,” said Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of families, children and social development.