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So empowered, NewHome would set about building all kinds of the affordable housing this city needs — “better buildings and more of them,” per the report. With the province’s approval, these new developments would feature a 70/30 split of subsidized and market-rate tenants (it’s currently 90/10). The 30 would, in essence, pay for the 70, and everyone would live happily ever after.

So far, so good. This basic business model works for other agencies — all of them a fraction of TCH’s size, mind you. The report suggests reviewing TCH’s operations in search of buildings that could be better owned or managed by other housing agencies, and tenants who could be better served by those agencies or by truly portable subsidies, redeemable (in theory) with any landlord. And the report argues tenants would be much better served if employees with decision-making authority actually showed up in their buildings instead of holing up at headquarters.

The report will be before executive committee today. Tory says he expects the city manager to report on its findings by spring. And if Toronto is to continue mandating a behemoth landlord to house a significant chunk of this city’s population, then it’s full of good ideas — even if some are alarmingly basic.

I have serious qualms about that behemoth, both philosophical and practical: Eggleton spoke of the need for a “customer-service culture,” but until subsidized tenants have the right to vote with their feet, that will be very difficult to instil. Nothing in this report helps eliminate that disgraceful $2.6-billion repair backlog, and many of the task force recommendations rely on provincial and federal largesse both immediately and in perpetuity. Tory insists he’s confident “help is on the way,” especially from the feds, but sunny ways won’t last forever.

All the more reason, perhaps, to ensure Toronto’s social housing agency is far more sustainable than it is today. Given its track record, it will be some feat turning it into anything like (Tory’s words) an “excellent landlord” — but then, many tenants would no doubt be thrilled with half-decent.

National Post

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