Municipal Delivery of Seniors Housing: MUNICIPAL HOUSING CORPORATIONS September 22, 2015

Public housing in Ontario Municipal Housing Corporations Housing Development Corporations Growth Plan implementation grant Next steps Agenda

Public Housing in Ontario from the early 1960’s to the late 1970’s, public housing was developed predominantly by the Ontario Housing Corporation these developments were often 100% subsidized “transitional housing” by the late 1970’s, the federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, pursued a new “integrated” social housing model including a mix of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds children growing up in such a mixed community would benefit from the broader social context; which would lead to a greater tolerance of social diversity and inspiring creative ambition in their lives.

CMHC programs began in the early 1980’s that provided capital funding to build non-profit and co-operative housing projects additional funds were provided for the life of the mortgage so that a portion of tenants could pay rent based on their income subsidy payments covered the difference between what these geared- to-income tenants paid and the actual market value of their unit these federally-secured mortgages are coming to an end, which will eliminate many subsidy programs Public Housing in Ontario

Municipal Housing Corporations taking advantage of the CMHC programs of the 1980’s, Municipal Housing Corporations (MHC) emerged across the province MHCs are an arms-length agency responsible for the acquisition, development and management of rental properties as a “free-from-profit” model, rents are kept to the lower end of the housing market to cover costs and provide for future capital work an incorporated entity, MHCs are overseen by a board of directors typically composed of municipal councillors and members from the community at large MHCs can receive grants from the municipality and other levels of government/NGOs, generate its own revenue, and incur debt

Municipal Housing Corporations housing programs flourished in the 1980’s which led to the construction of thousands of MHC-led residential units provincial and federal programs supported capital and operating costs construction of new social housing projects came to an abrupt halt in 1993 when the federal government slashed its Affordable Housing Program another funding change occurred in the late 1990’s that saw regions and other upper tiers throughout Ontario assume responsibility for funding the ongoing costs of social housing today, occasional federal and provincial funding programs are available – typically limited in term and tied to economic stimulus efforts MHCs are far more reliant on municipalities for capital efforts

Barrie Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation is a non-profit housing provider in the City of Barrie the portfolio has a total of 953 apartments and town houses located at 14 different locations across the city approximately 60% of the rental units are for people who qualify for a rent geared to income subsidy through. This is applied for through the Social Housing Department at the County of Simcoe the other 40% of the rental units are available for rent at market value the County also oversees the Simcoe County Housing Corporation Municipal Housing Corporations

City of London has launched a Housing Development Corporation (HDC) intended to deliver affordable housing and economic spinoffs associated with the construction activity HDC builds but does not manage properties this appears to be an emerging model for local public housing efforts, but staff need to investigate further Housing Development Corporation

the Places to Grow Implementation Fund supports projects that promote and help achieve the policies or goals of the Province’s growth plans the fund awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to support a limited number of innovative projects In , priority will be given to research initiatives and projects that build awareness and understanding of growth planning in Ontario with a focus on enhancing implementation of growth planning policies, i.e. building complete and resilient communities, integrating cost-effective infrastructure, and curbing urban sprawl Places to Grow Implementation Fund

Community Planning team is submitting an application for a PTGIM grant to carry out a research and public education and consultation project that will explore the feasibility of a municipally-established housing development corporation in order to improve the inventory and quality of affordable housing and seniors' housing options in the Town the effort will include researching examples and best practices in other jurisdictions, evaluating constraints/opportunities and costs/benefits for such a project in the town, as well as hosting a roundtable forum to engage the public, community leaders, stakeholders, and potential collaborators deadline is September 25; results will be known shortly thereafter Places to Grow Implementation Fund

The following resolution is recommended: 1.That the CAO’s presentation entitled “Municipal Delivery of Seniors Housing: Municipal Housing Corporations” dated September 22, 2015 be received: and, 2.That the Seniors Housing Committee supports the town’s application to pursue a Places to Grow Implementation Fund grant for the purposes of exploring the feasibility of a municipally-established housing development corporation in order to improve the inventory and quality of affordable housing and seniors' housing options in the town. Next Steps