Toronto opens affordable, supportive rental housing in Scarborough

Toronto opens affordable, supportive rental housing in Scarborough

Ribbon cutting at Birchmount Green with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, other officials and partners. (Photo provided by City of Toronto Media Relations)

By Miranda Avila Granda

LJI Reporter

The Philippine Reporter

TORONTO – The City of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced Dec. 12  the opening of new mixed affordable and supportive rental homes in Scarborough in a development called Birchmount Green.

“I’m proud to be in Scarborough today to celebrate with the new residents of Birchmount Green as we officially open the building. This is the kind of supportive community we want to build here in Scarborough and beyond. Birchmount Green is an example of what is possible when government, non-profit housing and service providers work together to build affordable homes. I am grateful to the incredible partners we have had the privilege of working with throughout this process who share our commitment to making housing affordable and I look forward to seeing more such integrated communities grow across the City,” says Mayor Chow.

Mayor Chow was joined by Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre; Councillor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre); Tim Neeb, President, Birchmount Green, Inc. and community partner leaders in announcing the good news.

“This is the kind of rental housing we need nowadays,” affordable and with services for tenants, says Scarborough resident Daniela Silva (not her real name), a single mom of three children who has long been looking for an affordable safe place to call home for her family.

The housing development consists of 220 new mixed affordable and supportive rental homes at Birchmount Green, a development by Birchmount Green, Inc., located at 1236 Birchmount Road.  These are specifically designed for low-and-moderate-income households, says Mahogany Management, which manages the development.

These are homes purposely built to provide affordable and supportive housing suites for families who need them, built with funding from the City of Toronto and assistance from the federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

What is the selection process for these homes?

“Tenants at Birchmount Green are selected through a combination of not-for-profit referral partners, which match tenants to 98 of the homes that provide a range of supports. Of these, 88 units are rent-geared-to-income with rents not exceeding 30 per cent of a household’s income.10 are average market rent (AMR) which is defined annually by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation,” says the City of Toronto’s press announcement.

Contacted to elaborate on the selection process, which is usually the question asked by interested parties, the City of Toronto’s media relations office explained.

“In line with current City of Toronto processes, to match prospective tenants with affordable homes, Mahogany Management launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) period, which lasted approximately two months and closed March 31, 2023. During this phase, interested prospective tenants could submit an EOI. When this period closed, the list of names was randomized, and eligible households were then invited by Mahogany Management to apply in order of the randomized list.

“Successful applicants from the top of the randomized list have now received offers of housing. Eligible households that expressed interest but were not selected will comprise the waitlist for homes upon turnover.  The expression of interest application is currently closed.

“Alongside the random selection process, five not-for-profit referral partners are matching tenants to 98 units. These partners are: Bellwoods Community Service, Community Living Toronto, which supports people with intellectual disabilities and their families, Fred Victor Centre, which operates shelters, affordable, transitional housing for individuals and families, LOFT Community Services, which provides support and hope to people facing complex mental and physical health challenges, addictions, dementia, and/or homelessness, The Redwood, which offers safety, healing and opportunities for growth for women and their children fleeing abuse, WoodGreen Community Housing, which delivers integrated programs – physical, mental health and disability services, affordable housing and pathways to employment – including for single mothers and their children.”