Half of Toronto Community Housing developments will be in “critical” condition in the next five years without additional funding for repairs, according to an internal database provided to the Star.Already, the data shows more than 30 social-housing properties are in serious disrepair. Of 364 developments — which include houses and groupings of low-rise buildings and towers — another 222 developments are ranked in “poor” condition, with dozens edging on critical condition, based on a standard ranking used by the housing corporation.Those critical sites are homes for more than 3,000 individuals and families.The data shows a pervasive problem at a time when the city is grappling with how to keep thousands of units open with a $1.73 billion funding gap.Of the 364 developments, more than 100 were offloaded onto the city by the province more than a decade-and-a-half ago without money needed to cover the repairs. Of the buildings in the critical and poor categories, more than a third were downloaded by the province.At the same time, the city was also saddled with tens of millions of dollars in provincial debt costs for the buildings while the province has yet to contribute any funding for critical repairs.The failing buildings span nearly every part of the city, from Cabbagetown to The Queensway and North Etobicoke to Scarborough East.To keep on track with a 10-year, $2.6 billion plan, Toronto Community Housing needs to do $438 million worth of repairs next year. It is $350 million short.The needs are not superficial, such as broken fridges or paint peeling from the walls — of which there are many.The repairs are required because the structure of some buildings is literally crumbling, leaking roofs have become so bad that residents have been evacuated from the top floors of towers, plumbing has collapsed and boilers are failing.By the end of this year, Toronto Community Housing has said they will have to close 600 units. ...
|
