How a Toronto councillor turned a massive repair backlog into a billion-dollar investment
In short: When Toronto faced a $650 million repair crisis in 2011, the solution wasn't just more money. Through strategic working groups and innovative refinancing, Ana Bailão helped navigate the city away from mass housing sales toward a landmark $1.3 billion long-term investment plan.
A massive $650 million maintenance deficit confronted the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) during 2011. To offset these costs, the TCHC Board recommended selling 872 stand-alone houses, including 715 units deemed viable for sale. This proposal met intense public opposition, with former mayors and community groups warning that a large-scale sell-off would devastate the city's social housing waiting list. The TCHC Board had originally suggested that 675 additional units beyond those already approved should be sold to cover the deficit. This controversial plan sparked significant concern from various community organisations and former mayors regarding the future of the city's social housing.
As chair of the Affordable Housing Committee, Ana Bailão led a special working group to find alternatives to these sales. Their 2012 report, 'Putting People First,' focused on creative partnerships and innovative solutions. The group successfully met its goal of raising $120 million for repairs within just six months of council approval. This was achieved, in part, through refinancing 18 mortgages at lower rates via Infrastructure Ontario, which unlocked $93.5 million for high-priority structural repairs. The working group's efforts were supported by management consultant Jim Pimblett and former cabinet minister Alan Redway. This collaborative approach aimed to find ways to address the maintenance deficit without relying solely on public funds.
Bailão's advocacy eventually helped secure a 10-year state of good repair plan, which includes a $1.3 billion investment from the federal government alongside city funding. This represents the first plan of its kind for Canada's largest social housing provider. Beyond repairs, Bailão's tenure included championing the 'Housing Now' program and the 'Open Door' program to streamline affordable development, as well as advocating for a vacant homes tax to increase rental supply. She also supported the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program, which offers $20 million in grants and incentives to Indigenous and non-profit housing providers. Furthermore, her work helped advance the HousingTO 2020-2030 Housing Action Plan to tackle urban challenges.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ana Bailão
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