Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Encyclopedia
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC; commonly called TCHC) is a public housing
agency in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada and is the second-largest housing provider in North America. TCHC is the amalgamation of three housing organizations in Toronto following the downloading of housing to municipalities by the provincial government. These were Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company the short-lived new name of Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority (MTHA) the provincial housing agency, and Toronto Housing Company (TCH) which comprised Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company and City Homes the two city housing agencies. MTHA was created by Metropolitan Toronto
in 1954 to deal with housing for the poor and to eliminate the slums in Old Toronto and adjacent suburbs. In 2002 four years after the amalgamation of Toronto
, it merged with other public housing
providers to form the TCHC, which is one of the largest public housing providers in North America
. In October 2008, TCHC was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers
" by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in Maclean's
news magazine. Later that month, TCHC was also named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers
, which was announced by the Toronto Star
newspaper.
On April 8, 2010, TCHC tenants between the ages of 14 to 28 years of age went to the polls to vote in the inaugural youth tenant election at locations across the city. Over a two year term, elected youth tenant representatives will sit on youth councils that will have a say on capital priorities and planning in their communities. They will engage youth and work with staff to make things work better at the community level.
Frequently deemed the most offensive of all the expenses by media figures, social advocates and TCHC residents alike was the purchase of a box of chocolates from luxury department store Holt Renfrew
at a cost of $1000.00.
Additionally, contracts were given to personal associates to do repairs and install equipment, which in some case resulted in inferior work and equipment being provided. Some contracts were awarded multiple times, in one case leading to a personal associate of a TCHC staff member receiving two million dollars when the cost of the work should have been significantly less.
The audit was particularly damaging in light of the neglectful handling of TCHC buildings that have fallen into disrepair.
Toronto mayor Rob Ford
demanded the resignation of the board of TCHC and though initially defiant, as of March 3, 2011, all board members have resigned. Rob Ford
called for the privatization
of Toronto Community Housing Corporation. The feasibility of the privatization of TCHC was greeted with widespread scrutiny and skepticism; many housing and business experts felt that Ford underestimated the complexity of such a transition.
The board has been replaced on a temporary basis by former city councillor Case Ootes. Rob Ford
was quoted at the time as saying that a new board will be in place a month later.
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
agency in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada and is the second-largest housing provider in North America. TCHC is the amalgamation of three housing organizations in Toronto following the downloading of housing to municipalities by the provincial government. These were Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company the short-lived new name of Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority (MTHA) the provincial housing agency, and Toronto Housing Company (TCH) which comprised Metropolitan Toronto Housing Company and City Homes the two city housing agencies. MTHA was created by Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
in 1954 to deal with housing for the poor and to eliminate the slums in Old Toronto and adjacent suburbs. In 2002 four years after the amalgamation of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, it merged with other public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
providers to form the TCHC, which is one of the largest public housing providers in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In October 2008, TCHC was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers
Canada's Top 100 Employers
Canada's Top 100 Employers is an annual competition that recognizes the best places in Canada to work. First held in 1999, the project aims to single out the employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional working conditions and progressive human resources policies. Winners are...
" by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
news magazine. Later that month, TCHC was also named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers
Greater Toronto's Top Employers
Greater Toronto's Top Employers is an annual competition that recognizes the best places to work in the Greater Toronto Area...
, which was announced by the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
newspaper.
On April 8, 2010, TCHC tenants between the ages of 14 to 28 years of age went to the polls to vote in the inaugural youth tenant election at locations across the city. Over a two year term, elected youth tenant representatives will sit on youth councils that will have a say on capital priorities and planning in their communities. They will engage youth and work with staff to make things work better at the community level.
Controversy
On February 25, 2011, an audit conducted by Toronto's auditor general Jeffery Griffiths revealed a list of inappropriate expenses incurred by TCHC as a result of staff abusing the organizations' funds for personal interest. Examples include: A $1850 boat cruise for "staff development"; $1925 for manicures and pedicures; $6000 for a planning session in Muskoka; $53,500 for a 2008 staff party; $40,000 for a staff Christmas party in 2009; $800 to provide massages at a staff picnic.Frequently deemed the most offensive of all the expenses by media figures, social advocates and TCHC residents alike was the purchase of a box of chocolates from luxury department store Holt Renfrew
Holt Renfrew
Holt Renfrew is a chain of high-end Canadian department stores. It is comparable to Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, and to two other upmarket chains owned by the same family, Britain's Selfridges and Ireland's Brown Thomas...
at a cost of $1000.00.
Additionally, contracts were given to personal associates to do repairs and install equipment, which in some case resulted in inferior work and equipment being provided. Some contracts were awarded multiple times, in one case leading to a personal associate of a TCHC staff member receiving two million dollars when the cost of the work should have been significantly less.
The audit was particularly damaging in light of the neglectful handling of TCHC buildings that have fallen into disrepair.
Toronto mayor Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
demanded the resignation of the board of TCHC and though initially defiant, as of March 3, 2011, all board members have resigned. Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
called for the privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of Toronto Community Housing Corporation. The feasibility of the privatization of TCHC was greeted with widespread scrutiny and skepticism; many housing and business experts felt that Ford underestimated the complexity of such a transition.
The board has been replaced on a temporary basis by former city councillor Case Ootes. Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
was quoted at the time as saying that a new board will be in place a month later.