Questions are being raised over a move by the head of the Toronto Community Housing Corp. to reward residents of a west-end complex with housing upgrades after they co-operated with police in a criminal investigation.

TCHC CEO Gene Jones announced earlier this week $150,000 in repairs for Swansea Mews, a housing complex located at Windermere Ave. and The Queensway.

According to TCH, several residents came forward to police with tips that led to three arrests after a 26-year-old man was gunned down Aug. 5 at the complex in broad daylight.

Jones defended his decision Thursday.

“We’re trying to reward a community, not one individual, not two individuals, a community who came together, who stood by their guns and tried to help and solve this crime,” Jones said Thursday.

But some TCHC tenants are saying it’s sending the wrong message.

“The way I see it, if you have repairs they have to be done anyway, not because you want to give tips to the cops,” said tenant Lori Campbell.

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong also disagrees with the approach, saying TCHC repair work should be allocated based on need and priority.

“It shouldn’t be based on whether you call the police and complain about something,” he said.

Security consultant David Hyde, who specializes in community housing safety, is concerned the move could make for disproportional spending in a system already facing a $750-million repair backlog.

“I’d hate to see that’s a system whereby those who speak the loudest, or come forward the most to authorities, might get more in the way of repairs,” he told CTV Toronto.

However, Jones said the money set aside for Swansea Mews is a separate fund than the state-of-good-repair money that is to be spent on other properties.

The funds for Swansea Mews will go toward a new fence and lights as well as security cameras.

But others have also raised questions about whether the incentive will lead to false tips from tenants desperate for repairs, including those who either don’t have information to provide, or those who fear retribution.

For his part, Jones stressed any repairs in exchange for tips will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and that the arrangement for Swansea Mews could be a one-off.

“One size doesn’t fit all, we’ll take every community one by one.”

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Natalie Johnson