Toronto Mayor Rob Fords will ask that a plan to sell nearly 700 properties owned by Toronto Community Housing Corporation to be delayed.
Ford says he will recommend the executive committee delay the sale of 675 housing units for one month to give TCHC time to lay out a plan to fund critical repairs to city-owned housing.
Last year, the city decided to sell the scattered properties in order to raise some $222 million earmarked to be used repairing other TCHC properties. TCHC estimates that there is $650 million worth of repairs required on their various properties.
"It's unacceptable to me that we would leave people to live this way. We have to find a way to make the most critical repairs as soon as possible," Ford said in a news release.
"I'm very happy with the creative solutions coming out of the new TCHC board. They're doing excellent work. For the first time ever, the board is grappling with the real problems faced by residents and is finding ways to generate the funds needed for repairs."
The decision to sell the 675 units is conditional on TCHC submitting a plan that would explain how the income would be used to repair other properties, how the housing units would be replaced and how current occupants would be accommodated.
Ford says he still supports selling the units but that it is important to have a plan in place before they move forward.
"I need to ask the board and TCHC to work a little faster," Ford said. "I'd like them to accelerate their plans to address the repair problem and care for affected residents so council can consider them at the same time it reviews the sale of units. That will give councillors the full picture. And, it will help us get repairs started faster."
