Toronto Mayor John Tory, in announcing the 2023 budget, has pledged close to $2 billion in gross spending to address the city’s housing crisis.
The budget allots $616 million in direct support from the city’s tax base for housing initiatives, apart from spending on the COVID-19 pandemic. The housing initiatives are based on the 2023 Housing Action Plan, introduced by the mayor and passed by the city council last December.
“This is needed funding to help our most vulnerable residents and to help people find a pathway out of homelessness,” Tory said at a Jan. 5 press conference.
Some major investments include nearly $300 million for the city’s subsidy to the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, and an additional $10.8 million for combating the impacts of COVID-19….