Toronto opens second supportive housing building

The City of Toronto’s second modular supportive housing building has opened on Thursday.

The housing is located at 321 Dovercourt Road and is a part of Phase I of the City’s Modular Housing Initiative. Along with the recently-opened 11 Macey Ave., the two housing properties provide a total of 100 new affordable, supportive homes.

According to the City, the 44 new homes will house individuals experiencing homelessness and aid the 2020-21 winter service plan to “ensure safe places for people experiencing homelessness during the winter.”

“Modular Housing has proven to be a quick and efficient way for our city to increase the supply of affordable housing in our city. These sites provide vulnerable residents in our city with a safe, stable, and welcoming place to call home and access to vital supports and services. Building affordable housing in Toronto has been a top priority for me as Mayor, but I know this cannot be done on our own,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement.

City of Toronto

“I want to thank the federal government for providing funding for this project and the Province of Ontario for responding to our request so that we could get these homes built as quickly as possible. Seeing our Modular Housing projects come to fruition is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together.”

The City says that modular housing is “high-quality, pre-fabricated housing” that is transported to the site for assembly.

The new unit has 44 studio apartments, is three-storeys high and includes a common room, a dining room, program space, administrative offices, and a commercial kitchen that can provide on-site meals for residents.

City of Toronto

Each home is approximately 300 square feet and comes with a built-in kitchen, microwave and fridge. They are also furnished with a twin bed, a lounge chair, a dining table and chairs, and a dresser — 25% of the modular homes are accessible.

City of Toronto

The City’s Modular Housing Initiative will see 250 new homes built in two phases, with the first 100 homes done in Phase I.

City of Toronto

In Phase II, the City will deliver an additional 150 supportive homes in 2021, costing $47.5 million, of which $18.75 million is from the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund in grants and recoverable loans.