Relocation. Community Bulletin. Jane/ Firgrove & Firgrove Crescent. April 2017

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1 Jane/ Firgrove & Firgrove Crescent Community Bulletin Relocation April 2017 In the interest of keeping affected Firgrove tenants fully informed, we have updated the following Question and Answer document. How long will this process take? We hope to have everyone moved out of the buildings that are being closed before next winter. Our plan is for most people to move during the summer. The timelines depend on the City approving our relocation and assistance plan for tenants, known as the TRAIP. What is the TRAIP? TRAIP stands of r Tenant Relocation and Assistance Implementation Plan. It is a document Toronto Community Housing completes and presents to the City of Toronto for approval when we are required to relocate tenants. The TRAIP must be approved by City Council. Who will be relocated? Only tenants who live at the following addresses will be relocated as part of the Firgrove Relocation: 1 Dune Grassway; 2 Dune Grassway; 8 Dune Grassway; 3 Marsh Grassway; 36 March Grassway; 7 Blue Grassway; and 11 Blue Grassway. Altogether, that is 108 households that will need to move.

2 Are there 108 vacant units available now? Yes. We have already set aside enough units for everyone in Firgrove who needs to move. We are finalizing a list of available vacant units, plus some extra units, to offer more choice. Why can t you share the list of vacancies with us now? We can t share the list yet because it is not finalized. We need to check each vacant unit to make sure it is in move-in condition. We will finalize the list and share it with you when the selection process gets underway. Why can t we move into the vacant new units now? We must follow the process for relocation required by the City of Toronto. We still need City Council to approve our TRAIP. Toronto Community Housing wants to give tenants the opportunity to move during the summer months, while children are out of school. As soon as the City approves the TRAIP, we can start working quickly to relocate those households who wish to move sooner, faster. What is the status of the TRAIP approval? We cannot relocate any households until the TRAIP is approved. City Council is scheduled to review the TRAIP on April 26, What happens once the TRAIP is approved by the City? Once the City approves the TRAIP, tenants will receive an official Five-Month Notice to move. The relocation team will meet with each family to discuss moving and packing options and requirements. Why are we meeting (on April 13) prior to the City s approval? Toronto Community Housing wants to give tenants the opportunity to move during the summer months, while children are out of school. By meeting early and starting the draw process in advance, we be able to start the process of notifying tenants and relocating households shortly after we receive the City s approval of the TRAIP.

3 What will happen if the City does not approve? In the unlikely event that the TRAIP is not approved, Toronto Community Housing will pause the relocation process until and work the City to find a solution. Is there a guarantee that funding will be granted to rebuild the townhomes that are going to be closed? At this point Toronto Community Housing does not have any funding or approvals to rebuild. Toronto Community Housing would like to rebuild the units, but we cannot make any guarantees that new units will be built to replace those that are being closed. What can residents do to make the relocation process faster? You can come out to community meetings and let us know about any questions or concerns you have. The process is easier for everyone when there is clear communication, and when you bring your questions about relocation to Toronto Community Housing staff who can give you an answer. Why don t you just sell the entire area? We do not know what the future holds for this site. Whatever may happen to the affected units at Firgrove, Toronto Community Housing wants to do what it can to try to ensure that our tenants continue to have affordable homes in this community over the long term. Will you move us to market rent? No. If you receive a subsidy now and continue to qualify for Rent- Geared-to-Income (RGI) when it is time to relocate, you will not lose your subsidy if you move to another Toronto Community Housing unit as a part of the relocation process. When will we be getting the official letter for relocation? Once the City approves the TRAIP, tenants will receive an official Five-Month Notice to move. We expect to start the relocation process very soon. In the meantime, we have opened a Relocation Office at 17 Cane Grassway, unit 108, where you can ask questions and get information.

4 Where are all the vacant units located? The units set aside for relocation are both in the Jane/Finch community and in locations spread across the city. If we re living in a townhouse, will we be moved into an apartment? Through the Relocation Unit selection process, you will have a choice among the available units that you are eligible for based on the size of your household. Units that larger households are eligible for could be either townhomes or apartments, depending on availability and location. What if I have already applied for a transfer but I m being relocated? Your transfer application should not be affected by the relocation. Will the site be changed into condos? At this point Toronto Community Housing does not have any funding or approvals to rebuild. We do not know what the future holds for this site. It is too soon to say whether condos may be part of any future development at the site. If you don t have the money to repair the buildings, how can you build new buildings in the future? Without funding and approvals secured, we cannot guarantee that a rebuild will happen. However, if we do rebuild, a plan to rebuild RGI units would involve consulting with tenants on the design. If you hadn t done ReSet, would you have found these building issues regardless? Yes, but without ReSet it likely would have taken longer to learn about the state of the buildings, which could have meant you would have had less time to move. If I m currently in a three-bedroom unit, can I be relocated into a four-bedroom unit? During the relocation process, your household will be matched with vacant units that have the right number of bedrooms for the number of people who live with you, in accordance with RGI rules. If your

5 household size has recently changed, let staff know so that we can re-assess your housing needs and work with you to move you into a unit that you are eligible for under the RGI rules. This could result in a family moving to a unit with more bedrooms if a vacant unit of that size is available. Will we have first priority to move back when the site is rebuilt? Even if the TRAIP is approved, this does not mean that Toronto Community Housing will have funding or approvals to revitalize Firgrove. Without the necessary funding and approvals, we cannot say whether any units will be rebuilt or whether tenants will be able to return. The TRAIP says that, if we rebuild the RGI units at Firgrove, and they are built and ready to be occupied within the time frame agreed by the City, then eligible tenants who were relocated will have the right to return to revitalization units. The TRAIP will be available for you to review once it is approved. It will include the conditions for relocating and returning, and the time frame within which a revitalization would have to occur for eligible tenants to have a right to return.

6 Translated copies are available on request. Please call