Deputation Sale of 22 Houses:Update

August 17, 2011 Good Morning New Board members of the T.C.H.C:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak, My Name is Miguel Avila, a proud Latino Canadian and a T.C.H. C tenant, I am here because people like me and thousands are very concern of the future of the housing stock currently being rumored to be up for sale by recommendation of the departing interim C.E.O Mr. Ootes to the new board. In June 2011 Mr Ootes recommended to the incoming board sell off up to 900 houses in order to deal with its crushing repair backlog. However nowhere in the report you are giving us a hint if you will follow on such recommendation but to decide the fate of the 22 remaining units out for sale. Which 2 are already in the market for sell, 10 are in the hope the MMHA give them consent for sale which I seriously doubt it may happened thanks to the work of people who care about our social housing we told the province to amended the Strong Communities Through Affordable Housing Act namely Bill 140. And the remainder units are pending resolution of planning consent and heritage considerations. But that is not all, Our Mayor Ford and Council have more surprises to us, City Council hired consultants from KMPG to identify money saving reductions, one of such recommendations suggest the PRIVATIZATION of the entire T.C.H.C , Housing is a municipal responsibility you cannot play with the idea of selling it off , from my part because that will put your tenants , senior, disable, children out on the street.

Here are some of the recommendations I had and several other concern Torontonians have expressed to the citys core review and the executive committee last July 28 2011: Upload TCHC back to the province where it rightfully belongs, if not Transfer Money from the T.P.S budget to the T.C.H.C The Mayor could ask his Ally PM Harper to gave him some more Revenue Our Mayor needs to be more creative and speak with the right persons to advise him.

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Time after time , the further sale of our homes is being considered as the way to deal with the citys budget crisis and I would like to comment on the final note of the report prepared by the interim C.E.O attached to the agenda when he states the following The intention to sell houses has polarized opinion at City Council and amongst taxpayers. Managing the relationships and communicating the need for investment clearly will help reduce the risk In conclusion, It appears that the C.E.O had not realized that we tenants are also following the events at City Hall. I will ask Mr Len Koroneos today, Where is the guarantee that proceeds from the sale of our homes will go to the repairs and not be slashed from the Citys social housing budget? ( mute) I thought so you can not put it writing and to you new Board members with the exception of our two tenant elected members , hear the message , We did not create this financial mess, and We are not for Sale period.

Thanks for your time to listen, I will be monitoring the progress of this report in the months ahead. Yours Truly, Miguel Avila Tenant T.C.H.C Ward 1
CC: Elvira VIGO, Community Standards