Disparate communities top housing repair list

More than 25% of all homes in Flemingdon Park, Georgina Island need repairs

The two communities are less than 100 kilometres away from each other, but worlds apart based on density, diversity and design.

Flemingdon Park is the site of multiple large-to-mid-size rental towers, public housing and townhomes.

Georgina Island is the Greater Toronto Area’s only Indigenous reserve, mostly populated by people in single-family homes and somewhat remote, only accessible by boat.

What they do share is the distinction of being the top two communities in the GTA with housing stock in need of major repairs, according to 2016 census data.

Georgina Island has just 115 households but, of that total, 30 homes or 26.1 per cent of all housing on the island are in need of major repairs. The average household size was recorded at 2 people and almost a third of reported properties were singleperson dwellings.

Chief Donna Big Canoe said housing needs on the island are complicated by a combination of funding, infrastructure and costs.

A lot of the housing that was built years ago wasn’t up to code, said Big Canoe, who noted the top issues are mould and structural problems, including foundations. “We are trying to address it, but there is such a backlog that it takes time.”

They are also waiting to start work on upgrading their water-treatment plant — the island is under a boilwater advisory — and that needs to be done before new homes can be built, she said.

Because everything comes in by boat, any work is complicated by the extra time and costs related to transporting people and building supplies.

“We are surrounded by water, so we really need to make sure when we do housing it has to be done right,” said Big Canoe.

A boat ride and about an hour drive southwest is Flemingdon Park, a diverse and densely packed community, primarily in the Eglinton Ave. E. and Don Mills Rd. area.

Within that neighbourhood, a piece of land near St. Dennis Dr. and the Don Valley Pkwy. has been identified as second on the list of areas where housing is in most need of major repairs. The area contains a mix of housing, including private rental towers, lowrise buildings and public housing, including Toronto Community Housing townhomes.

Of1,345 households, 345 or 25.7 per cent are identified as being in need of major repair. The average household was recorded at three people and almost half of the total properties were deemed “unsuitable” or overcrowded, in census terms.

Rev. Beverley Williams, executive director of Flemingdon Park Ministry, said the bulk of residents live in low-income and rental housing, filled largely with refugees, immigrants and the working poor.

“One of the huge issues here is people are underhoused,” said Williams, explaining families of four, five or six often occupy one-bedroom apartments.

Despite the density, isolation is a common problem because of language barriers and poverty, she said.

“It is our number-one to get people out of their housing into the community,” said Williams.

Also counted among the top five areas with housing in need of major repairs were two areas in Scarborough and a southern portion of the Thorncliffe Park area.

In Scarborough, in the Lawrence Ave. E. and Scarborough Golf Club Rd. area, of 1,715 identified households 22.7 per cent were in need of major repairs. In the Brimley Rd. and Eglinton Ave. E. area, of 1,015 identified households 20.2 per cent needed repairs.

In Thorncliffe Park, south of Thorncliffe Park. Rd. and north of the Don River, of 1,505 households 21.9 per cent were in need of major repairs.