Tory weighs temporary modular housing for homeless

Success in Vancouver could be answer to Toronto’s shelter problem

VANCOUVER— Vancouver’s mayor is floating the idea of making temporary modular housing for homeless people permanent, while Toronto Mayor John Tory is looking to bring the quick and inexpensive housing solution to his city.

“I’ve been talking to (Mayor Kennedy Stewart) about them, I’ve been reading about them and I’m very interested,” Tory told the Star during a one-day visit to Vancouver for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting.

“Some of the people who have been chronically underhoused or homeless … have some very special challenges in front of them, and it seems like this could be the stepping stone into more permanent or acceptable housing for them.”

In response to rising homeless rates, Vancouver built its first temporary modular apartment building near the city’s downtown in 2017. The lowrise apartments are built using the same fast and relatively inexpensive construction method used to set up oil and gas work camps.

The buildings are operated by non-profit housing providers who provide support to the tenants.

Toronto has struggled to find enough shelter space for its homeless population, especially during the winter months.

“We have an acute problem with people who are homeless and are relying on shelters sometimes for months at a time,” Tory said, adding that any modular housing introduced in Toronto would have to include “wraparound supports” to help people who have been on the streets for a long time and have complex health, mental health or addiction needs.

The two cities have similar challenges when it comes to housing affordability, public concern about being shut out of home ownership, evictions and rising homelessness.

Toronto has explored implementing an empty homes tax, Vancouver was the first Canadian city to do so, but Tory said he thinks the tax would be too complicated to administer and enforce.

“We’re looking at options,” Tory said.

Vancouver’s empty homes tax generated around $30 million in revenue for the city the first year it was in place.