It was a triumphant change of fortune: after years of obstructions and holdups, Toronto city hall announced in August that it would break ground on the first development of its marquee affordable housing program — with two more “shovel ready” sites to begin construction by year’s end.
Officials were jubilant. “Building more affordable housing is critical to creating a city that’s accessible and inclusive to everyone,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wrote in a press release, lauding the program — Housing Now — as a “great example” of partnership between the public, private and non-profit sectors.