Report shows Hamilton poised to get $145 million in federal aid for long-awaited social-housing repairs
Hamilton's cash-strapped social-housing agency is poised to get up to $145 million in long-awaited federal funding to repair crumbling apartment towers and thousands of subsidized units.
The funding, a mix of loans and grants, has not yet been formally announced by the federal Liberals.
But the city has received a letter from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. confirming CityHousing Hamilton is eligible for $87.4 million in low-interest loans and $58.3 million in forgivable loans" - basically conditional grants - over eight years. Councillors will discuss a report on the requirement to guarantee" the loans at a meeting next week.
Hopefully that's the final step to get the big announcement we've all been waiting for," said Coun. Chad Collins, board president for a housing provider that needs $400 million in repairs over two decades.
Every year that passes, our properties fall further into disrepair. This would allow us to finally start playing catch-up," Collins said of the proposed federal aid. I've been critical of the government in the past over the delay, but if this comes through, I have to commend them for keeping their promise."
The Liberal government announced the National Housing Strategy in 2017 and gave a $1.3 billion boost to Toronto's housing agency in 2019. Hamilton expected a similar announcement that year, but it never happened.
The city's agency is under pressure to build more housing amid a growing affordable rental crisis - but documents reviewed by The Spectator show the housing provider can't afford to maintain its existing 6,000-plus subsidized units.
Building condition assessments show nearly half of the agency's tallest subsidized housing towers were considered in poor" condition in 2019, for example.
At that time, about $55 million in repairs was recommended on about a dozen apartment towers within five years. Typically, the agency budgets less than $9 million for capital repairs on all of its buildings citywide each year.
Surprise problems often eat into the budget, too - like a power surge at the 40-year-old Vanier Towers that busted boilers, burst pipes and left Candi Pollington trapped in an elevator for hours.
Pollington said this week ongoing repairs are starting to make a difference" at the infamous downtown towers. Two elevators and a boiler have been replaced, meaning hot water is again reliable and Pollington has not been trapped in the dark" on a lift since 2019.
On the downside, the former building super sometimes despairs at dirty, unhygienic conditions" in hallways and communal spaces - especially during the pandemic. She is also waiting to see if the agency will repair an alarming bulge" in her wall and disintegrating" window screens.
But just work done to date at her 95 Hess St. tower has cost the agency several million dollars - and there are urgent needs across the city.
Other big-ticket needs in the near future include $5 million for ongoing asbestos removal in east-end apartments, an estimated $2.3 million in electrical work at a Park Street South tower and nearly $4 million in leaky foundations repairs at a Kenora Street multi-residential block.
It's not yet clear exactly which projects will be eligible for the new federal funding. But repairs are supposed to address either health and safety, improved energy efficiency or accessibility - and CityHousing is expected to co-invest" $48 million over eight years, meaning total spending should approach $200 million.
Without a formal announcement, there is no timeline yet for the money to flow. But Collins expressed hope the city can finalize any requirements on its end before the next federal election."
Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com