Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

Impact on Toronto:

The affordable options available to Toronto’s low-income renters are narrowing. And the lack of affordability and availability threatens to put more Toronto families on the street.

Why it matters:

Housing is a basic human right. However, if our housing costs over 30% of our total income, too many of us don’t have enough for food, clothing, education, recreation or other basic needs.

• Toronto ranks 190th in the world and 29th in Canada for housing affordability.
• By 2006, there are 7 low-income families for every moderate-rent unit in Toronto. In the mid 1990’s, the ratio was 2:1.
• 53% of recent immigrants renting in Toronto were spending more than 30% of their income on housing in 2006.
• Usage of emergency shelters rose almost 30% in Toronto in 2008.