Deputation to Executive Committee Special Meeting EXEC 17.

Deferred from February 13, 2012 - 2012.EX16.3 and Deferred from January 24, 2012 2012.EX15.1

February 17, 2012 Dear Members of the Executive Committee:

My name is Miguel Avila, A Taxpayer, a proud Latino Canadian a visible minority and a disabled person with both Physical and Mental illness- I am not strange to City Hall and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation Board meetings I have spoken several times on different issues that concern me as a Torontonian. Last Tuesday evening I listened with great interest on Goldhawk Live a local T.V show an interesting conversation of the future of the Stand Alone Homes. On the panel were Councilor John Parker, Habitat for Humanity and T4SH. Viewers participated with their comments and ideas, curiously enough Mr. Parker a Councilor and member of the T.C.H.C Board said in the air to my astonishment and surprise, that the Board has listened to tenants and the board is welcome to ideas, If that statement is true, I don t know what are we doing here?. The fact is the Board unanimously (Except our brave Tenants Board Members) approved the Sale of the Homes last year. Without taking under advise any of our ideas and suggestions. The time has come for the City to recognize that Tenants have been concerned right from the beginning after the dissolution of the Board with ideas and suggestions We tenants we were hit like a tsunami after the new board suggested the sale of the housing stock, and Hit by a lightning rod after they approved the Sale of the Stand Alone Homes portfolio. Furthermore, We tenants feel we have contributed with practical solutions to some dire problems such as funds to meet the State of Good Repair, Save Our Structures, (S.O.S) a tenant volunteer lead group was successful to secure funding in 2006 to help alleviate the S.O.G R. at T.C.H.C , however the fund run out dry very quickly.

Another great idea circulating is a proposal to create a T.C.H.C Task Force; I personally feel this is a great opportunity to engage the community , concern citizens, professionals, politicians, to sit at the table and be active participants, I strongly advise this committee to allow the creation of such taskforce with tenants on board. The ideas and solutions brought forward by the Task Force would be better handle at the Affordable Housing Committee in my opinion. The Habitat for Humanity has some merits of success but is limited to some of the tenants who may qualify to own their current homes, nevertheless it is a plan worth of further discussion.

Reading the document in front of you I am curious to learn that you have finally acknowledged without the approval by the Minister of Housing and/or C.M.H.C the plan to sale 675 stand alone homes would never fly.. Since last year we have explained the T.C.H.C Board that is just pure speculation and fear mongering to propose the sale of the units without proper approval but they never listened to us.

F: approval from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and/or Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation if necessary. I could continue on and on, there are people here who had been ready to speak to this committee , their lives were disrupted, because the matter was deferred, Please deal with this matter Today, keep in mind, its not just about bricks and mortar is about human lives who are at stake, about Children , about Seniors, People with Disabilities, etc. Please be kind and act with compassion. Whatever decision you arrived today, would also affect your political future as well.

Sincerely Yours,

Miguel Avila