The filed record
Social Impact Hubs: Repurposing Space for Charitable Use - by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson
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The decision
2022-07-19 · Toronto City Council · adopted
As filed
City Council on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2022, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to investigate what may be done to support charitable organizations with their access to affordable space and assess the viability of the Social Impact Hub model that brings organizations together
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in a shared location, and to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the first quarter of 2023.
On the agenda
As the city filed it
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in the cost of living has caused a greater need for services in Toronto, especially in mental health, food security and hygiene security. At the same time, charitable organizations have also experienced rising costs, particularly related to securing and maintaining space. The average industrial lease rate and commercial/retail lease rate both increased from the third quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021, up by 18.4 percent and up by 38.3 percent respectively.
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These rates are likely even higher at present time. The City's charities are vital partners in meeting the needs of residents. During pandemic closures, City arenas, community centres, school gymnasiums and warehouses were reassigned to charitable agencies. Space, unused at the time, allowed organizations to grow and increase their reach. Currently, aid organization, GlobalMedic, works out of space at Cloverdale Mall in Etobicoke, generously donated by QuadReal Property Developers and shared with a City-run vaccine clinic and the Furniture Bank. Together, these initiatives are able to benefit from shared space that would be unused otherwise. Similar vacant space throughout the City, whether owned municipally or privately, could potentially serve as a shared work space for other smaller charitable organizations, creating "Social Impact Hubs" to help alleviate some property costs.
Staff recommended
Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, seconded by Councillor Michael Thompson, recommends that: 1. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to investigate what may be done to support charitable organizations with their access to affordable space and assess the viability of the Social Impact Hub model that brings organizations
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together in a shared location, and to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in the first quarter of 2023.
On the record
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