Increasing Accessible and Affordable Housing Options for Students - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor John Filion

Consequently, these housing challenges place students at high risk of a reduced well-being, quality of life and academic success as well as increased experiences of intense mental health issues, vulnerability and homelessness. On December 8, 2020, Planning and Housing Committee adopted a motion directing staff to lead and report back on discussions with post-secondary institutions regarding safe and legal housing for students. However, the student housing crisis continues to be exacerbated by the reduced visibility of student voices in discourses related to housing, a lack of intergovernmental attention to student issues, as well as the privatization of student housing. With Toronto's universities having become reliant on the private sector in conceiving and developing student-specific housing options, the development of more luxury condo-style dorms has become the focus, creating a student housing market that is unaffordable and inaccessible. This can be especially difficult for low-income Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour students, who are excluded from accessing student-specific housing on and off campus. Key strategic priorities identified in the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan ("HousingTO Plan") includes preventing homelessness and improving pathways to housing stability for residents across the City; ensuring well-maintained and secure homes for renters; and improving access to affordable rental spaces. These priorities need to include the needs of students, and especially low-income Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour students. Increasing the visibility of student needs in the housing discourse, the conception and development of more diverse housing options (shared housing, non-profit housing and intergenerational housing), as well a commitment to working in the multi-stakeholder approach identified in the HousingTO Plan when it comes to student housing is necessary to address this crisis that disproportionately affects students.