22 TCHC homes approved for sale

The acting managing director of Toronto Community Housing Corporation has approved the sale of 22 single-family homes.

Case Ootes, who was appointed by Mayor Rob Ford as the sole board member of the embattled agency after the existing members either resigned or were ousted by council amid a spending scandal, gave his assent to the proposal Wednesday.

TCHC had projected that selling the 22 houses could raise $15.7 million, money it would use to to defray the cost of the repairs to other TCHC homes and apartments.

The move to sell the houses will now have to be approved by council.

Ootes's decision came after several tenants made numerous deputations and appeals tohold off from selling 22 single-family homes. Ootes, who led the team that helped transitionFord into the mayor's office after the October election,is running TCHC until a new board can be selected.

Many of those who spoke said such a decision should only be made after a new 13-member board is appointed.Others said selling the homes would destabilize their neighbourhoods.

Charlene Holmes said the whole meeting was a waste of time. She waited 11 years to get a subsidized house and has been raising her three sons there. Her home will now be sold off.

"What they're doing is wrong, it's unfair to the tenants, it' unfair to the children of the tenants," Holmes said.

Three years ago, the corporation wanted to sell off a total of 47 houses it owned to social agencies. All of the homes needed a lot of work.

One agency bought 20 homes at below-market prices. The 21 that were approved for sale Wednesday also require extensive repairs.

TCHC houses about 164,000 tenants in its properties across Toronto.