Vacant upscale north Toronto homes should house low-income families: “It’s a perfect opportunity”
A commercial real estate developer well known for his philanthropic work, along with a ratepayers group and a local refugee shelter, are floating a plan to transform 10 vacant houses in a tiny north Toronto neighbourhood into temporary homes for low-income families.
But it’s not clear how much support the group will get, from city hall or the owner of the houses.
Developer David Walsh, the FCJ Refugee Centre, and Geoff Kettel of the Leaside Residents Association, are hoping city council will help convince the owner of the vacant luxury homes to let them be converted into temporary housing.
“It’s a perfect opportunity,” said Tsering Lhamo, co-executive director of the refugee centre, who met earlier this week with Walsh and Kettel out front of the houses on Glazebrook Avenue. “These [homes] are a really good opportunity and I’m really sad and also surprised at [the fact that] they’re standing here unoccupied.”