Tenant LOOP - Summer 2022

Summer 2022

You, your community and your city

Lights, camera, acting!

The Regent Park program P6 helping youth ignite their creative spark

How to get a TTC fare discount as an RGI tenant

P12

Your community P21 through your eyes

Your Summer Tenant LOOP In this issue: LEAF & TCHC partnership celebration

P3 P3 P3

Supporting youth wellbeing in the Rivertowne community

P4 P4 P4

Igniting the creative spark

P6 P6 P6

Looking out for each other during the pandemic

P8 P8 P8

Thank you to TCHC

P10 P10 P10

Fair Pass Transit Discount

P12 P12 P12

Tenant complaints process

P13 P13 P13

Fire Life Safety: tips for the summer

P14 P14 P14

Sheila Penny retirement

P15 P15 P15

Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation officially launched

P16 P16 P16

Upcoming events

P17 P17 P17

2

Skating towards your dreams

P18

Contest: favourite summer places

P19

Conservation tips

P20

Your community through your eyes

P21

Your comment, our solution

P22

If you need help, we are here You can reach us any time through the Client Care Centre for any daily living supports you may need if you are self-isolating because of COVID-19.

Call 416-981-5500 or email help@torontohousing.ca to talk to a Client Care agent.

Celebrating five years of tree planting in TCHC communities LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) and Toronto Community Housing are celebrating five years of empowering tenants to plant native trees and shrubs across a number of our communities.

The TCHC Planting and Stewardship Initiative began as a pilot project in 2018, and is celebrating this milestone by expanding the amount of free native trees and shrubs offered to all tenants at TCHC properties. This program is offered

by TCHC in partnership with LEAF and the City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry Branch.

The goal is to increase tree canopy in TCHC communities and bring together tenants who are passionate about conservation.

Beyond tree planting LEAF has a way of connecting with tenants who truly enjoy planting long-lasting seeds in their communities, not only when it comes to trees and shrubs, but also in the building of relationships with neighbours and families.

▲ Tenants, TCHC and LEAF staff, partners, and guests at a recognition event The TCHC Planting and Stewardship Initiative runs throughout the year. Interested tenants can request trees and shrubs through an online application form. If the application is approved, shrubs are delivered in the spring for tenants to plant, and trees are planted in-kind by the City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry Branch in the fall.

The project aims to plant 90 trees and 250 shrubs this year. So far, nearly 300 trees and 700 shrubs have already been planted in over 50 TCHC communities since the partnership began.

Apart from adding beauty to the sites, these trees and shrubs provide a host of environmental and social benefits.

Trees provide increased oxygen, relief from the summer heat, shelter to birds and animals and reduce stress.

Do you want to add more green to your The project is tenant-driven and connects community? Applications will open again other tenants with the necessary tools to next spring. You can visit improve their community’s green space. This yourleaf.org/tch-green or call is a community-building project that tenants 416-413-9244 for more information and take ownership of and pride in maintaining. to learn how you can apply next year.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

3

Supporting youth wellbeing in the

Rivertowne community

Suzette Saunders has been a tenant leader in Rivertowne for over 15 years, moving in just after the revitalization of the community was first completed. In this time, Suzette has been a fixture in the community, organizing events, providing programs and care for youth and children, and advocating for the needs of her fellow tenants and neighbours.

She officially took up the post as a Community Representative with the Tenant Engagement System at Toronto Community Housing in 2021.

Tenant leader Suzette Saunders 4

When asked what motivates her to give back to her community, she is committed in her response. “I want to help young people through mental health support. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the recent violence in Rivertowne, they are not just ok.

People are not tapping into what’s going on with youth. Since they have been working online for school over the past few years, we are out of touch with what they need, what they are going through.”

Suzette first noticed the need for support with her own daughter, seeing the challenges that the pandemic created for her in terms of isolation, learning and socialization. Rivertowne has also recently experienced several violent incidents which have contributed to the trauma and stress on youth and their wellbeing.

Looking to others in the neighbourhood, she saw that many other children were going through the same issues.

In the past, Suzette has led several grant applications where she was successful in getting funds to deliver and provide programs and support to youth. She recalls an art therapy program that she delivered several years ago which resulted in the completion of a mural inside of 50 Matilda. “It’s rewarding and a great feeling to bring kids together. Often, children don’t want to leave. I love providing them with an opportunity, be it through art, a social program, or other ways to get together and express their feelings.”

This spring, she is working with Sam Maloney-Lee, a Community Services Coordinator at Toronto Community Housing, to apply for funding to support a certification program for youth and adults to build their employment skills.

The program will provide training on food handling, first aid and CPR, and other areas that support job readiness. When asked about working with Suzette, Sam shares that “Suzette has been a long-time leader and advocate in her community, providing and organizing many events and programs. She has strong relationships with everyone from her neighbours, to Toronto Police Service and other service providers in Rivertowne. She has done a phenomenal amount of work and I’m happy to be able to share her story.”

When asked about how she manages to make time for everything alongside a busy work schedule and caring for her daughters, Suzette shares, “Organizing programs and events is really rewarding for me. It’s a good feeling to be able to do this work. I’m busy with my job at the daycare and with raising my daughters, but I try to find time for this on the weekend. It means a lot to me to support our youth.”

Many of the youth and children who attend her programs and activities often want to stay longer, and have returned to various programs and events over the years.

This is clearly a testament to Suzette’s work and her ongoing commitment to youth wellbeing in Rivertowne.

Rivertowne (formerly Don Mount Court) is located in south Riverdale on the east side of Toronto

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

5

Igniting the creative spark A Regent Park program helping youth kick-start their career in the entertainment industry Tony Le is all about life experiences.

It was a sunny day in May when we met up with this current TCHC tenant — now a working actor and screenwriter — outside the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre for a chat about growing up in Regent Park and how it led to his current career.

“Living in Regent Park made it possible to access different programs like UforChange, theatre programs offered by Soulpepper, and Kick Start Arts, the program I’m currently involved with. These programs really helped me with my goal of breaking into the entertainment industry and exploring my options.”

▲ Actor and writer Tony Le that equips emerging young artists with free training in acting, writing, and film and television production. The initiative is sponsored by Kick Start Arts, a not-for-profit organization based in Regent Park. This program’s central mission is to use the arts to empower students, youth and adults to express themselves through the creative process in film, digital television, theatre, and photography.

“What makes Kick Start Arts stand out from any other free program is that it gives you the tools you need to actually have a chance to step into the world of entertainment,” Tony said. “They also have working professionals work with you, allowing you to make direct connections.”

“Kick Start Arts gives you the tools you need to actually have a chance” Tony met most of his mentors through these - Tony Le

Currently, he’s getting the chance to apply his acting skills while playing the character of JoJo in The Regent Park Project web series, a hands-on film-making initiative 6

programs; however, he also credits family and friends with lending much-needed support. “One of my sisters helps me a lot with auditions that require another reader, so I’m pretty thankful for that,” he said.

Tony is extremely adaptable, and his style

of acting tends to change along with his life circumstances. He also grew up liking comedy (especially cartoons) so he always tries to inject a bit of comedy into his performances, no matter the role.

One of the connections Tony made is Mandeq Hassan, a former Regent Park tenant and Kick Start Arts alum who has spent years working in the film industry and is currently a story editor for the CBC show Diggstown. She’s also the lead writer and creative producer for the Kick Start Arts Creative Team. Mandeq credits the people of Regent Park for shaping her into the successful person that she is today.

“I decided I wanted to tell a different story than the ones usually told about TCHC communities.” - Mandeq Hassan “Growing up in Regent Park, there was an incredibly strong sense of community,” she said. One example of this happened during the 2003 Toronto blackout, where Regent Park tenants gathered in the park for a barbeque, sharing their food with one another. This sense of community is what drives organizations like Kick Start Arts and others in the Regent Park area. Mandeq also spent many years volunteering at the Regent Park Film Festival and even worked there after she graduated high school. She stresses it was incredibly important to her to have a film festival in her neighbourhood focused on people from the community.

Mandeq was involved in several projects that helped guide her career, and like Tony, was a writer and actor on the Regent Park Project. “It was fun and taught me the basics of what it takes to make

something artistically in this world, and it’s something I’m really proud of,” she said.

When she left for university, Mandeq realized people outside the neighbourhood had a very different perspective on social housing which fueled her desire for storytelling. “I decided I wanted to tell a different story than ones usually told about TCHC communities,” she said.

Today, both Mandeq and Tony are working on a feature film and theatre adaptation of the Regent Park Project with Kick Start Arts, and are looking forward to various other projects coming their way. Mandeq also has some good advice for people looking to get into the industry: “Ask for help when you need it and you’d be surprised at how many people would be willing to help you out.”

Tony highly recommends Kick Start Arts to any tenant youth looking to ignite that creative spark. “It allows youth to take control and create using their own set of skills and opinions with likeminded people,” he said. “The only thing you need to spend is your time. And that’s a good deal.”

Do you have an interest in acting, writing, or the arts in general and live in or around Regent Park? Contact Kick Start Arts by emailing their Artistic Director, Sheena Robertson at Sheena@KickStartArts.com or by calling 416-898-4737. If you’d like to learn more about Tony Le and Mandeq Hassan (and watch our full video interview with Tony), check out the digital feature via our website at torontohousing.ca/stories.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

7

Looking out for each other during the pandemic Tenant representatives and the Wishing Well community and communicating needs and requests from tenants to TCHC.

▲ Left to right: Tenant leaders Larry Cheung, Me Hui He and Na Shu Na

Edward Or proudly shows us the many certificates and tokens of recognition he has received for his years of service as a TCHC tenant representative in his building.

The Premier of Ontario, members of parliament, City representatives and TCHC have all recognized his contributions to his fellow tenants in the building and the Wishing Well community (a small section of Scarborough just southwest of Warden and Sheppard).

But what truly brings him to life when he shares his story are the many fellow tenants in his seniors building that rely on him for support and assistance. This includes helping with translation, easing the concerns of tenants uncertain about visitors, distributing meals in the building, 8

Standing near the building entrance, Edward is greeted warmly by almost every tenant leaving to start their day.

“I have supported so many tenants over my time as a tenant representative and I am happy to do this,” he said. “There are many seniors who do not speak English and have been isolated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; I have helped them translate needs for medical services and vaccination requirements. I have helped them to access technology in the community. Many seniors are living alone and were not always able to see their family during the pandemic. I am happy to do this as a tenant leader, and I am proud to be an active member of my community.”

“We just help out where we can” Edward works together with tenant representatives Larry Cheung, Na Shu Na and Me Hui He of Wishing Well Seniors Association to build a sense of community in the building. Together as a group, the tenant representatives have looked out for everyone and supported each other through a challenging time. Na Shu Na shares that “the work they do is just helping out,

and that sometimes they just knock on doors to make sure that everyone is okay.

Many seniors in the building are over 90 and their children are not always nearby.

As some of the ‘younger seniors’ in the building, we just help out where we can.”

information online, and with guidance and advice constantly changing, they really need this support,” he said.

“It is so important to remember to look out for each other” Me Hui He has also helped organize many of the recreational activities held in the common areas of the building, including English, computer, singing, dancing, Chinese calligraphy, and knitting classes.

She admits it was really difficult during the pandemic, and she looks forward to seeing everyone once again now that some of the restrictions are lifting. “In Canada, the government really values and cares about seniors and there are a lot of good supports,” she said. “We have a great environment and community and I hope that all seniors are able to live quality and fulfilling lives. It is so important to remember to look out for each other and I am able to help do this in my building.”

As a newer tenant representative in the building, Larry Cheung has noticed that communication with tenants, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a challenge. This has created a role for tenant representatives who are comfortable conversing in English and other languages to act as supports for seniors in the building. They help everyone gain access to what they need in the community and to learn more about vaccinations and other new developments.

“I have been able to use my technology skills to help support tenants with finding

▲ Tenant leader Edward Or After TCHC’s 83 seniors buildings are transitioned to the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, tenant representatives will continue to be important as leaders in their buildings, supporting their communities in critical ways.

Toronto Community Housing would like to extend our sincere thanks to all tenant representatives in our seniors buildings for their significant contributions over the years in supporting their fellow tenants.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

9

Thank you!

By Cheryl Duggan

▲ Tenant Cheryl Duggan with her children Josh and Sophie (approximately 30 years ago)

I’m grateful for the many opportunities that living in TCHC, while paying Rent-Geared-to-Income, has afforded me over the past 37 years.

As a mother, I never would have been able to spend as much quality time with my children. This included homeschooling my son for several years, as well as cheerleading my daughter’s baseball games, helping with her homework, and coordinating an M&M’s fundraiser for her school. None of these opportunities would have even been an option if I had to pay market rent elsewhere.

I started my education as a mature student taking evening courses at college.

I completed two certificate programs at George Brown College (Interior Design & Image Consulting). Then I parlayed those certificates into an admission to University of Toronto Scarborough where I completed a Bachelor’s in Art History. After that, I was sponsored into the Human Rights program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Most recently, during the pandemic, I completed a Risk Management Certificate Program through U of T’s School of Continuing Studies. None of these opportunities would have been an option if I had to pay market rent elsewhere.

As a lifelong learner, I never would have been able to return to school over and over again. I never really started high school.

Therefore never finished it.

As a photographer, I never would have been able to begin such a pricey hobby. Let alone gain access to amazing concert venues like the Mod Club, Phoenix Night Club, Molson

10

Amphitheatre, and the Air Canada Centre.

The most memorable times are those where I took pictures at free public events like T-Dot Fest, the TD Jazz Festival, and Pride. None of these opportunities would have been an option if I had to pay market rent elsewhere.

As an advocate, I never would have been able to give as much to my community.

My initial attempt at community advocacy resulted in my first big win. Dressed in a leprechaun costume, I managed to persuade fellow tenant leaders to allocate ▲ A place setting Cheryl created thanking volunteers for their support at a food bank reward dinner Most recently, during the pandemic, I helped feed families, seniors and persons with disabilities as coordinator of my building’s food bank. None of these opportunities—nor the numerous opportunities to depute to TCHC’s board and committees—would have been possible if I had to pay market rent elsewhere.

▲ A photo Cheryl took of Kardinal Offishal while covering his concert

As I approach the end of this life (due to a stage four lung cancer diagnosis) I would like to thank Toronto Community Housing and the Rent-Geared-to-Income program because I know I never would have lived up to my full potential if I had to pay market rent elsewhere.

two-thirds of that year’s Participatory Budget money to our community project.

Another big win was leading a successful petition to stop the daycare in our building from constructing an infant play area on the Thank you!!! I could not have done it front lawn. The play space would have put without you. children directly in the path of projectiles from the balconies above.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

11

How to get a TTC fare discount as an RGI tenant Do you ride the TTC or Wheel-Trans?

If you’re an RGI tenant between the ages of 20 and 64, you can apply for the Fair Pass Transit Discount. It can save you $1.10 per ride and $32.75 per monthly pass.

To apply, you’ll need: • Your PRESTO card number. If you do not have a PRESTO card, free ones are available at select Toronto Public Library branches.

• Your proof of program support. For RGI tenants, a Notice of Decision letter (or equivalent).

Apply today!

Scan the QR code for more details about the program and to apply online. Tenants can also visit toronto.ca/transitdiscount.

Application and Support Centre 416-338-8888, select option 6 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday to Friday

12

Tenant Notices

Please review this section for important updates from TCHC

Tenant services at Toronto Community Housing Response. Commitment. Service.

Looking to submit a service request? Tenant service support is available through: Building staff

Call or visit your superintendent’s office for maintenance needs.

Tenant Service Hubs

Find your local Hub at torontohousing.ca/hubs.

Client Care Centre

416-981-5500, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. help@torontohousing.ca

Do you have an unresolved, escalated service request? Contact the Solutions Team for support.

416-981-6000 solutions@torontohousing.ca If you submit a complaint, our Solutions Team will acknowledge your inquiry within one business day and assign a Complaints Resolution Specialist to begin investigating.

Within seven business days, you will be advised on the status of your request.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

13

t n a es n Te otic N

Summer fire safety tips Never leave hot appliances such as space heaters and irons on or unattended. Turn off and unplug all heat producing appliances when not in use and or if you have to step away.

Always use an ashtray to butt out cigarettes. Never throw them off your balcony, into bushes or down the garbage chute. This is dangerous and can cause a fire.

Never stack items so high that they may fall over. Keep all pathways and exits clear at all times to allow for a safe escape during a fire. Help is available for tenants who would like to reduce the clutter in their units. Call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 to learn more.

Visit torontohousing.ca/firesafety for more fire safety tips.

14

Te No na tic nt es

Chief Operating Officer Sheila Penny retires Sheila Penny retired on March 31, 2022 after a distinguished career in public service that included the past nine years as a TCHC executive. Whatever challenges Sheila faced during her tenure, she tackled them all with a strong commitment to putting tenants first.

“As an organization we owe Sheila a huge debt of gratitude for her contributions,” said Jag Sharma, TCHC President and CEO. “Toronto Community Housing is a better place to live and a stronger organization because of her leadership, compassion and deep commitment to improving access to services for tenants.”

After her appointment as Chief Operating Officer in September 2019, Sheila oversaw a major restructuring to improve TCHC’s ability to support tenants. Her vision and passion for great service shaped the creation of 88 Tenant Service Hubs across the city. The Hub model provides tenants with easier, quicker and more accessible service.

Sheila joined TCHC in 2013 as Vice President, Facilities Management.

Former Chief Operating Officer Sheila Penny Among her many achievements in this role, she helped to secure $1.3-billion in funding through the National Housing Strategy for building capital repairs.

Sheila was a tireless champion for making more TCHC homes and buildings accessible for tenants with disabilities.

This was accomplished through an innovative partnership with the tenantled Responsible Personal Accessibility in Toronto Housing (R-PATH) Committee.

Drawing on her training and professional experience as an architect, Sheila led the work to upgrade TCHC’s design standards which helped to make sure that tenants’ accessibility needs were met.

We thank Sheila for all her contributions and wish her the best in her retirement.

Following Sheila’s retirement, Nadia Gouveia began her role as Acting Chief Operating Officer on April 1, 2022. In approving her appointment, the TCHC Board recognized Nadia’s strong leadership skills and fierce commitment to better living conditions and positive outcomes for tenants, particularly youth.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

15

t n a es n Te otic N

Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation is officially launched On June 1, Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) began operating all 83 buildings that were previously part of the Toronto Community Housing’s Seniors Housing Unit.

TSHC provides safe, affordable housing to seniors with access to health and community supports that they need to age in the comfort of their own homes and buildings, with dignity and in comfort.

The creation of TSHC will significantly benefit senior tenants living in seniors-designated buildings. It does not, however, impact seniors living in Toronto Community Housing’s family portfolio, and these seniors are not required to move to a TSHC building.

If you are a senior tenant living in the family portfolio and are interested in transferring to TSHC, you must apply via Access to Housing. To do so, visit toronto.ca and type “Access to Housing” in the search bar. Once you have applied, you will be placed on a waiting list until a unit that matches your search criteria becomes available.

The work to fully develop TSHC as a new corporation continues and the transition on June 1 was an important milestone. To learn more, visit torontoseniorshousing.ca.

16

Te No na Free summer events in the city tic nt es Looking for some fun, free activities to check out this summer? Look no further! Here are a few great suggestions:

Midnight Basketball In partnership with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Foundation

and the University of Toronto, Midnight Basketball League offers Toronto Community Housing youths aged 14 to 18 a positive space. In this space they can develop both on and off the court basketball skills each Friday night at University of Toronto’s Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. With support from the Toronto Raptors, the program has been developed to promote relationship building, literacy, teamwork, and basketball skill development.

Visit torontohousing.ca/midnightbasketball to learn more.

Rookie League

Rookie League is a summer long baseball day camp program for TCHC children aged 6 to 12. In partnership with Jays Care Foundation, TCHC runs this program to help support child development and encourage teamwork, leadership and fair play on and off the field. Visit jayscare.campbrainregistration.com to register.

Pedestrian Sundays

Every Sunday from May until October, Kensington Market closes its local streets to vehicles and attracts thousands of people from across the GTA to its monthly street festival, including live music, performances, artists and local vendors.

Visit kensingtonmarket.to to learn more.

Unseen: photography exhibition

This free photography exhibition at Harbourfront Centre runs from April until September and aims to help people express their experiences through conceptual photography, building awareness and conversation about mental health and overcoming personal struggles.

Visit harbourfrontcentre.com/event/unseen/ to learn more.

Toronto History Museums free admission

As of May 1, general admission to all 10 Toronto History Museums is permanently free, providing everyone with an opportunity to fully participate in Toronto’s cultural heritage and spaces, and to help advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Visit toronto.ca/museums to find out which museums are participating and to reserve your free tickets.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

17

Skating towards

your dreams

▲Dreams Come True program participants

Amy and her 11-year-old son, Chase, are TCHC tenants residing in the east end of the city. This spring, they were approached by a coordinator in the community to find out if they would be interested in the Dreams Come True Program, supported by the Hockey Canada Foundation.

Dreams Come True brings hockey into the lives of children who might otherwise not have had the opportunity to play. The program pays the registration fees and provides free equipment to participants.

On March 6th, children participated in the Dreams Come True event, made possible by a generous sponsorship from Local 416, TCEU (Toronto Civic Employees Union) and the Toronto Police Association.

While Amy and her two children are active in their local community centre programs, this is the first time they have participated in a program of this scale and were pleasantly surprised with the outcome. According to Chase, “To play hockey for the first time was a pretty good experience. It was organized, fun and very engaging and the people that worked there were very nice too.”

Chase has long been interested in hockey, and was excited when this opportunity

came up for him. The interest runs in the family, as his mother has a background in figure skating. Through the program, Chase learned how to skate, how to balance himself on the ice with his hockey stick, and he even scored his first goal! Taking his equipment home, he used it again almost immediately the next weekend at Nathan Phillips Square. The family plans to use it this summer at indoor rinks as well.

For Amy, it means a lot for her son to have his own hockey equipment. “I thought it was great that my son could participate in something like this because hockey equipment and skates are not cheap,” she said. Amy feels proud that her son had the opportunity to play hockey, and is now looking into other ways her children can participate in sports oriented activities offered by TCHC. The Hockey Canada Foundation also has a new program called the Assist Fund, which was created in response to the many families experiencing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19. The Fund is to help Canadian youth access hockey and return to the sport that they love. Applications for the 2022-2023 hockey season will open this August.

For more information on the Assist Fund and to apply for the 2022-23 hockey season, visit assistfund.hockeycanadafoundation.ca.

18

Contest:

Your “go to”summer place

The City of Toronto really comes to life during the summer months with plenty of places to visit and explore.

The city is fortunate to have many green spaces and other attractions, whether it’s walking along a waterfront trail, taking a ferry to the Toronto Islands or eating ice cream on a favourite beach.

Share your “go to” summer place with us and your entry could be chosen at random to win two Cineplex movie tickets to check out the latest Hollywood blockbuster. The winning entry may also be featured in the next issue of Tenant LOOP. This contest is only open to tenants of Toronto Community Housing.

Contest entries can be sent via: • Email to TenantLOOP@torontohousing.ca • Direct message to our Facebook page at facebook.com/TorontoCommunityHousing • Mail to 931 Yonge St., 7th floor, Toronto, ON M4W 2H2 (Attn: Tenant LOOP) Please send your entries by Friday, August 5, 2022.

Congratulations to Kathleen, the winner of our “Earth Day Conservation Tips” contest from the spring issue. Kathleen sent us several great tips, such as unplugging appliances when not using them, closing curtains in the winter to help keep heat in, and using a fridge thermometer to make sure your fridge isn’t too cold or too warm. Kathleen has won a pharmacy gift card with a $50 value. Keep up the great conservation work, Kathleen!

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

19

Summer conservation tips With summer now in full swing, here are some energy and waste management tips to help keep your building green:

Tips for staying cool and saving energy • Clean your air conditioning filter often to get the best performance • Turn off your air conditioning when you leave your home to conserve electricity • Turn off and unplug electronics that are not in use • Turn off unnecessary lights; use natural light whenever possible • Make meals that don’t use the stove or oven

Garbage and recycling • Don’t use black bags for garbage, recycling or organics • Put food scraps in your organic bin or compostable bag • Use small bags to collect your garbage • Collect recycling in your reusable recycling bag • Place garbage in the chute; don't leave it on the floor • Download the TOwaste app from toronto.ca to learn all about waste disposal For more helpful tips, email the Conservation team at conservation@torontohousing.ca.

20

Your community through your eyes Focusing a lens on where you live Are you inspired by something in your community, have a story to tell through your phone or mobile device, or simply enjoy taking photos of inspiring architecture and community creativity?

Toronto is a vibrant city, and TCHC communities are an important part of that. Nobody knows this better than our tenants, which is why we’d like your help in bringing this to light with our readers. “Your community through your eyes” will be a new feature in Tenant LOOP, where we’ll regularly showcase photos of TCHC communities taken by tenants.

These photos can be of anything community related, such as buildings, parks, public art, etc. (due to consent laws, photos of people will only be accepted if they cannot be identified in the photo). By doing this, we’d like to shine a spotlight on parts of our city that some of our other readers may not know too much about, discover stories of interest, and help us appreciate the communities that we live in.

If you would like to share a photo of your neighbourhood, please email it to tenantloop@torontohousing.ca, along with your first name, a brief description of the photo, and the name of the TCHC community it’s from. You could see your photo in a future edition of Tenant LOOP.

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

21

Your comment Our solution Your comment: Now that summer is here, I’m concerned about the electrical storms that tend to happen at this time of year. What do I do if the power goes out?

Our solution: Severe weather can cause power failures that last from a few minutes to a few days. Long power outages may put your health and safety at risk. During a power outage, you should: • Turn off and unplug any cooking appliances that could ignite when the power comes back on.

• Use flashlights instead of candles. If you must use candles, never leave them unattended.

• Keep your fridge closed to keep your food cold. However, if your power has been out for 24 hours, you’ll need to throw out all the food in your fridge. After 48 hours, you’ll need to throw out all the food in your fridge and freezer, and clean and sanitize it.

Don’t forget to self-identify

If you need extra help during a storm or other emergency because of an accessibility challenge, you should take part in the Self-ID process. Tenants with barriers to accessibility can confidentially identify themselves to TCHC to make sure they are safe. Learn how to self-identify by visiting the TCHC website at torontohousing.ca/selfID.

How to get in touch You can call these numbers 24-hours a day, seven days a week, or reach us via email at help@torontohousing.ca • Client Care Centre 416-981-5500 • Community Safety Unit 416-921-2323 • Crime Stoppers 416-222-8477 22

Tenant LOOP is available in many languages

Call

416-981-5500 to request a translated copy

@TOHousing

To request this newsletter in an accessible format, please contact the Client Care Centre at help@torontohousing.ca or 416-981-5500.

Thank you!

This issue was made possible by the incredibly inspiring community members featured in our stories.

TorontoCommunityHousing

@torontohousing

in

TorontoCommunityHousing

Tenant LOOP Thanks also to everyone else who has helped us put a spotlight on our communities and city.

We welcome editorial tips and comments. Contact us at TenantLOOP@torontohousing.ca © 2022 Toronto Community Housing Corporation

Toronto Community Housing |

Summer 2022

23

Sign up today to receive communications by email!

Toronto Community Housing would like to improve our communications to you by emailing timely building and maintenance notices, services, program information, important updates and other communications.

Help us to communicate with you more efficiently by providing your email at torontohousing.ca/emailupdates.

Thank you!

You can also scan the QR code above to submit your email.