2025.PH20.7

Background

Academic institutions play an important role in climate research and it is crucial for students from around the world to be part the academic research environment in Toronto. International students also help bring a global perspective and new solutions to addressing the climate crisis. For context, “Toronto’s post-secondary institutions are leading contributors to the City’s economy and important sources of job creation, skills training, and research and innovation, [including research on climate]...In Toronto, it is estimated that over 350,000 students are enrolled in public academic institutions. In recent years, an increasing number of post-secondary students have been struggling to meet their basic needs for housing, food, and other life necessities…As a result, more post-secondary students are relying on food banks and homelessness services; they are more likely to experience precarious housing situations and live in over-crowded homes; and are increasingly more vulnerable to housing scams and fraud.” In addition, one of the guiding principles of Academic Housing Strategy released is to that “Housing should be sustainable, financially, environmentally, and socially”.

Source: City of Toronto

Item Description

“City Council adopt the Academic Housing Strategy and its recommended actions…as part of the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan [as well as]...direct the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and Executive Director, Housing Development Office to identify a pilot affordable student housing project on public land” amongst other recommendations.

Source: City of Toronto

Proposed by

Planning and Housing Committee