Dear Tenants,
December marks six months since we launched Toronto Seniors Housing. My first six months as CEO have been packed with meeting many people, participating in thoughtful discussions, and engaging in the deep work needed to support our diverse population of tenants.
As I reflect on the past year, I am proud of the work that Toronto Seniors Housing staff and tenants have accomplished to ‘put down roots’ and grow since launching in June.
Through my Listening Tour, I have met with over 1,000 tenants to date, and will have personally visited over 50 buildings by the end of 2022, with the remaining buildings scheduled for the first few months of 2023. What I have heard at Listening Tour events is helping to inform our priorities as a corporation.
Quality Improvement Projects have started on three tenant priority topics: pest management, safety and security, and staff and tenant relations. We look forward to this tenant and staff collaboration to improve Toronto Seniors Housing, with 29 tenant members on these working groups.
We are actively working to get programming back into buildings and have completed engagement with tenants on 85 tenant and agency-led programs running across 48 buildings. Since June 1, 65 Tenant Action Fund applications have been approved totaling approximately $56,000. This includes 27 equipment requests and 38 tenant events, such as BBQs and holiday celebrations. I want to thank all of the tenants who have led these and other requests and events; we truly value your commitment to enhancing the vibrancy of your communities.
Tenant consultations on policies are in progress and will continue into the new year. These policies include Use of Space, Tenant Action Funds, and prioritizing additional tenant-facing policies for review. Tenant consultations on a new tenant engagement model will begin in early 2023. Meanwhile, regional tenant leader meetings are being held in December to support current tenant leaders. If you are interested in participating in any of these consultations, please contact your Seniors Services Coordinator.
I remain thankful for the community that surrounds and supports us every day. Particularly you – our tenants – who help guide us to grow and deepen our understanding of what you need so we can do better. I look forward to making sure we carry on the momentum of 2022 into the New Year to secure a better quality of life for our tenants.
On behalf of our entire Toronto Seniors Housing family, I want to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
All the best,
Tom Hunter
Chief Executive Officer