producing taNgible results on vital assignments

In 2019 the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing and Context Development agreed to redevelop a 1960s-style housing project into a mixed-use housing and commercial development that would provide replacement of 120 rent-geared-to-income (RGI) apartments, 100 new affordable apartments, 183 new market rental units and 363 new condos, plus 16,000 sq ft of retail space. 

 Public Progress provided communications, community engagement and strategic advisory services for the project, including open houses, campaign materials and web site.  

As part of its strategic plan, Youth Without Shelter sought to expand its Stay-in-School program and its transitional housing supports for youth. In 2021 Public Progress joined the effort, with Bruce chairing YWS's weekly expansion sub-committee.  In 2022 YWS acquired a 24-room rooming house in downtown Toronto and received financial assistance through the City of Toronto's Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program.

This property now houses five youth attending post secondary institutions and will house an additional six youth with transitional housing supports. Existing tenants pay affordable rents.

In 2020 The City of Kingston acquired a former retirement home in Kingston's west-end using it for Covid isolation and the temporary site of the Kingston Youth Shelter. Bruce joined the City of Kingston as a project manager and worked with city officials to renovate the east wing of the building as twelve self-contained studio and one bedroom apartments for women and women with children. The project was funded using Rapid Housing, municipal and provincial SSRF funding.

This transitional housing supports 12 adult women or women with children. The site also includes administrative offices, a shared kitchen and laundry  and common room.

Occupancy is expected to start in December 2022.

In 2020 The City of Kingston acquired a former private hospital, looking to repurpose it for affordable housing. Public Progress supported the process of negotiating a housing agreement with Tipi Moza (Iron Homes) and then Bruce joined the City of Kingston as a project manager and worked with city officials to renovate the building using Rapid Housing, municipal and provincial OPHI funding.

This transitional housing supports 19 adult men and women who identify as Indigenous. The site also includes administrative offices, shared laundry, a shared kitchen and program room.

Occupancy started in January 2022.

As part of RH2 the City of Toronto's Housing Secretariat, CreateTO and planning department launched two additional modular sites, one in East York and one in Willowdale.  In November 22 the first tenants moved in to the Cedarvale site. The Cummer Avenue site is still awaiting planning permissions. 

 Public Progress, working with LURA Consulting provided communications, community engagement and strategic advisory services for the two modular sites. Bruce also led a CPTED-based community engagement process. Bruce chaired online (Webex) public meetings and community liaison meetings.  

In April 2020 Toronto City Council approved a plan to create 100 units of modular housing for tenants exiting the City's shelter system. The City's Housing Secretariat, real estate development company (CreateTO) and planning department were tasked with designing, planning and building two local sites -- to be ready for occupancy in Fall 2020, an unprecedented schedule in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. The first batch of tenants starting moving in before Christmas 2020 and the second site will welcome tenants in January 2021!

 Public Progress provided communications, community engagement and strategic advisory services for the two modular sites. Bruce chaired nine online (Webex) public meetings and community liaison meetings. 

This innovative centre was created by the City of Kingston and local agencies in November 2020 to support a growing demand for services for people sleeping rough or who were not being served through local shelters. The ICH emerged as a community response to local encampments and involved HIV AIDS Regional Services and Kingston Community Health Centres playing the lead service roles with the City of Kingston playing the lead role on the approval, build-out and funding of the building. The ICH includes an on-site consumption treatment service.

Public Progress provided communications, community engagement and strategic advisory services for the ICH. Bruce chaired online (Zoom) public meetings and conducted neighbourhood engagement strategies.