The City s housing focus has been on the provision of social and rental housing. The Housing Centre presently consists of 10 full-time staff. There are over 19,000 occupied units of social housing in the City at the end of 1998. Over the last 27 years, the City either owns, operates, or has leased land for almost 6,800 units of social housing. Over one third of all social housing in the City is now on City-owned land.
Projects primarily serve seniors and families with children.
Other projects serve the disabled, low income singles, aboriginals and youth. They are operated by non-profit housing societies and cooperatives using funds from senior governments. Purchase of Market Sites In 1981, Council made the purchase of privately-owned land for social housing a priority. This policy encourages the creation of balanced communities and provides opportunities for low and moderate income households to live in conveniently located and comprehensively planned neighbourhoods. This policy has created, to date, a capacity for 2,500 social housing units.