Capital Repair Funding Announcement

Mayor John Tory, Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughan, MP James Maloney, MP Salma Zahid, and Deputy Mayor & TCHC board member Ana Bailao at August 30th, 2019 public announcement about $116 million federal commitment to funding for capital repairs within Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

Once upon a time I took a few psychology classes. One of the theorists that really made a great deal of sense to me was Maslow.  At the base of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs are the concepts involving Physiological Needs: food, water, warmth. and rest, as well as, Safety Needs which seem pretty transparent.    They can easily be summed up as access to safe and affordable housing.  

(You may think food is a bit of a stretch.  Let me assure you if I had to make a choice between food and rent I know that I never would have had the opportunity to take those psychology classes.)

My problem with Maslow's theory, specifically the motivational model of human need, is that not enough politicians are even aware of it.  Too many politicians have studied how to manipulate large segments of the population to achieve their political goals.  Not enough have studied what is necessary for each member of society to achieve their individual goals.    

The Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughan seems to have a clue if not the full grasp.  He stated that "the outcomes for our city are much more than just shelter being better.  It's about the social outcomes, health outcomes, education outcomes, economic outcomes.  Everything improves when the housing improves."        

In other words, it is about time that money has been contributed to the Capital Repairs at TCHC.  It's important when it comes to ensuring that none of the subsidized units get boarded up.  It's important when it comes to upgrading housing stock with respect to accessibility and energy efficiency.  It's also vitally important to the tenants living in these units as they will be able to ascend to Maslow's other categories of need including Belonging, Esteem, and Self-Actualization.  

One other note before I wrap up.  Adam Vaughan ended his public announcement saying "Spend this money quickly.  Spend it wisely."  I'm certain that TCHC will spend it quickly.  I'm not so certain they will spend it wisely.  Why don't the different levels of government ask for receipts when doling out huge amounts of money to Toronto Community Housing Corporation?  At least pretend that there is a degree of transparency and accountability for the *illions of taxpayers dollars TCHC inhales.