Swansea Mews community

Relocation team members are meeting with tenants at their temporary accommodations to sign leases and answer questions about the process. These staff will schedule unit viewings as part of the relocation process. They will also work with you to create a moving plan for your household. This includes reviewing any packing or moving needs you have. 

Onsite coordinators are organizing walking tours of temporary accommodation sites and conversational circles to build community connections. They are giving tenants the latest information about the relocation process and the community. 

All Swansea Mews tenants have moved out of the community. As of August 4, 55 households have accepted a relocation unit. Over 30 households have moved to their new home. We are arranging moves for the other households. Round four of the relocation process will conclude on August 5. Round five is launching on the weekend. 

During a scheduled relocation, we start planning and outreach to tenants several months before we give formal notices and move tenants out of the community. At Swansea Mews, we had to shorten the timeline and move people out as quickly as possible for the safety of the household. This means that our relocation team is working even faster to find available units and match them to a household's needs. 

Another challenge has been finding available vacant units in our portfolio that also meet the needs of Swansea Mews households. We are working with the City of Toronto to find units with other non-profit housing providers. If you sign a lease with these providers, you have a right to return to Swansea Mews. 

If you do not match to a unit in the current round, your household will be added into the next round of the relocation process. 

Parking availability is listed on the unit lists provided in the relocation package. If parking is not available, you will be added to a waiting list for parking. 

If parking is not available on TCHC property, you can seek parking through the City's street parking permit process or rent parking in non-TCHC locations. TCHC will not pay for parking fees in non-TCHC locations or for City street parking permits.  

TCHC will book the moving companies and assign dates to Swansea Mews households once tenants have accepted an offer and signed a lease for their relocation unit. 

TCHC staff will contact each household and let them know the specific details for moving, including packing, storage and more. Staff will make an appointment with you to help prepare your household contents for the professional packers. 

Because your unit is now considered a construction site, you will need to sign in and wear personal protective equipment (mask, hard hat and safety boots) for the entire time you are in the unit. TCHC will loan you this protective equipment for you to wear while inside your unit. 

Packed contents will only be moved once your household has signed a lease for your relocation unit. 

Professional movers hired by TCHC will move your household's furniture and items to your relocation unit. 

TCHC will reimburse household members for costs, including; 

• Mail forwarding 

• Address change fees – driver license, healthcard, etc. 

• Service charges for address changes for cable/interne

TCHC has an air conditioner exchange program. We will provide you with details of the air conditioner exchange process in the upcoming week (Aug. 8 to 12).   
 
How can we submit maintenance requests at the Regent Park temporary accommodation? 
 
Maintenance requests can be made by contacting TCHC's Client Care Centre by phone at 416-981-5500 or by email at help@torontohousing.ca. Client Care agents are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

In the early hours of Friday, May 27, a concrete ceiling panel broke away in a townhome unit in Block H of the Swansea Mews community. The ceiling panel landed on and seriously injured a person.

Based on a report by a structural engineer, we believe the cause dates back to the building's original construction. As a result, our primary focus is ensuring tenant safety.

Your safety is our top priority. Tenants were moved to temporary accommodation because of the potential safety risk to remaining in the community. As units were vacated, we installed temporary structural supports (shoring) to protect against the potential of another similar incident, allowing engineers to enter and inspect the units and determine whether more faulty ceiling panels exist.

No, you cannot return to live in your unit while the shoring is there. Toronto Community Housing has explored options to minimize the disruption of relocation, but tenants must move into temporary accommodation and then relocated units while units are being fixed.

We are moving tenants to temporary accommodation by order of the Chief Building Official because there is a proven public safety risk in Swansea Mews that could endanger them. We are offering a safe alternative for tenants to stay before the relocation process starts.

Revitalization is a long process, which takes years of planning, financing and approval by government before work can start. Prior to the incident on May 27, there was a plan for an extensive retrofit of Swansea in 2023. We are reviewing the timeline for this plan and will provide updates to the community when available.

The planned retrofit includes the complete gutting and rebuilding of all units, all new interior finishes, as well as roofing work, repair of garage slabs, basement floor slabs, windows and exterior envelope upgrades.

Yes. TCHC will request a report from the engineering firm that summarizes their findings. In the meantime, you can view the Engineering Report presentation (PDF) or watch the video of the presentation. 

TCHC has arranged for blocks of dormitory residences at Humber College (Lakeshore Campus), York University, Centennial College, and Toronto Metropolitan University. A limited number of hotels in the Great Toronto Area are providing rooms, as well, based on availability.

We recommend that you bring: 

• clothing and shoes 

• toiletries 

• all your prescription medicines and medical information 

• ID, important papers and cards like driver's license or passport 

• any other insurance information (home, car, personal) 

• legal documents like birth certificates, social insurance cards 

• financial records like bank account information, credit and debit cards 

• glasses, contact lenses and other health-related items 

• If you have young children, please bring formula and bottles, baby food, diapers and wipes, school supplies and toys 

TCHC will give per diem payments to Swansea Mews tenants as part of the temporary accommodation process. These payments are given weekly via cheque. They can be used to cover costs you encounter while in these temporary accommodations away from home, like meals/groceries, transportation, clothing, and other supplies. 

These payments will be $50 per day, per person in the household (must be listed on your lease). More information is below. 

Security will be posted 24/7 in the Swansea Mews community to monitor access and safeguard unoccupied units. If any contractors need to access your unit, someone from TCHC will be there with them. 

 We are strongly recommending that you do not re-enter your unit after you leave to protect your health and safety. If you choose to enter your unit, you are entering at your own risk. There are also specific safety protocols to follow if you need to re-enter to get any items. See someone on site or contact the hotline listed below if you need to arrange a visit back to your unit. 

TCHC has found a limited number of hotel rooms that will take pets, located in Mississauga and Vaughan. TCHC is contacting pet-owning families as rooms become available to determine if they are willing to be accommodated in these locations. We appreciate your understanding while we look for additional locations. 

TCHC has coordinated with Canada Post's Area Manager, who is responsible for Swansea Mews deliveries, to arrange for mail and package collection. Your mail and parcel deliveries will be available for pickup at 145 The West Mall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.   

When collecting your mail, please do not forget photo ID displaying your mailing address. For more information on what is considered acceptable identification, visit canadapost.ca/id. 

If you have packages coming with a different delivery service, we suggest contacting them directly. 

A per diem is a daily allowance paid to cover costs you may encounter while in temporary accommodations away from home. 

Per diems cover things like meals and groceries, gas, transit fare or Ubers/Lyfts, fees, supplies, clothing, medicine and other incidentals. 

Households get their per diems delivered to their temporary accommodations on Thursdays in the afternoon. If you are not there, we will deliver again on Friday. If you will not be there either day, please contact the Swansea Mews hotline so staff can work with you. 

All tenants living in temporary accommodations will get $50 per person, per day, to cover expenses for that week. The per diems are calculated at $25 for food and $25 for incidentals. To be eligible for the per diem, you must be listed on the lease for the household. 

 Please note that each cheque period covers Monday to Sunday. The first cheque amount will depend on the date your family moves into temporary accommodation. 

Per diems will be paid through cheque. 

No. Per diems are provided to cover expenses for the full week. They will only be given out once a week.

Taxi chits only cover your household's first relocation from Swansea Mews to your temporary accommodation. Any other transportation needs will be covered through gift cards or the per diem cheques issued to your unit.

All Swansea Mews tenants will be part of a relocation process to secure stable housing.

Notification: A community meeting on June 14 served as the start of the formal relocation process to move you into stable housing. 
 
Unit selection process: 

• All families were given a number at random. 

• Relocation staff will match your unit preferences (from step 3) to available units using the Preference Form. 

• Two households with the same preferences will be matched in order of draw number. 

• A draw meeting was held virtually on Wednesday, June 15.  

Choosing a unit: 

• You will receive a list of units and can work with staff to review all units that match your household qualifications.  

• You will rank your preferred units on a Tenant Preference Form. 

• Staff will match your preferences to available units using the above form. 

Offer letter: 

• Once your choices have been reviewed, you will receive an offer letter.  

• You will have an opportunity to view the unit. 

• You must sign and return the Acceptance/Refusal form to TCHC. 

• Once you have an offer letter, you can either accept the offer or get ready to move out, OR, decline the offer and go into round two of unit draws. 

If your household is considered over-housed, you will be right-sized into the unit you are eligible for. 

The relocation process (round three) takes place from July 8, 2022 - July 20, 2022. Further details are available in our Relocation Process (PDF). 

All tenants will have a right to return, and will sign a relocation agreement with Toronto Community Housing to detail it. This agreement is a legal agreement. 
 
What policies or documents guide the relocation process? 
Toronto Community Housing uses the following documents to guide the relocation process: 

• Relocation Policy: guides process for all TCHC communities, details rights and obligations for both tenants and TCHC 

• Tenant Relocation Agreement: outlines the rights and responsibilities for relocation and return, confirms details for new unit and right of return.

Moving has already started for households who have accepted matching offers as part of the Relocation process. This process will continue as all Swansea Mews households accept matching offers. Moves are subject to the availability of moving companies.   

TCHC will book the moving companies and assign dates to Swansea Mews households once tenants have accepted an offer and signed a lease for their Relocation unit. TCHC staff will contact each household and let them know the specific details for moving, including packing, storage and more. Staff will make an appointment with you to help prepare your household contents for the professional packers. 

Because your unit is now considered a construction site, you will need to sign in and wear personal protective equipment (mask, hard hat and safety boots) for the entire time you are in the unit. TCHC will loan you this protective equipment for you to wear while inside your unit. 

Packed contents will only be moved once your household signs a lease for your new Relocation unit. 

TCHC will pay to move your household out of Swansea Mews and to move you back into the community after it is safe to return. These costs include labour and packing supplies provided by the moving companies we hire, as well as storage containers if necessary. 

TCHC is hiring professional moving companies to pack your household contents and move them. These companies have a proven track record of working with TCHC. 

You will be asked to prepare your household contents for packing, but the actual packing will be done by the professional movers. 

We understand that some tenants may be uncomfortable with someone else packing your belongings. To move everyone's household contents out in the fastest way possible, we encourage you to allow the professional movers to work efficiently. If you feel you must pack your own items, or if you have some special conditions, please let site staff know. They can make the proper arrangements and give you details. 

Yes, you can request this. However we will schedule the packing around the availability of the packing/moving companies. Your belongings and furniture will stay in your unit until you accept a matching offer. 

All tenants will be contacted by TCHC staff to schedule an appointment to return to your unit and prepare it for packers/movers: 

• Packing and removing valuables or fragile special items. These items can be moved by you or clearly marked so they can be treated with care. 

• Packing and removing any food still left in the unit, including non-perishable items. If you do not take it with you, it will be thrown out. Food items cannot be moved by the moving company. 

• Identifying items or furniture that can be disposed of. You can take these items to the garbage bin or the movers can do it for you. 

No. TCHC will not reimburse you if you have found storage for your belongings outside our moving process.  

Security will be posted 24/7 in the Swansea Mews community to monitor access and safeguard unoccupied units. If any contractors need to access your unit, someone from TCHC will be there with them. 

Please immediately report any cases of missing, stolen or damaged property to the Community Safety Unit (CSU) at 416-921-2323 and an operator will take down your information. A CSU officer will call you back to complete the report over the telephone. CSU will send your completed report to the Toronto Community Housing claims team, and they will contact you about next steps. 

We recommend you submit photographs of the damaged or missing items (if possible) as part of the report. Please also submit any receipts with the cost of the item and when it was bought. 

It is also recommended that you take photographs of your contents before they are packed and moved to show the condition they were in prior to packing and moving. 

You should also submit a claim with your own insurance company for any lost, stolen or damaged property. If you do not have coverage, you may also submit a claim against the moving company or contractor.

We can cover your content with plastic to make sure this is not an issue. 

Yes, we will pay for a storage container for any belongings or furniture that do not fit into your relocation unit. We will also pay to move the storage container back to Swansea Mews when it is time to return. 

Tenants are being asked to move to temporary accommodation by order of the Chief Building Official because there is a proven public safety risk in Swansea Mews that could endanger them. TCHC is offering a safe alternative for tenants to stay before the relocation process starts.

There are a number of supports that tenants can access: 

Parkdale Community Legal Services  

• 416-531-2411  

• https://www.parkdalelegal.org/   

Law Society's Referral Service  

• 1-855-947-5255 or 416-947-5255  

• https://lsrs.lso.ca/lsrs/welcome

ProBono Ontario  

• 1-855-255-7256 or by web at: 

• https://www.probonoontario.org/