Toronto Family & Seniors Housing

Homes:

Wigwamen Incorporated currently owns and manages over 770 units in the City of Toronto. Its portfolio includes:

Wigwamen Terrace, a six-storey, 127 unit building for Aboriginal seniors at 14 Spadina Road.
Wigwamen Waabnong at 20 Sewells Road is an apartment complex for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal households with 92 units ranging in size from bachelor to four-bedroom units.
228 Galloway Road, a five-storey, 60 unit apartment building in Northeast Scarborough.
75 Cooperage Street, a twelve-storey, 145 unit apartment building in downtown Toronto.
55 Thora Avenue, a four-storey, 20 unit apartment building in Scarborough.
3738 St. Clair Avenue E, a four-storey, 22 unit apartment building in Scarborough.
525 Markham Road, a nine-storey, 115 unit apartment building in Scarborough.
Over 220 family homes scattered throughout Toronto including 6 one-bedroom units, 130 two-bedroom units, and 74 three-bedroom units.

Eligibility:

In order to be considered for rental accommodation with Wigwamen’s housing program, an applicant must be a permanent legal resident of Canada and be at least 16 years of age. Almost all of the units are available for rent on a geared-to-income basis. Although the calculation of the rent payable varies, on average tenants pay approximately 30% of their gross household income towards their rent.

Programs:

Wigwamen Incorporated was founded with the goal of providing decent and affordable housing, primarily for families and individuals of Aboriginal ancestry (Status, Non-Status, Metis, Inuit) in the City of Toronto.

Wigwamen’s units are funded under a variety of housing programs:

Family Housing – Section 15-1 of the National Housing Act:

The first of Wigwamen’s units to be acquired, 139 family rental units (3 sixplexes, 2 fourplexes, 7 triplexes, 14 duplexes and 64 single houses) are available for rent to low and moderate income families and individuals on a geared-to-income basis. Tenants who are employed pay roughly 30% of their gross family income for rent, with a modest surcharge for utilities. Tenants on social assistance pay a rent based on a Ministry approved scale. The program is funded by all three levels of government.

Senior Citizen Housing – Section 15-1 of the National Housing Act:

Wigwamen Terrace, our 102-unit apartment building at 14 Spadina Road, is available for rent to low-income seniors (59 years of age or older) on a geared-to-income basis. Tenants who are employed pay roughly 30% the of their gross family income for rent, with a modest surcharge for utilities. Tenants on social assistance pay a rent based on a Ministry approved scale. The program is funded by all three levels of government.

Urban Native Housing – Section 95 of the National Housing Act:

Fully funded by the Federal Government, Wigwamen’s 41 units (12 triplexes and 5 single units) under the Urban Native Housing Program are available for rent to Aboriginal individuals and families on a geared-to-income basis. Tenants pay roughly 25% of their gross family income for rent, with utilities included in their payment.

HomesNow – Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing:

Fully funded by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Wigwamen’s 21 units (7 triplexes) under the HomesNow Program are available for rent to low-income families and individuals on a geared-to-income basis. Tenants who are employed pay roughly 30% of their gross family income for rent, with a modest surcharge for utilities. Tenants on social assistance pay a rent based on a Ministry approved scale.

Federal/Provincial Housing Program 1993 -
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing / CMHC:

Jointly funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Provincial Ministry of Housing, Wigwamen’s 9 units (3 triplexes) under the Federal/Provincial Housing Program are available for rent to low-income families and individuals on a geared-to-income basis. Tenants who are employed pay roughly 30% of their gross family income for rent, with a modest surcharge for utilities. Tenants on social assistance pay a rent based on a Ministry approved scale.