Community Planning: Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting – Working together, making a difference Despite a downturn in the economy that is putting the pinch on households and budgets, Toronto Community Housing tenants this year once again decided how to invest $9 million on ideas that will improve tenants’ quality of life.

April 17, 2008
Youth at Copper Mills housing complex get newly renovated gymnasium

Local residents celebrate the reopening of the gym with new floors, basketball rims, drinking fountain and fresh paint and plaster on the walls.

April 17, 2008
Participatory decision-making at work On April 5, close to 170 people, including tenants, staff and observers gathered at the North York Civic Centre Council Chambers to watch participatory budgeting in action at this year's $1.8M Allocation Day.

April 10, 2008
North York neighbourhoods share in $1.8 million Two North York neighbourhoods will receive more than $120,000 each from Toronto Community Housing's $1.8 Million Tenant Allocation Day held April 5.

April 10, 2008
Tenants secure funding for community playgrounds Tenants of two Thistletown social housing units were successful in their bid to secure $200,000 in funding for community playgrounds last weekend. As part of their participatory budgeting program, Toronto Community Housing (TCH) doled out funding to 13 such projects at its fifth annual $1.8 Million Tenant Allocation Day on Saturday at North York Civic Centre.

April 6, 2008
$1.8 Million Tenant Allocation Day broadcast on CBC Radio News Toronto Community Housing tenants representing 164,000 tenants - six per cent of Toronto's population - did what no other tenants in North America have an opportunity to do: They decided how their landlord will spend $1.8 million in capital repair money in their homes and neighbourhoods based on tenant priorities.

April 6, 2008
Tenants lobby each other in ultimate reality show Innovative program allows communities to decide for themselves which of their needs deserve funds

March 31, 2008
Participatory Budgeting: $1.8M Capital Allocation Day On Saturday, April 5, 2008, tenants representing their communities will gather at the North York Civic Centre Council Chambers for Toronto Community Housing's fifth annual $1.8M Capital Allocation Day.

How Does Participatory Budgeting Work?

How does participatory budgeting work?

Community Planning: Participatory Budgeting

Step 1: Identifying issues and priorities in your community/building

Community Planning: Participatory Budgeting

Since 2002, Toronto Community Housing tenants have taken part in a participatory budgeting process that is part of community planning. The process involves tenants working together identifying their community’s priorities and then deciding on the distribution of a portion of capital funds to these priorities.