Tenant funds distribution policy

On this page

    Policy Owner: Operations
    Approval: Board of Directors
    First Approved: June 9, 2022
    Effective Date: June 25, 2025

    Purpose

    Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) is committed to a tenant-focused approach in allocating funds, ensuring that financial resources align with tenant priorities while maintaining transparency, accountability, and the appropriate financial controls.

    Tenants can apply for funds for the following three programs:

    • Tenant Action Funds (TAF)
    • Local Initiative for Tenant Funding (LIFT)
    • CABR Centre Community Funds

    This Policy supports projects and initiatives that address tenant-identified priorities. It guides the way TCHC funds for community development are allocated and establishes eligibility criteria for the types of initiatives that may be funded.

    Scope

    This Policy applies to all TCHC tenants, tenant groups and staff. It provides an overview of the activities that can be funded under these three (3) programs (TAF, LIFT and Centre Community Funds) and how the funds will be disbursed to tenants.

    This policy does not apply to:

    • Tenants requiring expense reimbursement as part of initiatives that are outside of approved initiatives funded through this policy. Please see the Tenant Expense Guidelines for more details.
    • Agencies, as they are excluded for applying for funds through these programs.
    • Projects and events that are part of the Regional Operations’ tenant engagement work.

    Values

    • Transparency – TCHC will clearly communicate fund criteria, application process, and decisions in accordance with the policy and procedures.
    • Equity – TCHC will be consistent and fair in the support, communication and administration of tenant applications, assessment and decisions associated with this Policy.
    • Respect – TCHC will provide respectful, professional and courteous service to tenants through the application process including acknowledgement and clear communication.
    • Accountability – TCHC will establish appropriate procedures and tools for the operation of this Policy and will monitor compliance with established service levels on an on-going basis.
    • Accessibility – TCHC will continue to provide accessible service and meet its duty to accommodate under the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the standards set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
    • Responsiveness – TCHC will ensure that funding programs are responsive and flexible to tenant priorities and needs.
    • Tenant Engagement – TCHC will ensure meaningful tenant participation in local decision-making and community development, empowering tenants to have a voice in shaping their communities.

    Policy details

    Funds will be allocated to initiatives that assist tenants and tenant groups to respond to tenant-identified priorities in their local communities.
    Use of tenant funds cannot personally benefit an applicant or an applicant’s family, friends or business enterprise with which the applicant is associated, through the form of pay, a stipend, honorarium, wage, or purchase of goods and services or any other items where, as determined by TCHC, it is deemed to be or can be perceived to be a conflict of interest.

    Tenant Action Funds (TAF)

    The purpose of TAF is to set aside funds for tenants and tenant groups to fund projects and initiatives that will respond to tenant-identified priorities. The maximum allocation per request is $1,000 per initiative.

    Eligibility criteria for TAF

    TCHC tenants and tenant groups can apply for funds for initiatives that will respond to tenant-identified priorities. Such initiatives include but are not limited to: Tenant-led activities and activities that enhances tenant participation in their communities.

    Allocation and decision making for TAF

    The TAF Table is responsible for reviewing and approving requests made by tenants and tenant groups. Applications are scored in accordance with TAF guidelines described in the application package. Decisions made by the TAF Table are final.

    Local Initiative for Tenant Funding (LIFT)

    The Local Initiative Funding for Tenants (LIFT) provides financial resources available to tenants to fund projects and initiatives that foster community development. Projects and initiatives are identified by tenants in a building or community through a prioritization exercise at a meeting of the Tenant Circle.

    Eligibility criteria for LIFT

    LIFT funds will be allocated to each building or community based on a formula determined by number of bedrooms in a development ID.

    Allocation and decision making for LIFT

    Tenants of each building or community will identify their annual community development and engagement priorities at a duly called meeting of the local Tenant Circle and will determine how to distribute their allocation among their identified priorities. Staff will support tenants to procure, track and inventory items, as well as to evaluate activities and vendors.

    Centre Community Funds

    The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People “the Centre” has a fund for tenant engagement initiatives for tenant projects that align with the CABR Strategy and its Eight-Point Plan. The maximum allocation per request is $5,000 per initiative.

    Eligibility criteria for the Centre Community Funds

    Centre Community Funds provide funding for tenant projects that support the CABR Strategy and its Eight-Point Plan. Such initiatives include but are not limited to: Community programs, events and workshops.

    Allocation and decision making for the Centre Community Funds

    The review panel will consist of a minimum of three (3) staff from outside of the Centre that will review and approve requests made by tenants and tenant groups. Applications are scored in accordance with the Centre Community Funds guidelines described in the application package. Decisions made by the Advisory Board are final.

    Standards

    1. TAF and LIFT initiatives must address tenant-identified priorities (i.e., Development Priority Plans as part of LIFT).

    2. The Centre Community Funds initiatives must further TCHC’s CABR Strategy and Eight-Point Plan.

    3. TCHC staff will ensure that they make themselves available to tenants and tenant applicant groups through the application process to provide support as required in completing the application forms.

    Compliance and monitoring

    The Tenant Engagement and Centre Staff will ensure transparent record keeping inventories of all applications, decisions, and delivery of goods and reconciliation of funds provided to the projects.

    Operations will ensure spending by those requesting TAF or LIFT funds align with TCHC policies, procedures and guidelines.

    The Centre will ensure spending by those requesting Centre funds align with TCHC policies, procedures and guidelines.

    The Finance Division will review the annual reconciliation and will conduct random audits of the submissions to ascertain compliance with this policy.

    All relevant divisions will work collaboratively to ensure appropriate balance between good governance of the program and compliance with approved policies, and procedures that enable programs to run in accordance with program objectives and tenant expectations.

    Definitions

    Agency: In this Policy, an agency is an incorporated not-for-profit organization, a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, a healthcare service provider as defined by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, SO 1991, c 18, a City of Toronto department or subsidiary.

    CABR (Confronting Anti Black Racism): In 2020, TCHC established a Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Strategy team to develop a company- wide confronting anti-Black racism strategy. The strategy aims to identify systemic barriers, provide recommendations to address anti-Black racism issues embedded in TCHC policies, programs, and service delivery, and help create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for tenants and staff.

    Centre Community Funds: Funds set aside by TCHC for tenant projects that address priorities identified in TCHC’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Strategy.

    Local Initiative Funding for Tenants (LIFT): Funds set aside by TCHC, allocated to each building to support community engagement and community development priorities as identified through the Tenant Circles.

    Tenant: A person who, pursuant to a residential lease agreement with TCHC or a TCHC-approved sub-landlord, lives in a TCHC building.

    Tenant Circle: The building/ townhouse community component of the Engage Together model. Meetings are open to all tenants in a building or townhouse community. Members work together to set community priorities and support tenant-led initiatives.

    Tenant Group: A formal or informal group of tenants who gather to advocate on behalf of tenants and/or organize activities to support and/or engage tenants within the community.

    Tenant Action Funds (TAF): Funds set aside by TCHC for the purpose of addressing tenant-identified priorities.

    Tenant Action Funds (TAF) Table: Members of the TAF Table consist of TCHC Regional Managers and TCHC tenants over the age of 16 from all across Toronto. The TAF Table is responsible for reviewing tenant funding requests for community projects and initiatives that respond to tenant-identified priorities.

    Download the Tenant funds distribution policy (PDF)