News Release: Toronto Community Housing launches second phase of its window air conditioner exchange program

TORONTO, February 26, 2020— After removing 7,000 window air conditioners from its buildings, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is now inviting tenants who themselves removed window air conditioners last fall to exchange them for a portable, floor-mounted air conditioner.

TCHC is working to exchange, at no cost to tenants, more than 10,000 window air conditioners for portable floor models in time for the June-to-September cooling season.

Late last fall, in the interests of safety, TCHC began removing window air conditioners not contained within a balcony. Tenants who agreed to an exchange had their names and addresses recorded in TCHC's database and were given a voucher confirming the exchange in time for the 2020 cooling season.

Now tenants with a window air conditioner in storage can join the exchange program and receive a new floor model. These tenants can call Toronto Community Housing's 24-hour Client Care Centre to sign up for an exchange. TCHC will begin delivering the new floor models to tenants' homes in early March.

TCHC is permitting households that currently have a window air conditioner contained within a balcony to continue using them until further notice. This is a temporary measure to ensure that no household is without air conditioning during hot conditions this year. 

Quote:

"Through the hard work of our staff and contractors, we have removed 7,000 window air conditioners not contained within a balcony, enhancing the safety of tenants, staff and visitors to our buildings. Now we are inviting tenants who removed their own window air conditioners to exchange them for a new portable floor model at no cost.  All exchanges will be made in time for the 2020 cooling season."

- President and CEO Kevin Marshman

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About Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider. Toronto Community Housing provides homes for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in neighbourhoods across the city. Toronto Community Housing is wholly owned by the City of Toronto and its 2,100 buildings represent a $10-billion public asset. 

Media contact: TCHC media line media@torontohousing.ca