Families move into dozens of renovated affordable apartments in Kensington: 'We have a home'

Well, several families tonight have a new place to call home after dozens of affordable apartment units were unveiled in Kensington. It's a small step in the city's goal to create thousands more units of affordable housing. Action News reporter Tonda Thomas was there for the big event in Toronto. I imagine a lot of families were excited, huh? Well, beyond excited, Rick, to finally have an affordable place to call home. The hope is more families will be able to have this same feeling. The simple act of sitting on a stoop. It's extra special when that stoop is yours. I'm sitting on the steps of my home. There was a time when Claudia Matthew didn't think she'd get to say that. Today, that changed as she walked into her new apartment. Oh my god. Hers is one of 31 newly renovated units known as Kings Highway Apartments in the area of Frankfurt and Cambria in Kensington. They are apartments that no one could live in previously because they didn't meet HUD standards until Odin Properties stepped in. Since 2013, we've been managing uh former low-income housing developments throughout the city. What could have been a setback became a success story uh for the residents and the neighborhood. Matthew's new apartment is a long way from where she had been. I went to shelters to shelters. A lot of the folks moving in here today are actually coming from uh various city homeless shelters. The search for affordable housing is a real struggle. More than 10,000 people are on the city's housing voucher wait list. Last month, Mayor Charerelle Parker unveiled a $2 billion plan to create and preserve affordable housing. It can't come fast enough for residents like Erica Shipman, who is also moving into the new apartments. It's a 2-year lease, and that will give me enough time to raise my credit, save my money, look for a home to buy. Matthew isn't looking that far ahead yet. Mommy's still soaking this. Okay. She's just happy her three children will know the comfort of home. How do you feel to have a new house? It I love it. And the joy that comes along with it. We did it. Oh, little Emmy. So cute. As for the rent, it varies depending on the person. The apartment will simply charge them 30% of their income, whatever that is. Odin Properties has committed to keeping the apartments as affordable units for the next 20 years. Sh. Yeah. Makes such a big difference for these families. Absolutely. Trying to thank you.