Toronto’s affordable housing committee endorsed a comprehensive 10-year plan to tackle the city’s housing problems and create economically diverse neighbourhoods.

HOT won the committee’s endorsement after a unanimous vote at today’s meeting.

The Housing Opportunities Toronto (HOT) plan can now proceed to the City of Toronto’s executive committee and then city council chambers. If it can clear those hurdles the city will need to convince provincial and federal governments to fund the plan.

If passed by council it will set strategic guidelines for spending on affordable housing and outline 67 points of action to increase the availability of housing and housing subsidies in neighbourhoods across Toronto.

The plan was the result of consultations that began in 2007.

It proposes the creation of 1,000 affordable rental homes each year, repairs to existing housing and incentives to integrate affordable residences into communities where units are sold or rented at market value. HOT would also see council adopt a Toronto Housing Charter which states that all Toronto residents should have access to housing options in the neighbourhood of their choice, without discrimination.

With the goal of assisting about 258,000 households, HOT carries an annual price tag of $484 million.

City staff have asked the province for $180 million and are applying to fund projects considered shovel-ready under the federal economic stimulus package. About two fifths of the plan’s first-year budget has been secured according to city staff, but it is unclear where they will find the remaining cash.

Affordable Housing Chair Giorgio Mammoliti acknowledged that criticism regarding the lack of a funding plan is justified, but said that the goals and ideals the plan embodies should attract federal and provincial dollars.

“They know where we stand for the next 10 years, they know what we want for the next 10 years and they know what our priorities are,” he said.

Former mayor and current chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission Barbara Hall praised the plan for its commitment to ending discrimination. She said a national housing plan based on more explicit human rights standards would be ideal, but praised Toronto for taking a principled stance.

“Once again we see the City of Toronto has taken a leadership role ahead of the other two levels of government,” she told the committee.

Mammoliti, who mentioned he felt the effects of discrimination first-hand as the son of Italian immigrants, said he is especially proud of the Toronto Housing Charter.

Councillor Adam Vaughan told the committee he hopes the plan will be the start of more inclusive zoning policies and the end of single-purpose neighbourhoods. He also hopes it can be used to usher in more supportive housing where people obtain all the help they need to get back on their feet.

“The cheapest part of the equation is something that takes people who are in need of social assistance and turns them into taxpayers,” Vaughan said.

HOT will go before the executive committee on June 2 and Toronto city council on July 6 and 7.