Moss Park Residents Speak Out: Affordable Housing, Safety, and Jobs Top Concerns

In 2024, the Moss Park Coalition launched a community survey to capture the voices of residents amid rising gentrification and development pressures. 

Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative

Led by local organizer David Anderson and supported by coalition member Mohammad Asim Bhatti, the survey gathered responses from 87 residents during events held throughout 2024 and early 2025. The results underscore urgent challenges facing Moss Park’s community.

Nearly 80% of respondents identified affordable housing as their biggest concern, followed by tenant protections, food access, community safety, and employment opportunities. Many residents reported worsening conditions in Toronto Community Housing buildings, increasing rents, and short-term leases, which create instability for families. A lack of tenant rights education further compounds these struggles.

The survey also highlighted disappointment with the Ontario Line project by Metrolinx. Residents say promised local hiring has not materialized, and newcomers face barriers when their credentials aren’t recognized. Mohammad Asim Bhatti explains that the survey aims to amplify community voices and push for concrete action. 

Initiatives like Building Roots’ Moss Park Market and community garden offer hope, but systemic change is essential.
As Moss Park faces rapid change, the coalition urges broader community involvement to ensure residents shape the neighbourhood’s future.