More low-cost housing needed

The transformation of downtown Kitchener in the space of just a few years has been a wonder to behold.

Upscale condos, high-tech startups, trendy new shops and restaurants have all moved in to revive the core and give it a new shine. And things will only get better when the light rail trains start running next year.

But along with all this welcome development, there must still be room for something else in the heart of the city. That’s affordable housing.

Regrettably, this vital commodity has been rapidly disappearing as the light rail project sent property values soaring along its route. As old, established neighbourhoods were redeveloped — or gentrified, as some complain — low-income residents have been squeezed out.

Something has to be done to get more affordable housing built here and throughout the city. To its credit, Kitchener council has awakened to the important, if limited role it has in making this happen.

On Monday, council unanimously agreed to new incentives to spur the construction of more low-income accommodation.

Until now, nonprofit housing groups have often found it hard to start new projects because they don’t receive government funding until tenants have moved in.

Kitchener’s new incentives — which still need council’s final approval — include allowing developers of affordable housing to delay paying development charges until the units are occupied and tenants are paying rent.

In addition, the city will exempt affordable housing projects from planning fees and building permit fees.

On their own, these measures won’t solve the problem, which is rampant not only in Kitchener but throughout Waterloo Region.

They’re modest and will cost Kitchener about $30,000 a year. Even so, they’re a hopeful start.

The cities of Cambridge and Waterloo are already providing similar incentives. Meanwhile, the regional government, which is the main player in affordable housing, is also considering incentives for new low-cost housing developments.

It would be wonderful to see the cities and region working together as a team.

After all, the federal government is poised to deliver $12.6 billion later this year for affordable housing across Canada.

We need to be ready in Waterloo Region to ask for our fair share of these funds.

No one should doubt the urgent and unmet need in this region for low-cost housing — defined as accommodation that charges rent at least 20 per cent below the average market rent in the community.

For years, the region’s waiting list for affordable housing has been stuck at about 3,000 names — and those names probably represent 10,000 people, including men, women, children and seniors.

That list will only grow as the region’s population ages, skyrocketing housing prices make it harder to buy a home, and the demand for reasonably priced rental accommodation rises.

It’s obvious that affordable housing makes it easier for people to feed and clothe themselves, stay healthy and work in productive jobs.

And it doesn’t take a great stretch of the imagination to realize that finding a place for this kind of accommodation and the people who require it makes for a stronger, more caring community, too.