Realtors call for housing funding
Group ‘deeply disappointed’ city’s application denied
The Niagara Association of Realtors is calling on local MPs and MPPs to rally around Niagara Falls’ efforts to secure upper-tier government funding to build more housing.
“Niagara has a housing supply crisis, and we desperately need to build more homes for families if we are going to protect the ability of residents to find attainable housing in our city,” Nathan Morrissette, president of the association, said in a statement this week.
The association issued the statement after learning from Niagara Falls city council’s April 9 meeting the municipality failed to secure $45.2 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to help construct 1,668 units in three years and 9,660 over the next decade.
City officials said they are hopeful the municipality will be a successful applicant in the next round of funding.
“The Niagara Association of Realtors is deeply disappointed that Niagara Falls’ application was denied,” said the statement.
“The city’s application was strong and addressed all the program requirements, including four units as-of-right on residential housing lots.”
In the middle of a “housing affordability crisis,” residents expect all levels of government to work together to get more homes built faster, said the statement.
“We urge our local MPs and MPPs to rally behind city council’s application and bring the federal government back to the table to find a solution. We must continue to build more homes so future generations have a fair shot at achieving the Canadian dream.”
In March 2023, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. introduced HAF, a $4-billion incentive program targeting municipalities, with an anticipated outcome of 100,000 additional housing building permits issued across the country by fall 2026.
Communication from CMHC provided to councillors said more than 500 applications were received in the first round.
A total of $3.7 billion was awarded to more than 70 communities, including $21.5 million to St. Catharines.
Signe Hansen, Niagara Falls’ senior manager of long-range planning initiatives, told councillors it was “made clear” early on to staff there would be more applicants than available funding.
During the same meeting, council received a separate staff report indicating Niagara Falls surpassed its provincially modified 2023 housing target by issuing building permits for more than 600 units, above the 587unit goal.
Niagara Falls officials have been questioning the province as to why the city has not received funding for hitting or exceeding 2023 housing targets, while municipalities such as Welland and St. Catharines have.
Kira Dolch, Niagara Falls’ general manager of planning building and development, told council the province didn’t include several units in the city’s total, such as renovations for residential units above commercial buildings, long-termcare beds, supportive housing units and shelter beds.
In an interview, Morrissette said it’s good federal and provincial governments have funding available, but it’s equally important municipalities that meet application and target criteria receive that money.
“The association is calling for that Team Niagara Falls approach from MPs, MPPs to get that funding approved for the future,” he said.
“It’s disappointing when they’re doing the right things and taking those steps and they don’t get the funding. Hopefully the call and the rally of support will show them, and we can get something done here.”
Morrissette said while government funding is helpful, so is reducing red tape.
“Funding is great, it does help move things forward and obviously some great signs there, and there are some municipalities that have already taken some great steps toward four units as-of-right and making strides in that regard,” he said.
“But we can’t just stop there. We need to keep going and do those things by making it easier — permit times, those types of things, that will assist the process overall.”