Cities, towns should lead housing

Municipalities are in best position to ensure affordable housing is attainable

Canada’s largest cities — Toronto and Vancouver, in particular — are undergoing a transformation that is making housing less attainable for middle class citizens. Those same housing challenges have reached Ontario’s small towns as well.

When I ran for a council seat last year in my community, the Town of The Blue Mountains, it was clear that “attainable” housing was a key issue. Even in a thriving community such as The Blue Mountains, housing challenges are never far away.

Long-time residents of our town rarely think of leaving. Retirees and urban dwellers plan their dream homes away from it all in our many picturesque villages. Vacationers and seasonal workers compete for the same rentals to enjoy the stunning natural beauty and seasonal outdoor activities.

The Blue Mountains is a unique place and this uniqueness is putting strain on our families, young workers and retirees. As a popular allseason destination for about 2.5 million annual tourists, many urban dwellers from Canada and the United States own lodges and ski chalets to hit the slopes in the winter months and head out to the golf course and cycling trails in the summertime.

However, a combination of tourism growth and the arrival of an older, more affluent population has driven up costs for young people, working families and seniors who live and work in The Blue Mountains year-round and has had a negative impact on the local economy.

Employees are unable to find housing they can afford close to their jobs and local businesses struggle to fill job vacancies because of a growing labour shortage.

In The Blue Mountains, over 23 per cent of the population spends more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, which is widely accepted as the determinant of housing affordability.

There is also a significant amount of income disparity. Since 2011, the median income has seen less substantial growth than the average income, signalling a widening gap between wealthy and middle-income earners.

In a recent Ontario government survey, respondents said housing is becoming increasingly out of reach for the local workforce.

It’s time for municipalities to take up the mantle of affordable housing and lead. The issue is too big and too important to wait for solutions from the other levels of government.

While social and affordable housing is the responsibility of uppertier governments — in our case, Grey County — it is time for all municipalities to use their levers and resources to make a difference.

With the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference around the corner, now is an apt time for a discussion about the role of municipalities when it comes to affordable housing.

Historically, lower-tier municipalities have deferred to other levels of government, with funding and building efforts aimed at addressing affordable housing challenges coming from the federal and provincial governments.

The Town of The Blue Mountains is working hard to help build more affordable housing. What started as a small housing corporation that administered grant programs, the Blue Mountains Attainable Housing Corporation is rapidly transforming into a nonprofit housing developer that will work with the private sector and social service partners to provide housing that is in reach for the middle class.

Other lower-tier municipalities, such as Richmond Hill, are also taking action by developing their own affordable housing strategy. With fewer resources, lower-tier municipal agencies are depending on sound strategy and creative solutions to deliver affordable housing.

Municipal governments are arguably the most well-positioned to build affordable housing. With deep roots in the community, municipalities can build partnerships with nonprofit and private sector players who can provide key insights and valuable information.

Ontario is a desirable place to live. With a growing population, increasing job competition and high housing costs, bold solutions are needed to help the middle class. Municipalities should accept this challenge and realize that building affordable housing is most valuable when building a community.

With deep roots in the community, municipalities can build partnerships with nonprofit and private sector players who can provide valuable information.