More affordable housing needed

Re: Affordable housing to be part of big project in Kitchener core — June 28

We applaud Kitchener city council for getting agreement from Drewlo to include some affordable housing units in its planned residential development at King and Cameron streets. Unfortunately, the financial commitment from Drewlo is inadequate at $173 a month for five years or $360 a month for three years.

New apartments and condos cost more than $1,000 a month. A subsidy that lowers rent cost by $173 a month will not make it affordable even to someone working full-time at minimum wage. The alternative that lowers rent cost by $360 a month might just make it affordable for some full-time workers but would not for a person on CPP, the Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works.

Kitchener and Waterloo need to be more assertive with developers. They need to require all housing developers to include affordable housing units in new builds, and without “density bonusing” that allows developers to break the city’s own density rules.

We should not be held hostage to developers who demand higher buildings or more buildings on a footprint in order to provide some affordable housing units in each of their new builds.

Kathie Keefe

Social Action Committee, Grand River Unitarian Congregation Waterloo