Affordable Housing

“Affordability” is an issue for everyone to consider when looking for a place to live. It becomes even more acute for the growing number of people living on low to modest incomes in York Region.

Affordability

• Rental rates have outstripped inflation. In 2007, York Region had the second highest average market rent for a two bedroom apartment at $1,040, second only to Toronto at $1,072.
• 48% of tenants and 27% of owners are spending more than 30% of their gross income on shelter
• 23% of renters and 12% of owners are spending more than 50% of their gross income on shelter – this puts them at significant risk of losing their housing

Availability

• York Region has one of the lowest vacancy rates (1.5% 2008) in Ontario – well below the healthy vacancy rate (3%)

Supply

• York Region has the lowest proportion of rental accommodation in the GTA and one of the lowest in the province
• In spite of efforts by York Region, York has the lowest level of rental housing being built in 22 communities analyzed in the "Where's Home? 2008" report from across Canada
• 6472 households (seniors, families, singles) on the waiting list for rent geared to income housing (September 2009) – a 13% increase over September 2008
• There are other households who are in desperate need of affordable housing but have not bothered to apply because the wait times are too long

Safety

There are thousands of basement apartments/secondary suites in municipalities across York Region. Only two of nine municipalities ( Newmarket and East Gwillimbury) currently have “as of right” provisions for secondary suites/accessory apartments that regulate building and safety standards.

Resources

WHERE'S HOME? 2008
ONTARIO NON-PROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATION AND CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING FEDERATION CANADA ONTARIO REGION REPORT ON HOUSING NEED IN ONTARIO

Report No. 4 of the Community Services and Housing Committee Regional Council Meeting of May 21, 2009 (PDF)
Since 1999, ONPHA and CHF Canada Ontario Region have published reports, entitled Where’s Home? The Where’s Home? 2008 report (the Report), released on March 2, 2009 examines the rental housing market and the housing needs across 22 selected markets in Ontario.