Moving Toward More Affordable Housing in Niagara National Housing Day Explores Streamlining Processes for New Development
This year National Housing Day has been dedicated to encouraging local developers to help with Niagara’s shortage of affordable housing. On November 22, Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) partnered with Niagara Region Community Services and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to recognize National Housing Day by exploring processes for new development. Developers, planners, housing providers and community agencies/partners gathered at the Niagara Regional Native Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake to discuss development best practices and learn from local experts. The participants and panelists joined together with the shared goal of meeting Niagara’s desperate need for housing.
“All Canadians need and deserve housing that is safe, adequate and affordable,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. “Through new investments in housing, the Government is helping to strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for Canadians, providing better places to live and grow.”
The creation of new affordable housing has been recognized in Niagara’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Action Plan, which emphasizes the need to increase opportunities and options across the housing continuum. “Right now, we have close to 5,000 households on our Centralized Waiting List so we know that there is a need for more affordable housing stock in Niagara. We also know that there is a great deal of local interest in responding to the housing crisis in Niagara,” said Henry D’Angela, NRH Board Chair and Thorold Regional Councillor. “What a great opportunity to learn, to shine a light on what’s been happening in Niagara and to bring increased awareness to the importance of affordable housing.”
NRH Chief Executive Officer Dan Troke noted that there are many exciting affordable housing concepts happening in other countries and Niagara needs to make sure that it has the tools in place to embrace those that might work here. National Housing Day commemorates the 1998 declaration by the Big City Mayor’s Caucus that homelessness in Canada had reached crisis proportions.
NRH administers affordable housing on behalf of Niagara Region.
Wendy Thompson
Niagara Regional Housing
905-682-9201 ext. 3937
wendy.thompson@niagararegion.ca
Angelina Ritacco
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
647-210-7420
aritacco@cmhc.ca