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County releases annual report on 10-year affordable housing and homelessness strategy

July 18, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The County of Simcoe has released its 10th annual Housing Our Future report for 2023 to measure and evaluate the implementation of recommendations contained in its Our Community 10-Year Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Strategy.

The strategy set a minimum goal of 2,685 new affordable housing units between 2014 and 2024. The County not only met but exceeded that goal one year ahead of schedule.

As of December 31, 2023, 3,250 new affordable homes had been created across the region since 2014, with more in the process of being built.

The report also highlights other targets and goals achieved as part of the larger 10-year strategy.

“We continue to impact the lives of residents with each new unit and investment in affordable housing,” said Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke. “As we officially close out our previous 10-year plan, our Council and staff are committed to having an even stronger and bolder 10-year affordable housing strategy to present in the coming months that will continue building up the lives of our residents and starting new stories of homes, lives, and hope.”

Affordable housing spaces created since 2013 include an additional 1,478 new government-funded rent supplements and housing allowances delivered, 141 new affordable homeownership through the County’s Affordable Homeownership Program, and 243 government-funded secondary suites through programs like the County of Simcoe’s Secondary Suites Program which provides forgivable loans to eligible individuals creating affordable secondary suits in their home.

Through programs, there were 132 households assisted with transitional housing, 144 individuals supported by the County of Simcoe’s Domiciliary Care Program, 29 individuals supported by the Seniors at Home Program, 206 households assisted with Housing First Funding for the affordable housing strategy comes from a variety of sources including the County of Simcoe, the cities of Barrie and Orillia, and governments of Canada and Ontario.

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