Efforts to combat the local affordable housing crisis are producing some positive results, says Brantford’s mayor
Advertisement 2
Article content
“We can see visible, tangible, positive results of our efforts to address the housing problem in the two communities,” Kevin Davis said, pointing to a graph presented at a Wednesday social services committee meeting.
Article content
The graph shows the number of households on the affordable housing wait list has dropped significantly since 2018.
“Have we solved it? Not by a long shot but the graph tells us we’re making progress,” Davis said.
Davis liked the graph to a thermometer that helps measure how the community is doing in terms of housing those most in need in Brantford and Brant County.
Progress on the issue is the result of new affordable housing construction projects, elected officials making the issue a top priority and the hard work of local housing and social services staff, Davis said.
Advertisement 3
Article content
“I think this graph tells a positive story and hopefully, we can continue with our efforts and continue to see improvement.”
Numbers indicate there were 1,030 households on the affordable housing wait list in 2023, down from a peak of 1,720 in 2018. The graph covered the wait list figures for a period of 10 years starting in 2013 when there were 1,150 households on the list.
The graph was part of a report presented to councilors by city staff.
According to the report, 225 households were moved from the wait list to affordable housing in 2023, a 54 per cent increase from 2022 when 146 households received help.
However, the staff report says wait times for affordable housing has increased in the past year.
Seniors 60 and over have a three to five-year wait while families with dependents will have to wait anywhere from four to eight years. Non-seniors with no dependents can find themselves waiting eight to 12 years.
Advertisement 4
Article content
The lengthier wait times are the result of ongoing financial pressures faced by many households, increased costs to home prices and rentals and lengthy wait times with respect to Landlord and Tenant Board hearings, the report says.
According to the report, all of those factors contribute to an increased demand for affordable housing and make it less likely that those currently living in a rent-geared-to-income unit can transition to the private rental market.
“We’ve done very well in terms of reducing our wait list,” Brian Hutchings, the city’s CAO, said. “We’re starting to see some of the impact of the building projects that we’ve completed and the hard work our housing stability staff have done in terms of finding people homes.”
However, municipal housing staff locally and elsewhere are starting to see a disturbing trend. Home owners with families are now seeking help because their mortgages are up for renewal and they can’t handle the higher rates.
“We know something has changed and this is becoming a bigger issue,” Hutchings said. “I’m quite proud to sit here today knowing we’ve done a great job on our wait list but I’m worried about the future.”
twitter.com/EXPVBall
Article content