Council's Task Force on Affordable Housing

Council’s Task Force on Affordable Housing wants to hear your views on affordable housing – the need in our community and what should be done about it.

On Monday, December 6 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. you are invited to a virtual Town Hall.

Participation

To participate in the virtual Town Hall you must pre-register by emailing clerks@midland.ca by noon on Friday, December 3.

A Zoom link will be provided to participants once they have registered.

Questions/Comments

Submit questions and comments for the virtual Town Hall by emailing clerks@midland.ca by noon on Friday, December 3.

*Please include “Council’s Task Force on Affordable Housing – Virtual Town Hall” in the subject line of your emails.*

The Town Hall will be recorded and posted on Engaging Midland afterwards for viewing.

By Gord McKay, Chair of Council’s Task Force on Affordable Housing

Elizabeth’s young daughter has a difficult time concentrating on her schoolwork. You see Elizabeth is a single mom who is trying to raise a family by working two part time jobs. She grew up in Tay, attended a local high school and because she was good at writing dreamed of becoming a journalist. Then life happened – a boyfriend, a child and the need to get a job. She worked hard and was fortunate to find a small apartment in a house on a quiet street. Then life happened again. The landlord was moving and wanted her out. But where to go? The few apartments available in Midland were well beyond her price range. County social programs didn’t quite fit her situation. Going into a homeless shelter with her child? Where was she to go?

Housing problems are real for many in Midland. A 2021 survey conducted through the Town’s website, showed almost 98% of respondents felt that affordable housing was a problem for Midland. They emphasized affordability as the key factor. Statistics Canada backs this up. Their data shows that 8.1% of Midland’s household are low-income, higher than the County of Simcoe average of 5.3. Respondents to Midland’s survey also identified another concern – lack of supply. 79% stated the problem was just not being able to find a suitable place to live.

In October Midland Council took an important step towards fixing our long-standing shortfall of affordable / attainable housing. It re-affirmed its commitment to action. It considered new tools -- fee reductions, reduced parking requirements, town land allocation -- that would spur the building of affordable units. These tools will form part of a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) being considered for submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval. The CIP will remove legislative barriers and broaden the municipality’s ability to act. Council also requested that a 0.75% be added to the tax levy in support of affordable / attainable housing.

Fixing Midland’s decades long housing deficit will take time and commitment. It will not be successful without the understanding and support of residents. Properly built affordable homes will be part of our community. They will have to fit in within current neighbourhoods. Yes, there will be challenges. And solving a problem that has been with us for decades will require change. We need your help, not to tell us what cannot be done but how we can go about delivering the affordable housing needed by our community. The process started with the Engaging Midland poll this past June. More opportunities for your involvement will announced in the days ahead. Please watch the Engaging Midland site for further updates.

On October 6, 2021, Council directed staff to start working towards “the provision of affordable/attainable housing throughout the entire community” through development of a Community Improvement Plan and consideration of an additional 0.75% annually to the tax levy in support of the housing initiative.

At that Council meeting, the Task Force on Affordable Housing provided:

• A presentation on taking action on Affordable Housing;
• A framework for moving forward on increasing the supply of affordable housing in Midland; and
• A summary and analysis of Engaging Midland Attainable Housing Survey.