Response to Public…

Response to Public Consultation
Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
July 31, 2020

Habitat for Humanity’s Ontario affiliates appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback to the Government of Ontario’s proposed amendment to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The Golden Horseshoe area contains some of Habitat for Humanity’s largest affiliates, which build dozens of affordable homes for families in need each year with the mission of helping to create a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Many of our affiliates across Ontario also support community agencies that provide much needed social service and supports.

Ontario’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates appreciate the Government of Ontario’s efforts to ensure our province can grow and prosper as we navigate through the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created, including the most recent announcement of $4 billion in funding for municipalities. We also appreciate that A Place to Grow emphasizes affordable housing options around transit.

However, there are challenges: In the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, we know that municipalities are facing a large revenue loss due to the pandemic and many are considering which services to cut, including affordable housing. The level of growth outlined in A Place to Grow will require significant funding, and even with the recent $4-billion funding announcement, municipalities will likely still face revenue shortfalls. The Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Ontario urge the Province of Ontario to ensure municipalities have the funding to support this growth as well as affordable housing.

The Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Ontario strongly recommend:

1. The Government of Ontario and its municipalities prioritize affordable housing, from shelters to homeownership, and ensure funding is available to continue supporting the housing needs of the province’s most vulnerable citizens.

2. The Government of Ontario (a) ensure all surplus lands are assessed to determine their suitability for affordable housing; and (b) when employment lands are converted for residential use, municipalities are incentivized to ensure affordable housing is part of the development.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input.

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Habitat for Humanity has 25 affiliates across Ontario, spanning from north of Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie to the south in Sarnia and Windsor, with Ottawa, the Golden Horseshoe and many other communities in between.