"Like other communities in Ontario, the County of Grey is experiencing a housing affordability crisis. Updated Growth Management Forecasts have been completed which indicate that the County will grow by more than 12,000 households through 2046. Policy targets aim for 30% of new development at an ‘affordable’ price point to low- and moderate-income households, however increasingly it is understood that traditional market tools and factors are unlikely to facilitate the creation of affordable units at this
price-point given high land costs, construction input-cost escalation, rising interest rates and evolving workforce challenges in the development & construction sector. An ‘affordable’ housing cost is generally considered as being no more than 30% of a household’s gross income."

This is from the introduction to the updated  Housing Action Plan prepared by Grey County planners that will be presented for the consideration of Grey County council members at their meeting tomorrow, August 10, at 10 a.m.

The Plan is based on clear data and rcognizes that housing is a complex system with many components.  While acknowledging the County's lead role, it calls for participation and collaboration from municipalities, agencies and the development community. 

The actions included are Current, such as work on a Housing Land Bank/Surplus Lands Project with local municipalities; New, like researching funding models such as community bonds  and social finance; and  Potential/Future Opportunities like Building Code and Zoning changes and supporting landlord/tenant matchmaking, perhaps through apps like Happipad or services like Georgian Bay Home Share.

The Housing Action Plan is an accessible read of 19 pages we recommend to all those interested in the issue.

(image from the Housing Action Plan cover)