Make your voice heard on affordable housing in York Region!

Thestar.com
Oct. 28, 2021
Tara Bhardwaj

The Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region is excited to launch a short survey for the region’s residents (that's you!) to make their voices heard on hot-button housing issues. By giving five minutes of your time, you can contribute to stronger data collection that fuels housing advocacy efforts. Join the conversation today. Here’s why it’s important:

Countless community organizations, advocacy groups and activists have been holding all levels of government accountable for the housing crisis for decades. With a federal election behind us and a provincial one around the corner, it's time for residents to join the conversation and influence what's to come.

Early this year, York Region declared a housing crisis and at this point, the numbers are undeniable. Vacancy rates in York region have fallen far below the healthy minimum, and the region holds the highest proportion of households in the GTHA spending more than 30 per cent or 50 per cent of their income on housing.

As all levels of government address the crisis and pose various solutions, it's important to consider what role residents play. For example, Ontario municipalities have recently been exploring the vacancy tax, which would tax 1 to 2 per cent of the value on vacant residential property. This strategy could bring in between $15 million and $90 million in its first year, which could bolster more affordable housing initiatives. Here in York region, Housing York has subsidized and affordable housing projects underway in Newmarket, Aurora, Georgina, Markham, Stouffville, and East Gwillimbury. This means that our neighbourhoods will have more affordable housing available to meet the skyrocketing demand. As residents, we have an opportunity to welcome these developments, stronger housing initiatives in our backyards.

The Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region values your opinion. They’d like to hear from you on three important strategies to increase options for affordable housing: vacant homes tax, inclusionary zoning, and municipal land. Your responses will be used to build stronger support for affordable housing, and your advocacy can influence the decisions and actions of our municipal leaders. Thank you in advance. Here’s the survey: https://bit.ly/housing-yr-survey