Recognizing National Housing Day — Join the conversation about Peel’s affordable housing needs

November 25, 2015 · 0 Comments

In celebration of National Housing Day Nov. 22, Peel Region is inviting residents, agencies and other governments to help raise awareness about the importance of finding sustainable housing solutions for healthy communities in Peel and across Canada.
“We know that housing is the foundation for people’s well-being and that it is essential to our community’s prosperity,” said Juliet Jackson, director of strategic planning, policy and partnerships in the human services department with the Region. “All of us have an important role to play in finding solutions and it is inspiring to see how our community continues to come together to address our housing needs.”
In 2013, the Region, in partnership with the community, created Peel’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan. It aims to increase safe, affordable, accessible and appropriate housing with the goal that everyone has a home and homelessness is eliminated.
As a result of the community’s collective efforts, there are now fewer households waiting for housing subsidy in Peel than there has been in the last 13 years. An innovative partnership between Supportive Housing in Peel (SHIP) and the Region for a new affordable housing project has led to a significantly reduced need for municipal tax contributions from $87,500 to $7,500 per unit.
Despite the progress made through various initiatives, the housing needs of Peel’s community remain complex.
“This requires us to continue finding new solutions, expand our partnerships and work collaboratively to meet our community’s evolving needs while ensuring services are delivered efficiently and cost effectively,” Jackson observed.
The Region reported that celebrating National Housing Day draws attention to the need of many people in the community for affordable housing and the supports they need to make housing sustainable. Many families in Peel receive affordable housing supports through continuous community efforts to address housing needs.
Regional council’s investment (together with other levels of government) into the Housing System Investment Framework comes to $125 million, which will increase housing stock, build individual and family capacity, and support an integrated system to support housing needs. There are 19,603 units, homes or beds in Peel, providing subsidized and market rental units, emergency shelter and transitional housing. This includes Peel Living, the Region’s non-profit housing company and community-based units. There are 7,639 affordable rental apartments and townhouses owned by the Region and Peel Living. As well, there are 552 emergency shelter beds in Peel, and 146 transitional housing beds.
To learn more about how to get involved in Peel’s Housing and Homelessness Plan, visit peelregion.ca/housing/housinghomelessness/, or join the online conversation on Twitter about affordable housing by using the hashtag #NHWPeel.