Ontario's Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy

Ontario's Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy

In 2009, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing began the process of developing a Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy. As part of this process, MMAH held 12  consultation sessions from June – September of that year. The Ministry is currently developing a strategy document to be released in the spring of 2010 based on feedback from the consultations and stakeholder groups.

ONPHA’s Role

At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, ONPHA's membership passed a resolution on the principles and minimum components needed for an effective provincial affordable housing strategy.  The resolution is available here.

Throughout the process, ONPHA supported our members and the public in framing their individual responses to the questions through access to  information and resources. We also engaged in discussion with stakeholders and membership groups representing different sector needs and issues to help us develop our response.   In October, ONPHA submitted a report highlighting our vision for a comprehensive affordable housing strategy.

Related Information and Resources

To learn more about ONPHA's recommendation for a housing indicator for Ontario, read Suggestions for an Indicator to Measure Trends in Housing Induced Poverty.

For information on the Affordable Housing Program (AHP), read ONPHA's AHP Recommendations.

Other Ways to Get Involved

The Wellesley Institute, ONPHA and several other sector organizations have partnered to raise awareness about affordable housing issues in Ontario. Visit www.stableandaffordable.com to learn more about what you can do to help ensure everyone in Ontario has a safe and affordable home.

The Consultation Process

The sessions involved roundtable facilitated discussions with report-backs to the larger group. Participants were asked to discuss the following five questions:

1. What specific roles should each of the housing partners play in the delivery of affordable housing?
2. What changes are needed to our housing programs to better use resources and improve access to affordable housing? Changes could include modifications to the Affordable Housing Program of the simplification of housing and homelessness programs.
3. What changes are required to the Social Housing Reform Act to reduce the regulatory burden and improve the management of social housing?
4. What creative new ideas could improve the current housing system? This could include new planning tools, innovative financial options and new green technologies.
5. What should be used as the housing indicator for Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy? In this context, what do terms like affordable, adequate and suitable mean to you?

The  sessions  were held in:

• Sault Ste. Marie
• PeelRegion
• Windsor
• Kitchener-Waterloo
• Scarborough
• Toronto (Downtown)
• Ottawa
• London
• Hamilton
• Lindsay
• Sudbury
• Thunder Bay