The Town of Collingwood believes action is needed at all levels of the government to help address the housing crisis. As one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada, Collingwood continues to face increasing pressure on fousing affordability and availability. Meaningful action is needed to help support residents, businesses, and the long-term well-beingof the community.
Affordable housing means the cost of housing is less than 30% of a household's gross income before taxes.
The Town of Collingwood's affordable housing efforts focus on households with moderate incomes. Moderate income generally refers to households within the 4th and 6th income deciles for Collingwood residents.
For moderate-income homeowners, annual household incomes typically range from approximately $74,000 to $109,000. This translates to an affordable home purchase price between approximately $248,000 and $366,000, based on no more than 30% of gross household income being directed toward housing costs.
For moderate-income renters, that range is cut nearly in half, with household incomes at approximately $47,000 – $68,000, for which an affordable monthly rent is $1,200 – $1,700 based on a maximum of 30% gross income being directed to housing costs.
annual household incomes typically range from approximately $47,000 to $68,000. This translates to affordable monthly rental costs between approximately $1,200 and $1,700, based on no more than 30% of gross household income being directed toward housing costs.
When a community does not have enough affordable housing, the impacts are felt throughout the town. Housing insecurity disproportionately affects diverse and marginalized populations, older adults, and households with lower incomes.
As housing costs continue to rise, more individuals and families struggle to afford essential needs such as food, healthcare, and transportation. Hosuing affordabiliy challenges can also impact local businesses, workforce retention, and overall community wellbeing. When residents can no longer afford to live in the community, employers may face difficulties attracting and retaining workers.
An adequate supply of affordable housing helps support a healthy, inclusive, and economically sustainable community. Benefits of affordable housing include:
Addressing the housing crisis and increasing the supply of affordable rental and ownership housing requires collaboration across all levels of government, non-profit organizations, and private industry.
The Town's current role includes:
The Town's role may continue to evolve through the implementation of the Affordable Housing Master Plan, which identifies priorities, actions, and funding approaches to support affordable housing in Collingwood.
We all have a role to play in fixing the affordable housing crisis. Whether you are a member of the development community, a non-profit, a business owner, homeowner, or an individual who wants to help, we want to hear from you. Contact Claire de Souza, Housing Development Coordinator at cdesouza@collingwood.ca or 705-445-1030 ext. 3242 for more resources or to learn more.
