The city is taking action on affordable housing issues in the community.
That from Councillor Justine Mallah, Chair of Community Services, who says they’ve heard loud and clear from residents that are concerned about the housing crisis, especially affordable housing options.
“The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and the District of Nipissing Social Service Administration’s housing needs assessments have also identified the need for all forms of housing, market [rental] and affordable housing units,” she says. “I understand housing is a social determinant of health and I’m proud to say we’re taking action.”
Council approved an update to the city’s Housing Action Plan and a proposed new incentive to the City Growth Community Improvement Plan.
The Additional Housing Unit (ADU) Grant would provide up to $25,000 to help property owners create more residential units.
“The goal of the housing component of the Growth Community Improvement Plan is to incentivize the creation of diverse housing options in the community including the missing middle, affordable and market rental housing by offsetting a portion of the cost of construction,” says Mallah.
Updates to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law will also allow up to three Additional Dwelling Units on a property and help streamline approvals for routine planning issues.
Staff will also be reporting back with a definition of affordable housing and recommendations for specialized or accessible unit construction, which will be retroactive to when the program gets underway.
