Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Town of Stouffville is hosting a virtual Housing Summit this evening (Dec. 9) from 7 to 9 p.m., to discuss housing issues and opportunities.
With a goal of finding ideas for housing in the community, town staff will present key highlights on research from a review and present their ideas and vision for housing in Stouffville.
The online event will include a keynote address from Avi Friedman, a leader in affordable housing in Canada, to discuss the future of housing in Whitchurch-Stouffville, panel discussion and facilitated breakout discussions.
Friedman is an internationally renowned expert on housing innovation with research focusing on factors that influence the design and implementation of affordable and sustainable building practices at the unit and community level, including market acceptance, construction, and resource efficiency.
The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has retained Tim Welch Consulting Inc. to undertake a Housing Strategy in support of the Town’s Official Plan Review. The Housing Strategy will assist in informing the policy directions of the Town’s new Official Plan.
The Housing Strategy will ensure that there are sufficient housing options in the Town to meet the housing needs to the year 2051. The Housing Strategy will provide an opportunity to understand the current state of housing in the Town, identify housing needs and look for innovative solutions through the consideration of a variety of planning policy and financial tools, incentives and partnerships.
It will address the full range of housing including: affordable/rental housing, homelessness/emergency housing, transition/supportive housing, market rental and home ownership housing.
Phase 1 – Housing Background, Trends Analysis and Needs Assessment Background Report
- Understand the key players and their respective roles in housing;
- Identify current challenges and gaps in housing related to policy, regulations, and funding;
- Identify the current housing trends and best practices at the Town, Region, and National level; and
- Analysis of local demographic trends within the Town in relation to housing need and current housing stock.
Phase 2 – Housing Strategy Recommendations Report
- Develop an innovative Housing Strategy based on the work undertaken in Phase 1 that addresses housing needs in the town;
- Develop housing objectives and policy recommendations to be included in the new Official Plan; and
- Identify recommendations on programs, incentives, partnerships and tools to achieve the housing objectives.