“Where’s Home?” is published jointly by the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) and the Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada, Ontario Region (CHFCO), and reveals the results of the annual survey of the affordable housing situation in Ontario. The 2011 edition contains long-standing information on renter statistics (there are 1.3 million renter households across the province), housing vacancies (bachelor vacancies are down), the wait list for affordable housing (up this year by 10,442 households) and a comparison of renter and home owner markets comparative to income.
This year the report also assesses its yearly statistics against Ontario’s new “Affordable Housing Strategy” and its accompanying legislation theHousing Services Act. Looking forward, the report raises concerns over the estimated 10,000 new rental units that are needed every year just to keep pace with demand over the next decade.
While there have been some gains, rental housing starts have dropped 20 per cent since the 1990s, accounting for only six per cent of overall new housing starts. Condominiums and freeholds (owner used) are the fastest growing area. The list for households waiting for assisted housing across the province grew by 10,442 between 2010 and 2011. In addition, key challenges are identified including the housing ideologies of those elected to public office.
See the September 2011 report, “Where’s Home?: The need for affordable rental housing in Ontario” at www.onpha.on.ca.