Where’s Home 2013 is a publication of Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada – Ontario Region. Much of the analysis is from the period between 1996 and 2006 and describes the economic and policy conditions that affect trends in the housing market. The study also paints a picture of the need across the range of housing options. With data provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, this edition of Where’s Home 2013 also reports for the first time on units that have received a funding commitment under the province’s Affordable Housing Program. While the rental market can be broken down into multiple rental sectors, purpose-built private rentals provide the most stable supply of rental housing, and make up 50 percent of Ontario’s rental stock. Social housing makes up an additional 21 percent. In spite of this, there is a need for 10,000 new affordable rental housing units per year, a figure that has remained constant.
More than 156,000 Ontario households are waiting for affordable housing and many more are discouraged from applying due to wait times that can extend up to 10 years. Although there was a surge in home ownership between 1996 and 2006, this has leveled and the need for more rental units is increasing. Renters also tend to be low-income earners; 45 percent of tenants had incomes under $30,000. And among low-income renters, poverty has increased 92 per cent between 1990 and 2010.
While the production of rentals has increased it has mostly been in upscale condos that exclude low-wage renters. Building of purpose-built and social housing stock have been shrinking, thus shrinking the market for low-income renters. The report indicates more federal/provincial partnerships are required, while new innovative ideas should also be incorporated to addressing affordable housing issues in Ontario.
Where’s Home 2013 is available at www.onpha.ca.