Affordable Housing Strategy

The affordable housing strategy brings together the work of many partners to address local need for affordable housing.

Affordable housing is housing that fits the budget of low to moderate-income households while leaving enough money for them to meet other basic living costs such as food, clothing, transportation, medical care and education.

The strategy includes work to increase the number of affordable housing units and provide a mix of housing that is appropriate for the various sizes and incomes of households in Niagara.

Housing definitions

• Affordable housing: Rental or ownership housing that costs less than 30 per cent of a household's total annual income
• Community housing: Usually geared toward low income households, it refers to housing that was built or funded under a range of federal, provincial or municipal housing programs and is provided to eligible tenants on the basis of defined need
• Affordable market housing: Rental or ownership housing provided by the market for low and moderate income households
• Attainable market housing: Rental or ownership housing provided by the market for medium income households that may be challenged to access rental and ownership options
• Low income household: A household with annual income (before tax) of up to $29,400, which can afford up to $735 per month for housing costs
• Moderate income household: A household with annual income (before tax) of $29,401 to $52,500, which can afford up to $1,313 per month for housing costs
• Medium income household: A household with annual income (before tax) of $52,501 to $83,900 which can afford up to $2,098 per month for housing costs

Housing, Homelessness

• Emergency Shelters
• Homelessness Prevention Programs
• Housing Services
• Assertive Street Outreach
• Supportive Housing Programs
• Housing and Homelessness Action Plan
• Affordable Housing Strategy
• Coordinated Access Guide