Attainable Housing Strategy
Regional Council identified attainable housing as an Equitable Region priority in its 2023-2026 Council Strategic Priorities. To achieve Council's goals on attainable housing, an Attainable Housing Strategy was developed.
26,093
Households in core housing need in Niagara (2021)
~$200,000
Household income needed to afford the average resale home in Niagara
$44,600
Minimum income needed to afford the average rental dwelling
65%
of Niagara households are one- or two-person households
Scope of attainable housing
Definitions
Attainable housing focuses on a mix of low, moderate and high-income housing, including:
Affordable home ownership
Moderate income
The cost to buy a property is less than typical prices in the real estate market.
Market rental housing
Moderate to high income
The cost of renting a property is based on current rental prices in the area.
Market home ownership
Moderate to high income
The price to buy a property is based on current prices in the real estate market.
Attainable housing does not directly address:
- Homeless: without housing
- Safety net: temporary, short-term accommodations, including shelters
- Housing with supports: housing with intensive coordinated services
- Community housing: rent fluctuates based on actual income
Areas of focus
Strategy
Increase the supply of attainable housing
Research ways to increase the supply of market-driven attainable housing.
Expand rental and ownership options
Investigate and support efforts to increase the mix of rental and ownership housing options in Niagara.
Prioritize housing through Regional policy
Coordinate and enhance Regional processes and policies to ensure housing matters are prioritized, and strategically viewed through a housing-as-a-priority lens.
Maximize existing Regional real estate
Maximize the use of existing Regional real estate assets for development and intensification.
Build community partnerships
Build on relationships and partnerships with community groups participating in housing.
Support bridge and community housing
Work with Community Services and Niagara Regional Housing on bridge housing, community housing, rent-geared-to-income units and affordable housing.
Strategy goals
Implementation
Goal 1: Increase the supply of rental housing
- Develop an education campaign on housing types, tenure and intensification
- Lead coordinated advocacy to remove barriers to building rental housing
- Investigate strategic incentives for purpose-built rental housing
Goal 2: Innovate and implement best practices
- Identify new models for land and housing stock development
- Enable housing forums to showcase and adapt housing solutions
- Create a Housing-as-a-Priority framework
Goal 3: Optimize existing housing supply and public lands
- Build partnerships on government-owned properties
- Optimize use of existing housing stock (room rentals, co-ownership)
- Deliver a Student Housing Strategy
Goal 4: Enable investments
- Advocate for investment in transit-enabling infrastructure
- Focus on employment (industrial) sector growth
- Support skilled trades training and retention
Post-Secondary Student Housing Strategy
Niagara's colleges and universities enroll about 30,000 students, but only 8 per cent live on campus — meaning over 26,000 students compete for the same limited rental housing as all Niagara residents. This companion strategy, a direct outcome of Goal 3, outlines how Niagara Region and its partners can improve housing options for students while easing pressure on the broader rental market.
Learn more about the strategy
The Attainable Housing Strategy outlines how Niagara Region is working to make housing more affordable and accessible across the region.