Collingwood-area task force has ideas for affordable housing
The Tourism Labour Supply Task Force is proposing two projects they believe will lead to more attainable housing for South Georgian Bay.
In a recent presentation to Town of The Blue Mountains council, the task force presented options about housing projects that could work as public-private partnerships.
Andrew Siegwart, president of the Blue Mountain Village Association, has been leading the task force, which includes representatives from municipalities and business leaders in the community.
“The tourism industry is very proud to have led this initiative,” he said. “We anticipate this work will serve as a catalyst for a broader strategy.”
The task force said there is a labour shortage in the community and the lack of affordable housing is one of the factors of the shortage.
The group hired Mark Conway of NBLC Consulting to do a study on the needs of the region and potential solutions.
Conway said housing issues are prominent in resort communities, but South Georgian Bay is unique. He said the housing market is largely being driven by retirees moving to the community.
“It’s not driven completely by the resort community,” he said.
Conway said while average wages have increased about 14 per cent in the last six years while house prices have jumped 58 per cent.
He said the report gathered information from 519 respondents, 70 per cent working in the tourism industry and 50 per cent paying more than $1,500 a month in housing costs.
About 33 per cent had incomes below $45,000 and 60 per cent said affordability is a barrier to living in the area permanently
Conway said 91 per cent indicated finding housing was a challenge and 71 per cent indicated improved transit would give them more choice.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize it’s getting tougher and tougher for people to purchase and rent a home,” he said.
Conway recommended that a public-private partnership is the best way to build housing that’s affordable.
He presented the option of dormitory style housing, which would target the entry-level workforce. Conway said it would be a partnership between employers, the municipality and a developer.
He said the plan would see the employer guarantee rental of a certain number of units. He estimates rents would cost anywhere from $550-$650 per month depending if development charges were waived.
He said this is a popular option with college and university students who want to live off campus.
“Developers have figured out there is a market to provide very small units,” he said. “We think that very same model could be applied to employee housing.”
Conway also recommended an ownership apartment complex, which would see the municipality or the county offer second mortgages to residents thus reducing the down payment requirements.
He also suggested a tiny home park, which would require municipal approvals and there were some questions whether smaller homes would work in the climate of South Georgian Bay.