Housing Affordability Strategy

Background

Guelph is experiencing challenges with the affordability of housing, like many other municipalities across Canada. As part of the City's State of Housing Report, we have identified five key issues impacting affordability of housing in Guelph:

• Guelph is working towards achieving its affordable housing targets.
• There is a need for smaller units.
• There is a need for an increased supply of primary rental units.
• The secondary rental market offers more affordable choices but could benefit from the stability offered by the primary rental market.
• There is a need for an increased supply of non-market rental housing.

We are working hard to help address these key issues and unlock and increase housing supply for our community by providing a range of housing types, including affordable housing options. View our Housing Story Map to see how.

The City is now working on two related projects that focus specifically on housing:

1. Housing Affordability Strategy 2024 (an update to the 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy),
2. Exploring the Capacity of Gentle Density/4+ units

Housing Affordability Strategy

The purpose of the Housing Affordability Strategy 2024 work is to identify actions like policy changes, tools and incentives, advocacy, and partnership approaches to address private-market housing gaps in the short, medium, and long term. While we need to focus on private-marking housing gaps since this is where the City has the most influence, we will be taking a highly collaborative approach to this work so that we can support unlocking private and non-market housing opportunities.

For more information, read the Housing Affordability Strategy - Project Initiation.

How to get involved

Two surveys are open for feedback now and until June 16th.

Housing Affordability Strategy survey

As we develop a new Housing Affordability Strategy, we want to know what actions you think we should take to resolve Guelph's housing gaps. To take part in the Housing Affordability Strategy Survey, click here.

Additional Residential Dwelling Unit Survey

If you are someone who builds, owns, rents out or is interested in an Additional Residential Dwelling Unit, we want your feedback! Your answers will help us understand if current rules for additional residential dwelling units are working or need to change. To fill out the Additional Residential Dwelling Unit Survey, please click here.

Please join us for an upcoming in-person event to discuss draft actions, priorities, and to have open conversations with each other about addressing housing affordability in Guelph, based on tools that the City can use. This drop in event is open to the public and registration is not necessary.

• Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024
• Times: 2-4 PM or 6-8 PM The same content will be shared at both times.
• Location: Royal City Mission, 50 Quebec St, Guelph, ON N1H 2T4

Gentle Density/ 4+ Units

The purpose of the Gentle Density/4+ units work is to explore the impact and feasibility of 4 or more (4+) residential units in Guelph's low-density residential areas. The aim of this project is to:

• Determine ideal lot sizes that can accommodate appropriate parking, landscaping and trees, and building setbacks requirements.
• Develop examples of best practices for new housing types through a series of site plan designs.
• Propose a new Zoning By-law to allow for the introduction of a new 4-unit housing type in low-density residential areas.

To help answer questions about gentle density, affordable housing, and more, please visit the FAQ section.

How to get involved

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and ideas about enabling four units on low density residential lots in Guelph. A statutory public meeting to consider the draft zoning regulations was held on April 9, 2024 at 10am.

To watch the recording of the Council meeting, click here

To see the agenda and staff report, visit https://pub-guelph.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=46423

City of Guelph staff will be considering feedback and direction received from Council and the public to prepare a Decision Report for an upcoming Council meeting. Further details on the date and time of this meeting will be shared soon.

Please visit and follow Key Dates - Gentle Density to find out about additional engagement opportunities.