Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Guelph is getting $21.4 million from the federal government to help fast-track housing development.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement alongside Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie last week, saying the funds would help speed up the building of nearly 750 new housing units over the next three years.
“Today’s announcement is a big leap forward for Guelph in addressing the housing crisis in our city,” Guthrie said. “With this much-needed federal funding, we’re removing barriers to allow hundreds of additional housing units to help more Guelphites into the housing they need and deserve.
“This funding will also transform our policies and processes to accelerate the pace at which we increase the housing supply. Having the federal government at the table allows us to address Guelph’s housing shortage faster and with more affordable solutions. This is a real win-win for our community!”
First announced in Guelph in March 2023, the federal government’s housing accelerator fund will significantly impact housing resources in the city.
Guelph has identified eight initiatives for the new funds, including:
a new Housing Affordability Strategy to identify actions, advocacy, and partnership approaches to close housing supply gaps;
- implementing new and enhanced systems and processes to better support and streamline development and construction, including designing a new Community Planning Permit System; and
- examining the potential of increasing the number of allowable units on each lot to encourage more diverse housing options that support missing middle housing in existing neighbourhoods (e.g., fourplexes, multiplexes, detached secondary suites).
- Working together across all levels of government will help to build a better future across the country, the province, and right here in Guelph.
The city’s provincial target is to build 18,000 homes by 2031 and Guthrie says a “collaborative effort between all levels of government and the home building community” is needed.
View the interactive story map to see strategies that Guelph is using to build more houses.