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With the lowest proportion of rental housing in the greater Toronto Hamilton area and a 110 percent increase in the median price of a resale home between 2009 and 2019, the York region’s waiting list for subsidized housing increased from 7,626 applicant households in 2010 to 15,810 in 2020.
Of them, more than 40 percent are older adults.
But with the Unionville Commons project taking shape in Markham, hundreds of seniors will have a place to call home long before the average wait time of nine and a half years.
Initial occupancy of the new eight- and 12-story buildings located at 4310 Hwy. 7 E., which includes a senior center and a community center on the main floor, is scheduled for late 2022, with full completion planned by 2023.
As a result of a partnership between the Unionville Home Society (UHS), Minto Communities and Martinway Development Ltd., the center will be owned and operated by Housing York Inc. (HYI), the affordable housing company for the York region.
“The York region is committed to building whole communities with a full range of housing options and services to support residents of all ages and stages of their lives,” said Kathy Milsom, general manager of housing services for the region. from York, during a site tour with Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy November 1.
The federal government contributed $ 44,000 to the project’s total budget of $ 86.3 million, with the region contributing $ 63.2 million and provincial contributions totaling $ 23 million.
Taking advantage of federal and provincial funding opportunities, more than 1,200 new community housing units have been built across all subsidized housing providers, including HYI properties, non-profit housing and cooperatives since 2004. Another 362 units will open by 2023.
While the region would like to build more affordable housing to meet growing need, funding, or lack thereof, it limits the amount of help it can provide at any one time.
For that reason, most, if not all, buildings constructed by Housing York in recent memory incorporate a mix of market rental suites and income-adapted rental units. The advantage is that more expensive apartments and houses help make subsidized housing possible.
About 70 percent of Unionville Commons’ 265 units (200 one-bedroom; 65 two-bedroom) will be income oriented, with 30 percent market rent.
In addition, 40 units will also be barrier-free.
Designed for older adults and universal accessibility, special attention has been paid to addressing the biggest challenges older people face in the community, including physical, social and emotional isolation and physical and cognitive barriers in the environment, Milsom said.
Safe and affordable housing is essential for all and is the foundation for strong and caring communities.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti praised all levels of government for investing in the project.
“Affordable housing for seniors is vital to creating strong, healthy communities that support aging families and seniors,” he said.
“This development will not only ensure that many more seniors have access to affordable housing and support services, but can also live in a safe and comfortable environment. We are excited to welcome this new campus to our vibrant community. “
The city also has its own strategy for addressing the affordable housing crisis, with the cost of housing making life in Markham out of reach for many.
One in three households in the city have housing affordability issues, and nearly one in five residents spends 50 percent or more of their income on housing.
Affordable is defined by annual housing costs that require no more than 30 percent of gross household income for low- and moderate-income households.
In Markham, a unit is affordable if it costs no more than $ 480,723 for home ownership and $ 1,541 for monthly rent.
The city’s plan, called Housing Choices, includes a vision, three goals, and 35 actions to address housing gaps and needs.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Reporter Heidi Riedner analyzed how various levels of government are addressing affordable housing in Markham.
Reference-www.thestar.com