The Community Foundation Grey Bruce is releasing the results of a report conducted on affordable housing in the region.
The foundation says its Vital Focus on Housing Report looks at housing in Grey and Bruce counties relating to affordability, accessibility, equity, living standards, and wellbeing, with the goal of prompting a conversation and broaden the awareness around these issues in the community.
The foundation says the report includes local data from various sources and puts it into a format to understand how both Grey and Bruce counties compare in affordable housing.
The foundation says some of the key take away’s from the report include how both counties are desired locations for migrants from the greater Toronto area and housing prices are climbing. It also identifies how the housing crisis in also not just an issue for the economically challenged, as working people who traditionally classified as middle class, are experiencing a lack of housing options. According to the report, supports for the homeless or the housing-challenged are also not where they should be and not everyone is given the same level of access to affordable housing.
The report says partnerships are the key to finding solutions to these issues, as governments, developers, social services, and charities are recommended to work together to identify a solution.
Executive director of the foundation Stuart Reid says, “this report is landing at a time when housing is top-of-mind for so many people facing challenges in our community. We hope that that data and human perspectives shared in this vital focus prompt conversations across the region.”
The report says those who make minimum wage, are part-time, and those on social assistance are struggling to pay the rising rental rates, which in turn compromises their ability to pay for food, hydro, and other basic needs.
The report adds those who do have safe and secure housing, which is affordable, makes sure people have the life stability to find and keep jobs, pursue further education, and participate in community life.
The full report can be found on the foundation’s website.