Grey County staff want to hold a networking event to talk about affordable housing.
A Housing Action Plan update report from County staff to council Thursday presents the idea of hosting it in 2025 with community partners and different sectors to talk about creating affordable housing on surplus public lands.
They say the event could include private and non-profit developers and housing providers, investors and municipal staff among others.
Staff say the Housing Action Plan “identifies a variety of actions that may be undertaken to support the creation of missing-middle, affordable, and near-market rate rental units, as well as home ownership units which are often referred to as ‘attainable.'”
They also say they’re looking at different ways of financing affordable housing. Thursday’s staff report says, “For example, social finance tools like community bonds, and delivery models such as non-profit development corporations, land trusts, cooperatives, etc.” Some of that research and discussion is happening alongside the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay (a not-for-profit “think and do tank” according to its website).
Staff would like to see $30,000 be considered in the 2025 budget to cover the ongoing implementation of the Housing Action Plan. Council endorsed the plan itself in 2023.
Thursday’s staff report also highlights recent actions taken by Grey County to expand housing and homelessness support services including 12 Supportive units that are staffed 24/7 by CMHA in the building renovated and operated by Grey County on 14th Street West in Owen Sound.
The County also purchased a 22-room motel in Owen Sound for people experiencing homelessness. It also has support services that are provided on site.
It funded a winter warmth pilot program with Safe n Sound in Owen Sound from November to April.
It’s giving $3 million in support of the nonprofit Lutheran Social Services Owen Sound in their endeavour to build a 40-unit seniors apartment building.
Staff say in Dundalk, Grey County is redeveloping an eleven-unit rent geared to income building to 36 units of affordable and market housing.
The report says in 2024, $647,800 was contributed to the County’s Affordable Housing Reserve, making the estimated reserve balance at the end of this year $1 million.
Staff say future contributions will also go towards the seniors building in Owen Sound and that build in Dundalk.
