Explore New Ways to Finance the Housing Affordability Gap, Ensuring the Sustainability of our Towns

Morning presentations are open to the public. Lunch and afternoon workshop by invitation.

Community Planning: Creating a more resilient and sustainable future, today!

2023 Regional Collaborative Discussion Series

Why this issue matters: Most people in our region understand the urgent need for, and challenges of, building affordable housing. Research being conducted in our region is identifying the need for purpose-built rentals for people who are key to providing services in our communities. The majority of our labour force needs a place to live that rents out at $1,000-$1500 a month. Many workers in health, hospitality, retail, recreation, and arts and entertainment, cannot find an affordable place to live. The consequence is that the sustainability of our towns is at risk. It affects us all and we need regional alignment and collaboration on common objectives to tackle this issue for the common good.

Why this event:

• Discuss how current market housing is not meeting the needs of moderate income renters
• Learn how social finance mechanisms and municipal actions are being used in other Canadian small towns to close the affordability gap
• Network to nurture regional alignment, create regional initiatives such as a Regional Affordable Housing Table and a strategy to develop regional capacity in Social Finance

Some solutions: Social finance tools such as land trusts, community bonds, social enterprises, and other innovative mechanisms are being used in other places to finance the kind of housing needed. At the same time, there are a number of options for financial incentives or concessions open to municipalities.

Audience: Market housing builders and developers, nonprofit housing developers and providers, Rotary Clubs and other organizations focused on housing, municipal and county councillors and staff, business leaders, financing organizations, data analysts, development and planning consultants, landowners, and philanthropists, employers and people who live here. All of us.

Program Sponsors and Partners: The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay, Municipality of Meaford, Town of The Blue Mountains, Town of Collingwood, Municipality of Grey Highlands, Clearview Township, Blue Mountain Resort, Community Futures South Georgian Bay

Objectives/Outcomes:

• Continue to share knowledge and encourage Municipal Affordable Housing Tables across the region
• Collaborate where possible to create a Regional Community of Practice - “Regional Affordable Housing Table” - to scale discussion, learning, planning, advocating/policy recommendations to provincial and federal governments – together for greatest impact
• Identify the players and resources that could support a Regional Social Finance Table to help to build our capacity to support nonprofit and non-market housing in our region

Opening Remarks: The View from Meaford, Owen Sound, The Blue Mountains, and Collingwood

• Shirley Keaveney, Deputy Mayor, Meaford
• Carol Merton, Councillor, Owen Sound
• Andrea Matrosovs, Mayor, The Blue Mountains
• Yvonne Hamlin, Mayor, Collingwood

Communities Mobilize to Address the Housing Crisis

• Marilyn Struthers, Board Member, Social Innovation Canada and Volunteer Facilitator, TISGB

Grey County Housing Action Plan: Identifying the affordability gap, action items, and opportunities

• Liz Buckton, Senior Policy Planner, Grey County

Panel 1 Solution Finders: Innovation in housing finance from other communities

Using both social finance and innovative approaches to housing, these three Canadian projects have unique community-driven solutions to expanding affordable housing options. The panelists will describe their projects set within the context of community problem-solving. Speakers will highlight emerging ideas on economics using community wealth to build and support healthy communities.

• Moderator: Jo Reynolds, Director, Partnerships & Development, Social Innovation Canada
• Lindsay Harris, Propolis Housing Cooperative, Kamloops, BC
• Colleen Sklar, CEO, JohnQ Public Impact Inc, a municipal collaboration, Manitoba
• Ashley Smith, Fundamental Inc, Social Purpose REIT, Newfoundland

Panel 2 Non-market Development: What are the speed bumps and solutions along the way?

Closer to home, these four housing advocates have tackled and surmounted the barriers to affordable housing in small communities. From their experience, we can learn what gets in the way of community driven nonmarket development and how they have tackled those barriers and are finding solutions.

• Moderator: Donna Howey, Design Team, TISGB; resident, Collingwood
• Fay Martin, Places for People, Haliburton
• Sylvia Statham, Nonprofit housing developer, Lutheran Social Services, Owen Sound
• Krystal Valencia, Rental Rescue, Toronto
• Marg Scheben-Edey, Collingwood Affordable Housing Task Force

Morning Wrap-up – there is a role for each one of us

• Stuart Reid, ED, Community Foundation Grey Bruce
• Jenn Rae, Housing Development Coordinator, Collingwood

Please note: This is a public event, and photo and video coverage will be captured and shared.