As a municipality, Kitchener's jurisdiction doesn't allow us to build or operate affordable or supportive housing. What we can do are things like providing land and incentives for affordable housing to be built.
We can allow for more units to be added to existing properties.
We can create ways to keep affordable rents affordable.
Here are the programs and incentives Kitchener has created:

Growing Together
Inclusionary Zoning
Enabling 4 Units
​Adding Up To 2 Additional Units For A Total Of 3
​Building Kitchener Together
Not For Profit Affordable & Co-op Housing Incentive Pilot
Rental Replacement Bylaw

More details on these programs can be found HERE

The City Of Kitchener has to increase the number of homes all along the housing continuum.
This includes shelter, transitional, social, affordable, supportive, attainable
And market rate rental and home ownership opportunities.
KITCHENER PROVIDES LAND TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
On April 29, 2024 Kitchener Council unanimously approved providing a parcel of city owned land at River Road and Ottawa Street to Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region.  Development Charges and Permit Fees will also be waived so  Habitat can create purpose-built affordable housing including three and four-bedroom units, and smaller studio, one, and two-bedroom units. It was made possible by partnering with the Federal Government and funding their Housing Accelerator Fund. These homes will remain affordable forever. This land provision is part of Kitchener's Housing For All Program and Make it Kitchener 2.0 commitments. Read the news release on this HERE
Watch This Video For An Explanation Of Affordable Housing
More housing supply is needed all across the Housing Continuum
BUILDING KITCHENER TOGETHER
Working together with the Federal and Provincial Governments, we're delivering on achieving our mutual housing goals. With their much appreciated funding adding to ours, we have a group of initiatives to increase our housing supply of deeply affordable, moderately affordable, supportive, missing middle and market rate housing.
Learn about Building Kitchener Together HERE
GROWING TOGETHER - KITCHENER'S PLANNING FRAMEWORK AROUND MAJOR TRANSIT STATION AREAS
INCLUSIONARY ZONING - PROVIDING AFFORDABLE UNITS IN NEW MULTI UNIT BUILDS
ENABLING 4 UNITS AS OF RIGHT
The housing supply crisis is a key contributor to the lack of Affordable, Attainable Housing and Missing Middle housing options. City Council unanimously approved the following programs developed by our planning staff through award winning engagement and consultation with residents, community groups and the development industry,

Our Growing Together Plan will bring more, varied and responsible housing supply around Major Transit Station Areas.

Inclusionary Zoning creates affordable units in new multi-unit buildings. 

Enabling 4 Units will allow up to 4 housing units on property where zoning  permits single detached, semi-detached or street townhouse dwelling units on sufficient lot sizes. 

Adding Additional Units - In April of 2021 Council approved the ability to add up to 2 additional units (for a total of 3) under rules and regulations to a single unit property. They could be by adding a detached Tiny Home in the backyard or attached units by duplexing, adding a secondary suite, basement apartment or in-law suite or a combination of both

Discover more on the Growing Together, Inclusionary Zoning, Enabling 4 Units and Adding Additional Units HERE
Affordable and Supportive Housing is an issue no single level of government can solve on it's own. It takes cooperation from all levels of government. The Federal, Provincial, Regional levels of government and the City of Kitchener are all working together for solutions. 

​Affordable housing is currently defined as costing below 30% of a household’s pre-tax income. Affordable can have have a different meaning to different people. Some need deeply affordable housing, some need moderately affordable housing and some need supportive housing with wrap around services.

There is also a need for "missing middle" type housing. These are housing units that are in the middle between a single family home and mid to high rise apartments.  They would be units in duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, bungalow courts, townhouses and courtyard apartments. There is a need for different options along the housing continuum.

At a municipal level it's outside of our jurisdiction at the City Of Kitchener to build or operate affordable housing projects. BUT, we can, and have made significant contributions to help make affordable and supportive housing projects happen in Kitchener. I was honoured to serve as a council representative on Kitchener's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee along with representatives Non Profit Providers, Developers, Real Estate Professionals, the Region Of Waterloo, Public Health and those with Lived Experience. I'm committed to supporting more actions to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing. Council voted to support our Housing For All, affordable and supportive housing strategy. You can read the strategy HERE

Kitchener has pledged to build 35,000 new homes by 2031. Read our pledge HERE

Mayor Vrbanovic brought a motion to council that passed unanimously that directs staff to come up with a bylaw that would allow with rules and regulations, 4 housing units on a lot that currently has a single housing unit. You can add your input to that HERE

We're working on Inclusionary Zoning which would require developers to provide up to 5% of the total units of a building around an ION station to be affordable. This has to be fair to developers too as they take on the costs of providing these units. Work and input has been received on this and your can get the updates HERE

On a motion from Councillor Scott Davey that Council passed unanimously, staff are working on a Renoviction Strategy. This will take cooperation with all other levels of government. It's not a simple process and there needs to be balance when units and buildings need necessary updating.

Here are some of the ways Kitchener has worked together with other levels of government to support affordable and supportive housing builds.

​On April 29, 2024 Council unanimously voted in favour of provided city owned land located at Ottawa and Rover Road to HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WR who will create Affordable 3 & 4 Bedroom Units along with studio & 1 7 2 bedroom housing units. These homes will remain affordable forever. The Federal government is a strong partner on this project providing funding through their Housing Accelerator Fund. You can read the details HERE

City council voted to provide the land to the YWKW for new supportive housing. The 2 Building project has 41 units of supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness. The site was valued at around $2.7 million. The land is provided through a 50-year lease at 1 dollar a year,  This project is supported by funding from: City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo, Rapid Housing Initiative funding from the Federal Government through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for details on it Click BUILDING HOPE ON BLOCK LINE  A video created after residents moved in shows the positive impact made. View it HERE

The City has also supported oneROOF in their new supportive housing build on Sheldon Avenue for youth experiencing homelessness through waiving of fees, expedited reviews, and helping them secure a loan to ensure the project’s success  You can learn more by clicking oneROOF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

Kitchener has provided land, water and hydro for A Better Tent City for residents experiencing homelessness. The Region of Waterloo has provided services including health care and funding and the Waterloo Region District School Board has provided portables and space too.  Residents have washrooms, showers, laundry, dining and kitchen facilities on-site. For information click A BETTER TENT CITY
 
As part of the 2022 budget, Council responded to public engagement to prioritize affordable housing and voted to make $2 million of funds available in the form of an affordable housing reserve fund to help create more affordable units in the future once the policy is established this year.

The Working Centre's Making Home Project is the result of collaboration between the private sector and multiple levels of government including the City of Kitchener. Learn more about it here: WORKING CENTRE MAKING HOME

There are more projects being planned for the future, including a nine story building with 108 affordable units to be run by House of Friendship on Charles St. Kitchener has partnered with the Social Development Centre Of Waterloo Region to create a 12 member Lived Experience Working Group. This 2 year pilot project has this group monitor progress of our Housing For All Strategy, advocate for the priorities of under represented communities and co-create an ethical model of community engagement that centres lived expertise.

The City of Kitchener has created a city owned land inventory. I brought a motion to council that passed unanimously that asks staff to prioritize the potential for city owned land, including surface parking lots that could be used for affordable and and supportive housing, or sold with the proceeds going to affordable housing purposes.
We're working together with Build Now Waterloo Region a community led housing initiative that will produce half-price homes by 2030. Learn more about them HERE

When opportunities come for Kitchener to provide land or incentives for more affordable and supportive housing builds. I'll support them. Council is working with staff for new and innovative ideas to bring more affordable housing options across the entire housing continuum.

You can contact our Director of Development Services Justin Readman, with comments or questions at 741-2200 ext. 7646 or by email at [email protected]
Here are some links to Affordable Housing Information - Just click the links below:
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KITCHENER'S HOUSING FOR ALL

KITCHENER AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES

KITCHENER'S HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2020

REGION OF WATERLOO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN

REGION OF WATERLOO AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES

PROVINCE OF ONTARIO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS

CMHC GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AFFORDABLE HOUSING INFORMATION
The Region Of Waterloo's Plan To End Chronic Homelessness
The Region Of Waterloo is the local level of Government responsible for Community Housing and Homelessness. ​The City Of Kitchener will continue to work with the Region Of Waterloo to do our part in supporting this plan.
On Tuesday April 9, 2024 Region Of Waterloo Council Passed The Following Motion
That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo accept in principle the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness Final Report as the official plan to prevent, address, and end homelessness in Waterloo Region as outlined in report CSD-HOU-24-006 dated April 9, 2024.

And that the Regional Municipality of Waterloo direct staff be directed to add area municipalities to the co-creators group to develop a detailed plan of recommendations including comprehensive funding and advocacy actions based on the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness Actions outlined in report CSD-HOU-24-006 and deliver it to Council as part of the 2025 Regional Budget process.

The Plan To End Chronic Homelessness was co-created by more than 40 organizations committed to addressing and ending chronic homelessness. It details 30 Actions developed by Co-Creators and the Lived Expertise Working Group to prevent, address, and end chronic homelessness.

You can read the Plan To End Chronic Homelessness Report HERE