Imagine Meaford drilled down with Deputy Mayor, Shirley Keaveny on research, definitions and targets for attainable housing in Meaford.

July 11, 2021

IMAGINE MEAFORD’S LETTER TO TO GREY COUNTY & THE MUNICIPALITY OF MEAFORD

Imagine Meaford has a keen interest in any future development in Meaford. As a volunteer group, we are advocating for good growth that respects Meaford’s Official Plan and is in the best interests of its citizens.

We support any and all efforts to build a mix of housing that provides rental and ownership opportunities for all income levels while taking into account the changing demographics and future needs of the community.

Imagine Meaford is keen to work cooperatively with Meaford officials and developers to ensure that developments follow sound planning principles that build and support healthy neighbourhoods. The Loon Call development is one example where Imagine Meaford was able to successfully advocate for changes that reduced density and increased greenspace, making it a more livable space for future residents.

During the course of this work on Loon Call, Imagine Meaford realized there appears to be a lack of clarity on what Grey County and the Municipality of Meaford deem to be “attainable” housing.

As you know, CMHC defines “affordable” housing as such: 

In Canada, housing is considered “affordable” if it costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax income. Many people think the term “affordable housing” refers only to rental housing that is subsidized by the government. In reality, it’s a very broad term that can include housing provided by the private, public and non-profit sectors. It also includes all forms of housing tenure: rental, ownership and co-operative ownership, as well as temporary and permanent housing.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no formal definition for “attainable” housing, although CMHC does note that affordable and attainable are inter-changeable. We do know that according to a recent report by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the average price of a home in Meaford is $755,000. 

For purposes of clarity, we would greatly appreciate any information that the County and the Municipality can provide to us on the following questions:

• What is the County’s/Municipality’s definition of attainable housing? Is it 30% of a household’s
  before-tax income?

• Have any targets for attainable housing been set for future development in Meaford (For example,
  is the expectation that every development needs to have a certain portion set aside for attainable
  housing? Is there a percentage of new housing developments that Meaford wishes to see target the
  affordable range)?

• If your definition of attainable housing is 30% of gross income, what data are you using, or are you proposing to use, to determine current and projected income levels in Meaford? Is your data focussed on Grey County’s income level? Meaford’s? Or all of Southern Georgian Bay? (This is an important point, as I am sure you are aware that current and projected income levels in surrounding areas differ significantly from Meaford’s.)

• Is there a mechanism in place at the municipality to ensure that a developer who promises an
  “affordable” or “attainable” price point will in fact be held to the sale price promised?

• Are you accessing any government programs or funds that are made available to municipalities to ensure that the housing will be affordable upon purchase and will remain so after the first occupant leaves?

• Since Meaford is seeing rapid change with an influx of retirees, do you have updated projections of growth according to age? (We note the Situational Analysis in Meaford’s Economic Development
  Strategic Plan, June 2020, has some metrics re: demographics).

• Does the Municipality have a specific target market for its attainable housing?

Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter. Any information you can provide on these questions will help us better understand the implications of future development proposals and how they will meet the needs of Meaford and its citizens.

IMAGINE MEAFORD | Residents for good growth