Nearly 1,100 new affordable and specialized supportive housing units are needed in Lambton County over the next decade.
Lambton County Council was presented with a 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan by Org Code Consulting on Wednesday.
The first priority, according to Senior Consulting Associate Chris Gorman, was increasing the deeply affordable and affordable housing supply.
"So over the next 10 year period, Lambton County requires 1,096 new affordable and special housing units," said Gorman. "The majority of this is driven by affordability pressures. So this includes 392 affordable units in the private market as well as 412 rent geared to income units."
He told councillors without a significant increase in available units, the system will continue to experience sustained pressure.
"A coordinated and diversified approach is needed to increase supply across the full housing continuum. So this includes private market rentals, non-profit housing, rent geared-to-income units and supportive housing," said Gorman.
Senior Consulting Associate Marina Sloutsky told councillors the housing landscape has shifted significantly over the past decade, with affordability pressures becoming more visible.
"Housing costs have risen sharply while supply has declined, including a net loss of 190 affordable rental units between 2016 and 2021, said Sloutsky. "Affordability concerns are now affecting more people, with rents rising between 38 and 42 per cent since 2020, and deeply affordable housing is also in short supply."
Sloutsky said the four other priorities include Enhanced Collaboration and System Governance, For-Indigenous and by-Indigenous Response, Strengthened Prevention Mechanisms and Responses for Individuals with Complex Needs.
"A central focus of the plan is strengthening the entire housing system from prevention and early intervention, to ensuring that there are appropriate and sustainable pathways out of homelessness for those with the greatest needs," said Sloutsky.
The plan was put together with input from community members, including service providers, elected officials municipal staff and an online survey.
You can watch the full presentation through the County of Lambton's website.
