October 8, 2024

Council held a public meeting to consider the Draft Housing Affordability Strategy which included how affordable housing is defined, data on the City of Guelph's housing needs, and proposed actions to create more affordable housing over the next 10 years. Council voted to receive the report from staff. A staff recommendation report and decision on the final Housing Affordability Strategy is expected in December 2024; this recommendation report will include considerations around feedback and comments received through the public meeting.

The video, staff report, and attachments that provide information and details on the Draft Housing Affordability Strategy, can be viewed here.

April 4, 2024

A workshop was held with private and public sector representatives involved in the housing process to inform them on the purpose of the Housing Affordability Strategy, to set the context for the current state of housing in Guelph, and to engage them on actions that the City should pursue to support a diverse range of housing options. This workshop is the first step in putting together a list of draft directions that will inform the recommendations of the Housing Affordability Strategy.

To view the PowerPoint presentation used during the Workshop, please click here.

Stay tuned for further engagement opportunities, including online surveys during Spring 2024 and an Open House in June 2024.

February 16, 2024

In November 2023, work began to explore opportunities to permit 4+ units on low-density residential lots across the City. The first step in this work was to prepare a policy background review and design demonstrations to highlight the potential in existing neighbourhoods. The Background Analysis highlights Guelph’s existing conditions, its policy context, and several examples of gentle density work being done across the country.

To review the Background Analysis, click here.

February 2, 2024

Staff presented the City of Guelph's Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan to Council through an information report. The HAF Action Plan consists of eight (8) initiatives that the City has committed to achieving as part of its application. Each initiative must result in the incentivization or stimulation of housing, beyond the City’s annual average, at an accelerated pace and provide a clear path for the approval and building process. In total, the HAF will help the City incentivize the creation of 739 new housing units by 2026.

To read more about the City’s HAF Action Plan and each of the 8 initiatives, read the information report here.

January 12, 2024

City of Guelph to receive federal funding to help build more homes, faster

Guelph, Ont., January 12, 2024 – Today in Guelph, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the City of Guelph will receive $21.4 million to help increase housing supply through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). This fund is a $4 billion initiative from the Government of Canada that provides local governments with funding to fast track the creation of new homes.

The funds will help the City incentivize the creation of 739 new housing units above the City average over the next three years. This work will reduce housing barriers and increase housing in Guelph, while supporting the development of affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse communities. Read full news release.

December 12, 2023

In December 2023, the State of Housing in Guelph Report was published. This report is a statistical analysis of the current and emerging housing needs in Guelph, helping to identify the City’s greatest housing needs. The report is the foundation for the recommendations in the 2024 Housing Affordability Strategy.

To begin to address housing affordability in Guelph, the following will need to occur:

• More primary rental units are needed to meet increased demand as housing becomes increasingly unaffordable;
• Smaller units will be needed in Guelph to meet the increased demand as household sizes decrease;
• Additional residential units will be needed to provide more accessible affordable housing options for lower income earners; and,
• More supportive and subsidized housing is needed to meet the needs of lower income earners.

To see the agenda and staff report, visit this link.

October 17, 2023

A special meeting of Council was held to discuss actions and responses to address housing challenges. At that meeting, Council passed a motion directing staff to immediately prepare a zoning by-law amendment that would permit, as-of-right, up to 4 residential units per lot within residential zones in the City. This zoning by-law amendment may address criterion such as servicing capacity to support the proposed units.

To view the agenda and recommendations from this meeting, please click here.

September 12, 2023

In September 2023, staff initiated the new Housing Affordability Strategy for Guelph. Since the release of the 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy (AHS), there have been significant legislative changes to facilitate the provision of housing in Ontario. In response, the City of Guelph is updating this Strategy to identify actions, advocacy and partnership approaches to address private-market housing gaps in the short, medium, and long-term.

To read more, please click here.

April 18, 2023

In April 2023, Council approved the City’s new Comprehensive Zoning By-law which would permit 3 residential units per lot within residential zones in the City. The Comprehensive Zoning By-law is now under appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal. As part of that Council meeting, Council directed staff to consider as-of-right permissions for greater than 3 units per property within the low density residential designation and report back to Council with options and recommendations by the end of Q1 of 2025.

To read the minutes for that Council meeting, visit this link.