Homes For All - Strategic Plan

We will invest in affordable homes and economic opportunity for all that are part of inclusive and environmentally sustainable communities.

To advance this outcome, over the next four years we will:

• Move quickly to create affordable, accessible, and equitable housing: We will increase equitable access to affordable homes that costs less than 30% of household income across the region. We will also work to ensure these homes reflect the present and future needs of residents, with a variety of options across the region.
• Eliminate chronic homelessness and reliance on traditional emergency shelter models: We will work in collaboration with area municipalities, community partners, and other levels of government to reduce, then eliminate chronic homelessness by advancing new long-term housing solutions that enable people to have safe, permanent homes.
• Invest in upstream solutions to reduce housing and economic precarity: To adequately address the complexity of the housing crisis for current and future generations, we will extend our focus beyond the traditional domain of housing solutions, and focus on preventative interventions and continue to deliver wrap-around supports.
• Unlock Region-owned land that supports community growth: We will make land available across the region appropriate for affordable housing, shovel-ready employment lands and other supportive infrastructure designed for families and future needs.

How we’re advancing Homes for All:

The Region of Waterloo hosted a Homes for All Summit on June 11, 2024. This in-person event brought together key players and visionaries who are committed to accelerating housing affordability in our community – housing providers, developers, funders, planners and community leaders. The goal of the day was to meet and connect with local housing champions and find innovative solutions to get shovels in the ground on impactful projects.

Clarence Cachagee, founder of Crow Shield Lodge, highlighted the importance of making decisions with the Seventh Generation Principle. Clarence also thanked the day's participants (keynote speakers, panelists, presenters, local innovators and every guest who attended) for contributing their diverse range of expertise.

One of the keynote speakers was Mark Richardson, founder and technical-lead at HousingNowTO, and also Chief Technology Officer at Rich Analytics. He delivered a presentation about rapidly delivering new affordable rental housing in mixed-income communities. View the presentation slides here.

Rebekah Young, VP, Head of Inclusion & Resilience Economics at Scotiabank, also spoke at the Homes for All Summit. Her presentation was called "Getting Home: An Economic and Housing Update." View the presentation slides here.

Check out the Homes for All Summit Engage Page for more information and to get in touch.