​Bruce County establishes 10-year targets to meet future housing needs

The development of focused and co-ordinated action on housing in Bruce County took another step forward at Thursday's county council meeting.

The setting of 10-year targets guides the county and municipalities as they continue to develop programs aimed at increasing the housing supply and improving affordability. The targets are in addition to work already under way to meet current housing needs. This helps build a foundation that meets the needs of residents with different income levels in the county's growing communities.

The targets are part of a final report prepared by SHS Inc. Based on sustained population and employment growth, SHS identified a county-wide target of 4,040 new housing units needed to meet the diverse needs of residents.

Bruce County’s targets encompass the full range of housing options with the projected units allocated as follows:
 

• 13 per cent deeply-affordable community, supportive and transitional housing
• 15 per cent affordable rental/ownership
• 20 per cent private rental units
• 52 per cent home ownership

“The housing targets give us the chance to plan ahead — not just for today, but for the families who will call Bruce County home tomorrow," said warden Luke Charbonneau. "These targets demonstrate the need to work closely with private developers and non-profit organizations to increase the range of housing options across the county.”

Key trends informing the targets are:
 

• Continued, steady population growth across the county
• The need for medium- and high-density housing types, with a rising demand for rental housing
• An increase in the number of units to meet the housing needs of residents with low and moderate incomes

These targets consider demographic trends, household projections, and emerging market dynamics that will shape housing demand through 2036.

The targets identify the need for a mix of housing types and affordability levels to meet the needs and priorities within the community. The report also summarizes the needs specific to each of the county’s three regions: the lakeshore, inland, and peninsula.

These housing targets will inform the development of a new 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan, support  Housing Action Plan (2024-2026) initiatives, provide benchmarks for progress, and inform advocacy with other levels of government.

"We’ll regularly monitor housing targets against growth and development occurring in the county and look to update them over the 10-year period as new data is available and as community demographics change," said Claire Dodds, commissioner of community development.

For more information, visit www.brucecounty.on.ca/buildinbruce.