Affordable Housing Dashboard

Housing affordability exists on a continuum or range, rather than as a single category. What is affordable depends on a households income, a household size, and local market conditions.

• • Very Low Income Households

Households with incomes well below the area median often require subsidized or deeply affordable housing, such as rent-geared-to-income or supportive housing, as even lower market rents may be unaffordable.

• • Low and Moderate Income Households

Housing at this level is priced so households spend 30 percent or less of their income on housing. In Ontario, many affordable housing programs are designed to serve these income groups.

• • Market-Affordable Housing

Some housing is priced below average market rates but is not subsidized. This housing can support moderate-income households who may not qualify for subsidized programs but still face affordability challenges in the private market.

When households spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, they face a higher risk of housing instability, particularly if unexpected financial or health challenges arise. In fast-growing areas like the Region of Waterloo and the Township of Woolwich, rising rents and home prices have increased the number of households struggling with housing costs.

Affordable housing initiatives help support:

• • Lower-income individuals and families
  • Seniors and people on fixed incomes
  • Workers earning moderate wages
  • Households transitioning from homelessness or unstable housing

In the Region of Waterloo, affordable housing is primarily a regional responsibility. The Region is designated by the Province of Ontario as the Service Manager, meaning it is responsible for planning and delivering affordable housing programs, allocating funding, managing waitlists, operating community and subsidized housing, and meeting provincially mandated housing and homelessness obligations.

At the same time, affordable housing delivery depends on coordinated action across all levels of government:

Government of Canada:

• • Provides funding programs, financing tools, and national housing policy direction through CMHC.

Government of Ontario: 

• • Establishes legislative and policy frameworks, assigns Service Manager responsibilities, and provides funding.

Region of Waterloo:

• • Leads affordable housing delivery, administers programs and funding, and works with housing providers.

Township of Woolwich: 

• • While not responsible for delivering affordable housing programs, local municipalities play a critical facilitative role by creating the conditions that allow housing to be built.

At the Township level, this includes supportive planning policies and zoning, streamlined development approvals and permitting, incentives or fee reductions where appropriate, and collaboration with the Region and community housing developers.

The Township of Woolwich is actively advancing a range of strategic initiatives to increase the supply of housing—particularly affordable and attainable options—to meet current and future community needs. These efforts are guided by the Township’s Affordable Housing Framework and supported by funding from the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).

Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan

In 2024, the Township secured federal funding under the HAF program to accelerate housing delivery and to remove barriers to development. Through this funding, the Township is implementing a number of initiatives that focus on planning, approvals, incentives, and community partnerships to support affordable housing projects across its communities. 

Key HAF supported Initiatives include: 

• • • • Planning infrastructure upgrades and pre-zoning to make lands development ready, particularly in Breslau.

      • Assembling and preparing Township owned properties for redevelopment through RFPs and pre-development planning.

      • Establishing streamlined review processes and offering dedicated support to community housing developers to reduce timelines and regulatory barriers.

      • Finalizing design guidelines to support vibrant, walkable mixed-use projects that integrate residential and commercial uses.

Learn more about these specific initiatives and progress on the Township’s Housing Accelerator Fund Engage page.

Affordable Housing Policy

The Township of Woolwich is developing an Affordable Housing Policy that will outline how new development can contribute to affordable housing outcomes. The policy is intended to encourage the inclusion of a defined percentage of affordable housing units within certain developments. Where on-site affordable units are not provided, developers may instead choose to make a financial contribution to a municipal housing reserve. Contributions to the housing reserve would be used to support affordable housing projects elsewhere in the Township. The policy will provide clarity, consistency, and flexible pathways for developers to support affordable housing in the community.

Affordable Housing Framework

Woolwich’s Affordable Housing Framework provides structured guidance and support to help increase the supply of affordable housing by assisting housing developers throughout the development process. The Framework is designed to streamline and facilitate affordable housing development by offering clear guidance, removing barriers, and expediting approvals. It provides a dedicated service that guides developers from early planning through construction, including early consultation, assistance with permits and approvals, and ongoing coordination to reduce delays. The Framework supports projects that include a minimum of 10% affordable units in a building, with affordability defined in accordance with the Township’s zoning by-law. 

Rental Housing Incentive Program

The Township offers a Rental Housing Incentive that subsidizes building permit and development charge fees for new purpose-built rental housing developments with a minimum of 11 units in Breslau, Elmira, and St. Jacobs. This initiative encourages investment in rental supply, including units that serve a range of income levels.

Strategic Partnerships and Community Projects

Woolwich continues to collaborate with non-profit and community partners to deliver affordable housing on municipal and private lands. For example, the Township supported plans for an affordable housing development with Beyond Housing at 28 South Street (Elmira), which will include a significant proportion of below-market rental units, as well as at 22 Church Street West, which will see a range of affordable rental housing. 

Housing Needs Assessment

To inform planning and policy, the Township has completed a Housing Needs Assessment in 2024 that identifies local housing demand, gaps, and opportunities. This foundational work supports evidence-based decisions and strategic investment in housing solutions.