A recent report unveiled a slow progress in creating affordable housing units in Windsor-Essex, with only 264 units developed over six years despite projections indicating a need for over 8,000 units in the next decade. This information was presented to the Windsor city council as part of a regional affordable housing strategy.
The report highlighted the City of Windsor’s efforts to boost the affordable housing supply by constructing new units across the region since 2019, excluding for-profit market units from the count. Ward 9 Coun. Kieran McKenzie, who is also a board executive with the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, acknowledged the low number of units created, attributing it to a lack of collaboration among various levels of government.
McKenzie praised the completion of the 145-unit affordable housing building at 3100 Meadowbook Lane in 2023, funded by federal, provincial, and municipal contributions totaling around $51 million. He emphasized the need for broader government support to address the high cost of affordable housing development.
A consultant hired by the City of Windsor and the County of Essex in 2023 assessed the housing needs in the region, projecting a requirement of 40,840 new housing units in Windsor and 15,000 units in Essex County by 2035, with a portion designated as affordable. The report also highlighted the demand for “deeply affordable” units to cater to specific income brackets.
Julianna Biondo, president of the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors, expressed concerns about the slow pace of housing development to meet the region’s growing population. She emphasized the need to streamline planning approvals and reduce development costs to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing options.
The report identified challenges faced by renter households, emphasizing the rising unaffordability of homeownership for low and moderate-income families. It recommended focusing on encouraging purpose-built and affordable rental housing developments across Windsor-Essex to address the housing crisis effectively.
During a council meeting, Sasha Dhillon from Excellent Service Group urged policymakers to take concrete actions to facilitate housing development, highlighting existing barriers that deter builders. Windsor-Tecumseh MP Kathy Borrelli raised concerns in the House of Commons about the lack of affordable homeownership opportunities in Windsor, urging the federal government to streamline regulations.
McKenzie underscored the necessity of subsidies for affordable housing projects, noting the disparity between private and public interests in housing development. He emphasized the importance of government intervention in ensuring the timely delivery of affordable housing units to meet the community’s needs.
