York Region is an attractive community. With more than one million residents and 29,000 businesses employing 495,000 people, our Region is rich in diversity and opportunity. A place people are proud to call home.

But…some people in our community don't have a home. And many who do, find themselves struggling each month to make ends meet. The fact is, the cost of living in our Region is rising and low to moderate income households are having trouble keeping up.

To be affordable, housing costs should consume less than 30 per cent of your income. Even if you are not in a situation where housing costs are an issue, the chances are that the rising cost of living is affecting people close to you. Think of your friends, your neighbours, aging family members, or recent graduates who may be struggling to keep their home or to find a way to stay in their community on their budget.

Not having a place to call home can lead to further economic instability. Think about what you do in a day… now think about how you would do those things without a home, or if you were in fear of losing your home.

A home gives people a sense of pride and belonging, a connection to their community, a better chance at finding or keeping a job, and the ability to contribute to our resilient, healthy and inclusive communities.

We all face challenges in life. Some of us have the support to get through tough times on our own or with the help of family and friends, but not everyone does.

The reality is people in our community need support. This is why York Region is working with various partners to build new affordable and market-rent housing in our community - to help provide more housing options for all residents, despite income levels.

 Fast Facts:

• 1 in 8 York Region residents live in low income households
• 1 in 7 children live in low income households
• 26% of families with low income had two earners
• The Low Income Rate for recent immigrants in Markham and Richmond Hill was 37% and 29% in Vaughan
• The median monthly payment for an owner-occupied dwelling in York Region was $1,463 (Toronto - $1,175, Ontario - $1,046, Canada - $839)
• York Region has one of the highest average rents in the GTA due to a severe shortage of rental units.

Check out the snapshot of housing in York Region … does the information surprise you?

Want to know more? Check out these links to see what we're doing in York Region.