York Region 2025 Health and Well-Being Review highlights community strengths, pressures and need for additional senior government support
Newmarket – York Regional Council received an annual Health and Well-Being Review, an analysis of demographic, socio-economic and overall health and well-being trends and how York Region is responding to the evolving needs of residents.
The review identifies strengths, challenges and opportunities for improvement, providing the Region, local governments, community partners and other levels of government with clear information to align support and policies. It is intended to inform community engagement, system planning and advocacy to help residents thrive.
“Ensuring residents have access to care and support continues to be a priority. While we are seeing continued growth and success, rising living costs, housing pressures and income insecurity are affecting residents in our communities,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Eric Jolliffe. “Understanding the health and well-being of residents allows us to address areas that need improvement and work with our partners to support everyone.”
York Region continues to experience population growth in 2025, increasing by 1.7%, adding approximately 21,300 residents, outpacing provincial and national growth. Despite Council investments advancing housing and human services, affordability challenges are making it harder for many residents to thrive. Trends from the review include:
- 20% increase in the subsidized housing wait list since 2024, reaching 22,074 households waiting for housing
- 34% increase in people known to be experiencing homelessness since 2024, or 1,176 people, identified through the Point-in-Time Count
- 27% increase in the monthly average number of people receiving Ontario Works since 2023
York Region remains committed to supporting resident well-being through innovative programming, collaborative partnerships and effective service delivery. However, additional and sustainable investments from senior levels of government are needed for the Region to meet rising service demand and keep pace with population growth and changing needs.
“Growth and diversity enrich our communities and help make York Region strong,” said City of Vaughan Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, Chair of Community and Health Services. “The Health and Well-Being Review helps us understand where residents are facing barriers so we can better align services, work with community partners and advocate for the resources needed to support people at every stage of life.”
A Community Opinion Survey conducted by the Region in 2025 showed:
- 76% of residents reported a good or excellent quality of life
- 83% said York Region is a safe place to live
- 76% reported making financial sacrifices to sustain housing
- 41% reduced spending on groceries due to financial strain
- 24% reported a fair or poor quality of life
While York Region continues to make positive impacts through investments in affordable housing, partnerships and strengthened advocacy, rising population, demand and costs are outpacing available funding for core services supporting health and well-being.
Based on the 2026 approved operating budget, a $79.1 million provincial funding shortfall is projected for four provincially mandated services:
- Homelessness Community Programs - $26.2 million
- Long-Term Care Homes - $30.8 million
- Paramedic Emergency Services - $3.7 million
- Public Health mandatory programs - $18.4 million
The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to more than 1.3 million residents and over 58,000 businesses with 624,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/RegionalServices
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Media Contact:
Tamara Ostrowski, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Phone: 1-877-464-9675, ext. 71226
Cell: 905-251-6412
Email: @email
