Housing Solutions: A place for everyone
York Region’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan
Since 2014, York Region’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan has provided a roadmap to help ensure residents have access to a range of housing options and services at all ages and stages of their lives.
Phase 2 Plan: 2019 to 2023
In October 2019, York Regional Council approved phase two of the Region’s 10-year plan. To build on accomplishments from phase one and respond to current needs and challenges, the updated plan includes new goals for 2019 to 2023 to:
- Increase the supply of affordable and rental housing
- Help people find and keep housing
- Strengthen the housing and homelessness system
York Region will work closely with its partners to make progress on the goals and objectives over the five years of the plan.
Progress in 2022
York Region continued to make significant progress toward the goals and objectives set out in Housing Solutions Phase 2 in 2022, while also rapidly responding to changing federal and provincial direction and supporting residents to find and keep housing during a public health emergency. Key actions included:
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York Region adopted the 2022 Regional Official Plan, which was approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The Regional Official Plan includes enhanced intensification, density and complete community requirements to direct substantial new growth in housing to areas well-served by transit and services
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Work continued to increase community housing supply, including 265 new units in the City of Markham and 97 new units in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, both to be owned and operated by Housing York Inc. (HYI). Planning also advanced for two additional HYI developments, one in the City of Markham and one in the Town of Newmarket
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629 households from the subsidized housing wait list accepted offers of housing—the highest number of households housed in a single year since the Region became responsible for housing in the early 2000s—including enrolling 356 households in the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit program
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The Region’s Outreach Program was enhanced with additional investment to expand supports and services to assist people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including unsheltered individuals. A total of 572 unique people were assisted through the Outreach Program
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The Region continued to coordinate the By-Name List Community Collaborative Table and successfully referred 132 people experiencing homelessness to the table to be matched with appropriate programs and supports
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The Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@Clinic) was expanded to five additional seniors’ community housing sites, serving 257 clients, 787 visits and providing eight clients with ongoing community paramedicine support
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The Region continued to pilot an Emergency Housing Central Intake Line, providing a 24/7 central access point to emergency housing services and information for people experiencing homelessness
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Constructed 26 new transitional housing units in the towns of East Gwillimbury and Georgina through the Social Services Relief Fund
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Funded 26 non-profit community agencies to expand mental health and addictions supports, homelessness prevention services and emergency food access programs through the Community Investment Fund
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Provided 180 people experiencing homelessness with a safe place to self-isolate, access health supports and recover from COVID-19 through York Region’s temporary Self-Isolation Shelter
In June 2023, Council approved an action plan outlining how the Region will continue work with partners to develop and implement affordability strategies and help people find and keep housing in 2023.
Phase 2: 2019 to 2023
Phase 1: 2014 to 2018
Housing Solutions: A Place for Everyone – Phase 1 covered the five years between 2014 and 2018 and set out 47 actions to address housing supply and the housing and homelessness system in York Region.
