“The COVID pandemic has led to significant increases in rural migration, demand for rural housing and a rural housing crisis,” related Ellen Sinclair, the ROI Executive Director. “What has been a long-standing concern in large urban centres is quickly becoming a concern for rural areas.”
To address the rural housing gap, partners have devised a data-driven, outcomes-focused solution that will harness data in an automated and easy to use public dashboard including:
- demographic trends (population, growth, age and income);
- average home and market rental information;
- available zoned land;
- building costs (development charges and parkland fees);
- available incentives like municipal grants or loans;
- housing assets and amenities;
- and local organizations available for collaboration.
“This digital tool is anticipated to be a game changer and incredibly useful for rural municipalities to find and secure affordable housing opportunities more easily,” added Brenda Orchard, Lennox and Addington CAO and EOWC housing project co-lead.
This rural housing partnership project is funded through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Supply Challenge, with rollout of the tool expected for the Spring of 2023.