Recently, we sent e-mails to all candidates running in the upcoming municipal election to provide them with information about the affordable housing situation in their community and to invite them to the free community screening of Thinking Beyond the Market: A Film About Genuinely Affordable Housing.
Some questions we received back from a couple of candidates were for clarification around some of the definitions that are used when we talk about housing in Niagara. An Affordable Housing Primer, if you will.
The following definitions are commonly used by Niagara Region, CMHC, and local housing providers.
Accessory Dwelling Units
A smaller, self-contained home on the same property as a main house, such as a basement apartment or garden suite.
Affordable Housing
Housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross income, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities and taxes.
Attainable Housing
Housing that is within reach for middle-income households. It helps fill the gap between subsidized housing and higher-priced market housing.
Bridge Housing
A progressive short-term housing program. Staff work to address an individual’s needs by acknowledging their trauma, addressing barriers, and then connecting them to supports needed to get housing. The program is designed for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness with complex needs, but who can live independently.
Co-operative Housing
A non-profit, member-run residential community where residents are members rather than tenants, collectively owning and democratically managing their housing.
Core Housing Need
The standard indicator of housing need in Canada used by CMHC and Statistics Canada. A household is considered to be in core housing need if its dwelling does not acceptably meet its needs, i.e., it is either too small, in a major state of disrepair, or too expensive given its budget, and there is no alternative acceptable housing that would cost less than 30% of total household income.
Density
A measure of how many homes or people are located within a certain area. In practice, this can include townhomes, apartments or smaller lot sizes that make better use of land and infrastructure.
Housing First
A proven recovery-oriented approach to ending homelessness.
The program focuses on moving individuals experiencing chronic homelessness into independent and permanent housing. Using a strengths-based approach, individuals work on: goal setting; system navigation; and connection to community supports to get and keep stable housing.
Missing Middle Housing
Homes such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes that sit between detached houses and larger apartment buildings. These housing types can help create more housing choice in complete neighbourhoods.
Purpose-Built Rental
Housing designed for long-term rental. An important option for workers, families, newcomers and students.
Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI)
A program that aims to house people based on 30% of the household’s gross income, plus parking (if applicable), and an adjustment for the cost of utilities.
Secondary Suite
A self-contained home within or attached to a house. A smaller, more flexible option for students, seniors, family members and other smaller households.
Subsidized Housing
A program that provides rent support to help with housing costs while waiting for a rent-geared-to-income unit. The amount depends on household income and the size of the unit they qualify for, up to the program maximum. This program helps households with their monthly rent until they move into a permanent rent-geared-to-income unit or for a set period.
Supportive Housing
Provides affordability, health, and social supports in stable housing to those with complex needs who are experiencing homelessness. It helps people live as independently as possible in their communities.
Transitional Housing
Programs are longer-term, service-intensive and more private than emergency shelters. Stays in these programs are typically between three and 18 months, depending on the population being served.
