Affordable HOUSING

Affordable housing in our area is at a crisis situation. I will work with public and private sector groups to combat this ever increasing problem here in Fort Erie.
I would like to propose Regional Council consider lowering the Development charges for developers who incorporate affordable housing units into their plans.
Statistics released by Niagara Housing for this year on wait times for affordable housing have seniors in Fort Erie waiting 9 years before they can get affordable housing, this is not acceptable.
The Regions 10 year plan on how to deal with affordable housing was published in 2013. Since that time wait times have steadily increased and there continues to be a lack of affordable housing, very little action has taken place to address this issue.
Families with dependents are on a wait list from 2 to 5 years. Action is needed now, we don't need another study on the issue.
In November of 2013 the Niagara Region published a report entitled A HOME FOR ALL: Niagara’s 10-Year Community Action Plan to Help People Find and Keep Housing. It is now nearing the end of 2018 and we find the the wait list numbers have steadily increased. Due to the lack of available housing units the rent now asked, for the same unit has increased by over 20%. It is no wonder the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce claims that we are in a state of crisis .