Project Update
IMPLEMENTATION
An Implementation Report CCW 2025-052 was presented to Council identifying the Priority Actions for 2025.
The categories of recommendations include:
- Development Navigator Program;
- Coordination Initiatives;
- Innovation Initiatives;
- Financial Initiatives;
- Advocacy Initiatives.
Based on the categories of implementation outlined in the Housing ASAP, the County’s Planning Department has prepared an implementation plan that would pursue the following five (5) priority actions.
These priority actions include:
- Explore a Development Navigator Program to facilitate priority housing;
- Create a Candidate Sites Catalogue with local municipal input;
- Prepare a Model Community Planning Permit System (CPPS);
- Draft a Standard Rental Replacement By-law Template;
- Set foundation for potential future Financial Incentive Programs.
ACTION PLAN ENDORSEMENT
The Housing Attainable Supply Action Plan (Housing ASAP) was endorsed by Council. It is intended to identify tactics, strategies, and tools that can be implemented by the County and/or lower-tier municipalities/City of Orillia over the next five years to increase the supply of attainable housing provided by the private market.
Attainable housing is defined as market-provided housing that is affordable for households with incomes between 80-120% of the County’s median household income. The Housing ASAP recommends prioritizing the following action items:
- Creating a Development Navigator Program to facilitate priority housing
- Creating a Public Land Program and Candidate Sites Catalogue
- Encouraging local municipalities to update the planning framework to support new housing development
- Coordinating with local municipalities to simplify the development process and fast-track priority projects
REPORTS
CCW 2025-052 (February 25, 2025) Housing ASAP Implementation Plan
CCW 2024-192 (June 25, 2024) Housing ASAP Final Report.pdf
AHA-2024-171 (June 4, 2024) Housing ASAP Recommendation Report
AHA Presentation (November 21, 2023) Housing ASAP Housing Needs Assessment
AHA-2023-276 (October 3, 2023) Housing ASAP Project Update
CCW-2023-179 (June 27, 2023) Housing ASAP Project Update
CCW-2022-097 (April 12, 2022) Tools to Increase the Supply of Housing
Read the Housing Attainable Supply Action Plan:
ACTION PLAN PREPARATION
BACKGROUND
The County of Simcoe, together with the City of Orillia, are preparing a Housing Attainable Supply Action Plan (Housing ASAP). The Housing ASAP project will identify tactics and strategies that can be implemented in the next 5 years to increase attainable housing “missing middle” supply provided by the private market in Simcoe County.
This project will answer three fundamental questions related to attainable housing within Simcoe County:
- What is Attainable? In each sub-region of the County, what is the target sale price and target rent that is within reach of the working individual and family?
- What is Missing? What are the number and types of dwellings that need to be integrated into each sub-region for the private sector to deliver market-based housing that is attainable?
- How can we help? What can municipalities do to help facilitate the attainable units that are needed?
We anticipate aspirations and advocacy tools to come out of this work to be used either at the County level or suggestions/options at the local level. These are actionable directions to help address the housing crisis in Simcoe County.
The work undertaken as part of this project will look at the market housing supply and delivery system, with a focus on workforce and missing middle housing in Simcoe County. The recommendations will influence an increase of attainable and workforce housing supply in Simcoe County within the realm of municipal control (upper or lower tier). Additionally, some other recommendations may require municipal advocacy (advocate for changes in legislation, policy, funding, etc.). The project will include four components:
Housing Needs Assessment: Summary Presentation
The Housing Needs Assessment is the first component of the Housing ASAP and identifies the housing options currently available across the County, the gaps in the market for moderate-income households, the price points that are affordable to households based on their income, the characteristics of households in need of attainable housing, and the market characteristics that are leading to these outcomes.
Additional details can be found in the County of Simcoe’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Report, AHA 2023-276 – Housing – Attainable Supply Action Plan (ASAP) Project Update.
Final Housing Needs Assessment – Updated November 1, 2023
Housing Needs Assessment: Summary Presentation
The Housing Needs Assessment is the first component of the Housing ASAP and identifies the housing options currently available across the County, the gaps in the market for moderate-income households, the price points that are affordable to households based on their income, the characteristics of households in need of attainable housing, and the market characteristics that are leading to these outcomes.
Additional details can be found in the County of Simcoe’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Report, AHA 2023-276 – Housing – Attainable Supply Action Plan (ASAP) Project Update.
Final Housing Needs Assessment – Updated November 1, 2023
- The Housing Needs Assessment is the first component of the Housing ASAP and identifies the housing options currently available across the County, the gaps in the market for moderate-income households, the price points that are affordable to households based on their income, the characteristics of households in need of attainable housing, and the market characteristics that are leading to these outcomes.
- Additional details can be found in the County of Simcoe’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Report, AHA 2023-276 – Housing – Attainable Supply Action Plan (ASAP) Project Update.
- Final Housing Needs Assessment – Updated November 1, 2023
- County of Simcoe and City of Orillia Public Information Centre – Discussing the Housing – Attainable Supply Action Plan (Housing ASAP) Project – Virtual Meeting from November 8th, 2023 (If you need the video file, please request us)
- Final Summary of Consultation – What We Heard Report – January 30, 2024
- Final Case Study and Potential Solutions Review – March 18, 2024
The County of Simcoe’s Final Attainable Housing Supply Action Plan was endorsed by County Council on June 24, 2024 and endorsed by Orillia Council on July 15, 2024.
The Housing Continuum
The housing continuum represents the spectrum of housing types available from very low to above moderate-income households. Housing ASAP focuses on the areas from "Affordable Rental Housing" to "Market Home Ownership" portion of the Housing Continuum.
What is Attainable Housing?
Attainable Housing refers to rental or ownership housing provided by the private market with no government assistance that is:
- Adequate in condition (no major essential repairs needed),
- Appropriate in size (bedrooms appropriate for household),
- Reasonably priced (households earning between 80-120% of the Area Median Income should not need to spend more than 30% of their income on housing), and
- Available (a range of housing options)
There are a number of affordable housing related initiatives that have been undertaken by the County, City of Orillia, City of Barrie, and Town of Collingwood such as;