Housing

Adequate supply and range of affordable housing choices to meet the needs of present and future residents of Halton Hills is an important goal of Council for the current term, as expressed in the Town Official Plan.

In Spring 2019, Council directed staff to take a number of short-term actions to address the issue of housing affordability in Halton Hills, including:

Continue to review and assess Town-owned properties for opportunities to provide affordable housing, and seek partners to develop those potential ‘quick win' opportunities;
Establish a Town-led Affordable Housing Working Group, with participation from the Region, and non-profit and for-profit developers/builders;
Incorporate consideration of financial incentives and municipal leadership actions focused on affordable and accessible housing into the upcoming review of the Community Improvement Plan; and,
Review and streamline the Town's 2-Unit Program (i.e. accessory units) approval and administration process, from application to inspection to fees to communication and outreach.

Ongoing initiatives related to housing affordability include the expansion of land use permissions for accessory apartments/units (i.e. secondary units) in the Town Comprehensive Zoning By-law

Exchange Hotel

Located at 37 King Street, Georgetown, the Exchange Hotel (c. 1850) was originally used to house railway workers. The property was purchased by Habitat for Humanity and the Town of Halton Hills has partnered with them to support the construction of affordable housing. Six dwellings will be built on site; two in the re purposed Exchange Hotel plus four additional town-homes.

First deconstruction video (December 2019)
Neighbourhood Letter
- Redevelopment progress at 37 King Street, Georgetown
- From Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga in partnership with the Town of Halton Hills

Frequently asked questions

Who owns the Exchange Hotel property?
- The property was owned privately until 2013 when it was purchased by Habitat for Humanity with assistance from Mattamy Homes with the concept to re purpose the Exchange Hotel into two affordable housing rental units. The agreement with the Town is that the units would retain the look/feel of the original heritage building.
Why has the Town partnered with Habitat for Humanity?
- The partnership was a natural fit given that both organizations have shared interests. The Town is committed to building its supply of diverse and affordable housing to serve the needs of the community. Habitat for Humanity Canada is "…a national, charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home." (Extract from Habitat for Humanity Canada)
How does the Exchange Hotel project fit into the Town’s direction on increasing the supply of affordable housing?
- The issue of affordable housing is complex, impacted by legislation and policies at all levels of government and requires a collaborative and multi-faceted approach. To date, the Town’s actions to support the development of affordable housing include:
  - Deferring or waiving planning fees and development charges for specific projects
  - Embedding new policies in the Secondary Plan for Vision Georgetown
  - Conducting studies to identify opportunities for additional residential development in existing communities
  - Implementing zoning by-law changes to increase flexibility regarding accessory units
  - Creating an Affordable Housing Working Group
  - To learn more, read report: TPW 2019-0016.
What is the Town’s investment/contribution to the Exchange Hotel project?
- The Town has agreed to waive the permit and development fees for the project to an upset limit of $250,000.
Going forward, what is the Town’s role with the Exchange Hotel project?
- Just as with any development, the Town is the approval authority for planning applications. Other than the financial contribution, the Town has no responsibility for the project outside of planning approval.
How is the history of the Exchange Hotel being respected?
- The Town recognizes and respects the importance of preserving heritage elements and architecture and made this a condition for supporting Habitat’s development of the property. Habitat has agreed to contribute up to $150,000 above normal construction costs to replicate heritage features. In addition, Habitat has hired Heritage Specialists who will assist with the project, including the careful deconstruction, inventory and cataloguing of the heritage pieces which will be re purposed in the final building.
What efforts were made to preserve the building?
- The Exchange Hotel is well over 100 years old and as with any building of that era, it has structural deficiencies which accumulated over the years. Habitat for Humanity had engaged a contractor to tarp the building but due to safety concerns, this was not carried out. From a municipal perspective, safety is the first priority and the Town is responsible for ensuring adherence to fire and building code regulations as well as upholding property
  standards under the community standards by-law.
What are the next steps and timeline for development of the Exchange Hotel?
- It is anticipated that a crew (including the Heritage Architect) will be on-site during the fall of 2019 to begin the careful deconstruction of the building. Each piece will be examined to determine its heritage value and potential re-use. Pieces will be catalogued and safely stored until the time of construction which may begin in spring of 2020.
What is the time frame for the four town-homes that are proposed for the site?
- Plans have been submitted for the proposed townhouses and the formal planning process is in progress and expected to be completed within the next six to eight months. Public participation is ongoing throughout the approval process. The estimated time for construction will be available upon completion of the planning process.
Who can I contact at the Town if I have questions about this project?
- Please contact Ruth Conard from the Planning and Development department.
Where can I find out more about the work of Habitat for Humanity?
- For more information please read Habitat for Humanity's website, call 905-637-4446, or visit 1800 Appleby Line, Unit 10, Burlington.

Affordable housing

Everyone has the right to safe, decent, permanent and affordable housing. Sadly, homelessness exists in every country, city and town, and is the result of many different factors. You may have personal experience in witnessing homeless individuals in Halton Hills and wondered how you can help.

Homelessness

What is homelessness?

According to the Canadian Observatory of Homelessness , homelessness is "the situation of an individual, family, or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect means and ability of acquiring it."

The homeless population is hard to count because of their mobility and the cyclical nature of homelessness. Halton Region, Social and Community Services Department estimated the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Halton Hills to be 17 individuals as of April 2018, including those staying in emergency shelter, motels, and transitional housing. An updated enumeration will take place in April 2020.

How does someone become homeless?

People become homeless for many reasons and causes can combine to the point that an individual is no longer able to sustain a home. People become unhoused when individual and family problems become insurmountable and seem hopeless. This can include catastrophic events such as loss of employment; family break-up or violence; mental and/or other debilitating illnesses; increasing housing costs or chronic substance abuse.

How you can help

There is help for homeless individuals in Halton Hills, supported by Halton Region. If you witness or there is someone you know who is homeless, here's what you can do:

Call 311: staff will triage clients to determine the best service provider to outreach and respond to the situation including providing access to the Housing Stability Fund, Emergency Shelter, Halton Housing Help or Bridging the Gap outreach
Call Halton Region Police non-emergency number at 905-878-5511 (1 District (Georgetown) Office): the report may be referred to the Community Engagement Team for response and appropriate referral

When someone doesn't want help

Often the stigma and shame attached to becoming homeless deters people who need it the most. Halton Region is aware of individuals who don't wish to access emergency shelter services, and can guide them to local supports around mental health outreach, housing related case management services as well as emergency food. Any community group concerned about a particular individual in their community is encouraged to call Halton Region to access supports and services for these vulnerable individuals. Individuals who have been identified as being homeless would be reviewed at monthly meetings of the Region's Homelessness Collaborative Table, or the Halton Situation Table where Halton Region Police are involved.

What's being done to combat homelessness?

A Homelessness Action Table under the Community Safety and Well Being Plan was established in 2017 to develop a clear and coordinated process with government, agencies and service providers to proactively address homelessness.

Recreation and Parks Department staff will continue to have a role working with Halton Region's Community Safety and Well being team to connect resources with local needs.

Important links

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada.

E-Services