A new survey commissioned by the Windsor-Essex Association of Realtors (WECAR) reveals that housing affordability is the top quality-of-life concern in the region, with 58 per cent of residents rating the availability of affordable housing as poor or very poor.
Survey Details and Methodology
The Nanos report, a telephone and online survey of 724 Windsor-Essex residents aged 18 and older conducted from May 20 to June 2, examined quality-of-life issues across Windsor and Essex County. Pollster Nik Nanos noted that the views of Windsor-Essex residents largely mirror those seen across Canada.
“Affordable housing has kind of transfixed Canadians as a big lightning rod,” Nanos told the Star Thursday. “I don’t think we should say that Windsor Essex is exceptional. It’s caught up in the same anxiety that most Canadians are transfixed on.”
Strong Support for Policy Measures
Residents expressed strong support for municipal measures aimed at increasing housing supply. Eighty-four per cent favoured speeding up the approval process for affordable and rental housing projects. Eighty-one per cent supported reducing or capping municipal development charges to lower the cost of new housing, and 79 per cent favoured lowering development charges for small infill housing projects.
“Housing affordability has emerged as the region’s most significant quality-of-life challenge,” WECAR said in a release. “Residents strongly support policies aimed at increasing housing supply and improving affordability.”
Developer Perspectives on Development Charges
Development charges are fees collected by municipalities for new construction to help pay for infrastructure or services, so that current taxpayers do not pay for growth. These fees are typically passed along by developers to homebuyers, increasing the price of new homes. Developers have argued that cutting development charges would help spur a slow housing market.
In October, Norbert Bolger, now chair of the Windsor-Essex Homebuilders’ Association, told county council that “there is no such thing as affordable housing anymore,” noting that lower-priced homes are only possible because of government subsidies.
Call for Action from Realtors
“Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Windsor-Essex and people want action,” said Alyssa Ismail, president of the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors, in a release. “What is particularly encouraging is that residents are supporting practical solutions that can help increase housing supply and improve affordability.”
“These findings demonstrate that residents understand the connection between housing supply and affordability,” said Ismail. “The public is telling decision-makers they want them to look for ways to lower development costs.”
