In 2021, 13 per cent of Muskoka residents are living in poverty.
This number comes from the District of Muskoka’s 2021 annual report on its 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, which sets the district’s vision from 2020 to 2030.
While Muskoka is a popular tourism destination, the report reads: “beyond the beauty, a lack of housing, threat of homelessness, lack of stable employment, and poverty is a stark reality.”
Here are some highlights from the 2021 annual report.
Statistics from the 2021 annual report on Muskoka’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. — District of Muskoka photo
MUSKOKA’S VACANCY RATE
Muskoka’s vacancy rate in 2020 was 1.13 per cent compared to 1.2 per cent in 2019 and 1.9 per cent in 2017.
DISTRICT-OWNED RENTAL UNITS
The district owns/manages 574 units, 468 of which are rent-geared-to-income units.
Notably, Muskoka’s Home for Good Project for Youth is in the construction phase. There will be 12 transitional housing units for youth aged 18-24 that are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, and an additional five one-bedroom affordable rental units, at 49 Pine St. in Bracebridge.
The project is hoped to be completed by October.
WAIT LIST FOR SOCIAL HOUSING
In May 2021, there were 628 households on the social housing wait list, with a wait time of up to eight years.
Seniors make up 22.6 per cent of those on the wait list, and 54 per cent of those on the wait list are looking for one-bedroom units.
DISTRICT’S HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS BUDGET
In 2021, the district will spend more than $10.6 million on housing and homelessness programs.
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Of the $10.6 million, approximately $5.7 million comes from the municipal tax levy, $2.5 million comes from provincial funding, and $2.4 million comes from rents and other funding.
MUSKOKA AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM
The district’s 2021 budget for the Muskoka Affordable Housing Initiatives Program is over $2.1 million.
This program has funded 103 new affordable housing units to date. It also provides 300 monthly rent supplements with an annual budget of almost $750,000 to help reduce rental costs in market units and retirement homes.
$1.05 million of this budget goes toward capital incentives for the construction of new affordable units.
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND SUPPORT
In 2021, there were 784 requests for assistance in obtaining housing from households experiencing homelessness.
The district supplied201 households with temporary emergency motel vouchers.
There were 670 requests for assistance from households at risk of homelessness to support housing loss prevention, retention or rehousing.
HOW TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT FOR HOUSING HELP
The district’s housing team can be reached by phone at 705-645-2412 ext. 4960. The District of Muskoka office is located at 70 Pine St. in Bracebridge.
Data comes from annual housing and homelessness plan report
MuskokaRegion.com – Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Sarah Law is a reporter with the Gravenhurst Banner. In addition to Gravenhurst, she also covers school boards in Muskoka.