Hamilton adds hundreds of affordable homes, plans for more by Q2 2024

Hamilton city officials say progress has been made over the past seven months, where hundreds of new affordable and supportive units have been added. The work is part of council’s plan that was approved last spring.

According to a report presented in front of the general issues committee on Wednesday.

Since January 2021, 586 units consisting of affordable non-profit and supportive homes have been completed and 84 more units are expected to be available by Q2 of next year.

The report was presented by the director of the Hamilton’s new housing secretariat division, which intends to manage upcoming projects slated for construction.

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The roadmap to create more housing is centered around four objectives which are centred around new construction, acquisitions of property, retaining existing affordable units and a provision of housing based supports.

The report says with appropriate funding, roughly 1,400 more units could be built over the next 36 months. The secretariat division says it’s collaborating with other city departments to help manage future projects and ensure there annual building targets are being met.

Following the report, Councillor John-Paul Danko raised concerns about the city’s spending of $146 million on housing this year in order to address the homelessness crisis.

He made note the city splits the costs with other governments. With Hamilton adding an additional $30 million, he says the city should be aware that future money may not be there to address unbudgeted pressures.

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