Building a New Affordable Housing Strategy for St. John's

Affordable housing is a foundation for a safe, prosperous and healthy community.

The City’s first Affordable Housing Business Plan (AHBP), Creating Opportunities, Housing Our Community, was approved by Council in 2014 and runs until September 2017. The Plan is based on the City’s core belief that housing is a human right and that everyone needs and deserves a home that is affordable to them.

To continue this commitment to affordable housing - a new 10-year Affordable Housing Plan is now being developed for the City of St. John’s.

To be affordable, housing must cost less than 30% of pre-tax household income including housing and related costs. For renters, shelter costs include rent and utilities. For owners, shelter costs include mortgage payments, property taxes, condominium fees and utilities.

The City has a long history of leadership in this field, including the creation and management of affordable housing for over 400 households since 1982. In the past decade, the cost of rental and home ownership has risen very sharply and there is much work to be done. Our City can't make advancements in housing alone. We must develop partnerships - governments, social organizations, builders – we all have a role to play. The City’s best role is to help to identify and create opportunities – not build homes.

In addition to participating in the discussion on this page you can also have your say by emailing comments to affordablehousing@stjohns.ca .