Affordable Housing Strategy

The City of St. John’s Housing Division recently engaged with landlords and property managers to build knowledge around the provision of affordable housing in St. John’s, and to share supports and resources related to affordable housing projects.

A landlord survey was conducted online from May 9 to June 3, to better understand the impacts of recent changes in the rental properties market. The What We Heard document will be presented to City Council today, see item 14.5.

The survey received 249 responses with a 64% completion rate. The survey was promoted via a Public Service Announcement, the City website, social media, community partner networks, and during a landlord engagement event on May 25.

Highlights of the survey results:

• Most landlords in St. John’s operate on a small scale, holding 1-5 units
• Of the 249 respondents, only 3 indicated operating accessible units, highlighting a key need
• The greatest impact of the pandemic is loss of rental income and increased rental arrears
• Landlords indicated damages and poor support processes as common challenges
• 57% of landlords are dissatisfied with recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Act
• 47% of respondents are interested in or able to provide affordable housing, however, lack of security in recouping costs of missed rent, damages, is cited as a significant barrier
• Cost of living increases is perceived as a major barrier to providing affordable rentals
• Landlord mitigation funds and tax incentives are cited as key incentives

Findings from the landlord survey will be presented to the Affordable Housing Working Group and used to inform working group initiatives and advocacy to increase the feasibility of affordable market rentals.

During the life of this strategy, various projects will be pursued to achieve the goals outlined. To stay up to date, and provide feedback on projects as they are in planning mode, check out the project pages below.

28 Eric Street - updated May 3, 2021

Home is Home Campaign

The 10-Year City of St. John’s Affordable Housing Strategy was approved by Council on Nov. 19, 2018. This strategy is a ten-year plan that continues and expands from the original 2014 Affordable Housing Business Plan’s mandate that ‘Housing is a human right. All people need and deserve a home in which they can afford to live, and the City should work to ensure such housing opportunities exist.’

Affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues nationally. People across the income spectrum find it increasingly difficult to secure suitable, adequate and affordable housing. Through this new strategy, the City will leverage its own municipal resources to support and compliment solutions of other levels of governments. By working collaboratively with our government partners, each unlocking unique available resources, we will maximize impact and multiply our efforts.

To fully address St. John’s housing needs, the new strategy has been developed with the vision of looking internally while working in-step with partners, stakeholders and residents to create and maintain safe, suitable, and affordable housing throughout the city. The City realizes the importance of working with the private sector to build the affordable housing inventory, and the new strategy will continue to create opportunities that encourage investment and inspire innovation.

The strategy recognizes that households have different housing needs based on size, employment, ability, health, income, stage in life, and a host of other factors. Affordable housing stock is about creating a range of housing choices.

The new City of St. John’s Affordable Housing Strategy is built on a strong foundation of public engagement and research on current local housing situation and emerging trends and it focuses on six strategic directions lined with actions:

· Unlocking Resources

· Building Homes

· Leading Innovation

· Revitalizing Policy

· Cultivating Partnership

· Informing Action

Guided by this new strategy, and with the continued support of the Affordable Housing Working Group, the City of St. John’s will continue to be a leader in affordable housing solutions and build strong partnerships to produce, protect and promote affordable housing for the people of St. John’s. We all have a role to play in helping our communities thrive.

The City of St. John’s released a What we Heard document on January 18, 2018, following a public engagement process which took place between May and June 2017, and was designed to help inform the next 10 year Affordable Housing Strategy.

The City’s first Affordable Housing Business Plan (AHBP), Creating Opportunities, Housing Our Community, was a 4 year plan which concluded in 2017.

A number of themes emerged throughout the City’s engagement process, including:

• Demographic realities

• Housing needs

• The importance of accessibility

• Energy efficiency as a function of affordability

• Transportation costs

• Partnerships

The information obtained through the consultation process will be used to help inform the new 10 Year Affordable Housing Strategy. The strategy is being developed in consultation the Affordable Housing Working Group. It will presented to Council and shared with the public for feedback before being officially adopted.