Affordable Housing Strategy
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 2014-2017 Affordable Housing Business Plan’s mandate that ‘Housing is a human right.'
As projects are identified, they will be featured on this page.
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 ran until September 2017. The Plan was 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 Strategy was 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 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 2014-2017 Affordable Housing Business Plan’s mandate that ‘Housing is a human right.'
As projects are identified, they will be featured on this page.
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 ran until September 2017. The Plan was 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 Strategy was 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.
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What We Heard: Public Engagement for Property Managers and Landlords
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkby Site Admin 2,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.
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Projects from the Affordable Housing Strategy
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkDuring 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
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10-Year Affordable Housing Strategy released
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.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.
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Public Comments open: 10 -Year Affordable Housing Strategy
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.A draft 10-year Affordable Housing Strategy has been developed for the City of St. John’s and is open for public review and comment until Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018.The City's Affordable Housing Strategy is built upon public and strategic stakeholder engagement, and the implementation strategies will be guided and shaped by multi-stakeholder partnerships and processes.Comments gathered may inform the strategy.The final 10-year Affordable Housing Strategy is set to be released near the end of November 2018.
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What we Heard released January 18, 2018
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded.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
Life Cycle
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Open
Affordable Housing Strategy has finished this stageThis consultation is Open for contributions from mid-May to the end of June, 2017.
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Under Review
Affordable Housing Strategy has finished this stageContributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The Project team will report back by completing and posting a What We Heard document prior to the release of the Affordable Housing Strategy.
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What we Heard report
Affordable Housing Strategy has finished this stageThe Project team has completed a What We Heard document prior to the release of the Affordable Housing Strategy.
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DRAFT Affordable Housing Strategy 2019 - 2028 now closed for feedback (open October 10 - 23, 2018)
Affordable Housing Strategy has finished this stage -
Final report
Affordable Housing Strategy is currently at this stageThe final outcomes of the consultation are documented here. The new 10-year strategy was approved by Council on November 19, 2018
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Who's listening
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Council Lead - Housing
Phone 576-8243 Email oravencroft@stjohns.ca -
Affordable Housing and Development Facilitator
Phone (709) 570-2096 Email affordablehousing@stjohns.ca
Affordable Housing Working Group
The Affordable Housing Working Group is responsible to provide advice to Council regarding housing system related policies, directives and strategies as well as implementation of the 10-year Affordable Housing Strategy, 2019 to 2028. In implementing the Strategy, the Working Group is to consider relevant City policies and activities which impact the Strategy and ensure communication with the appropriate parties. The working group will ensure that there is a comprehensive understanding of housing, affordable housing and homelessness issues and initiatives.
Please visit our Affordable Housing Working Group page to know more.
Photos
Previous Information Sessions
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28 June 2017