Partnering with private developers to create affordable housing in your municipality

Every community is experiencing some form of social and economic inequality, the most common being income inequality (which can be directly related to housing and being able to afford and sustain a good home). Following the groundbreaking National Housing Strategy launch in November 2017, municipalities now have access to federal funding to meet their critical housing needs.

While many municipalities have the tools and land to develop affordable housing, and are making strides to ultimately end homelessness in their communities, there are some municipalities that do not own land or have the tools to develop city-owned affordable housing.

At the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Saskatoon councillor Hillary Gough was part of a workshop that showcased what communities can do when they are faced with the challenge of creating and sustaining affordable housing. During her time to share, Gough explained her municipality’s unique role in the housing sector: addressing affordable housing needs when the city does not own land or have the tools to develop affordable housing.

So, what role does a municipal government play in affordable housing when they do not own the land or are not the developers themselves? They get creative. The City of Saskatoon has used its unique position to be proactive and innovative by partnering with local developers and incentivizing “attainable housing” (as the community refers to it).

The city offers a number of different incentives to developers, such as tax reductions, waived fees, and faster processing times for paper work. The current measurement of vacancy in Saskatoon is 19 percent, leaving plenty of room to turn a number of vacant buildings into affordable housing, while also giving developers the opportunity to make a profit. By partnering with private developers, these projects also get a new, innovative team of passionate builders, designers, planners, and more to make these dwellings both appealing and achievable.

Working with private developers has also opened doors for Saskatoon in other ways, specifically, affordable housing for specific groups that meet unique needs, such as housing for single people, families (two to four bedrooms), and people living with mental health issues.

Whether through city-owned housing units or partnering with private developers, every municipality wants to eradicate homelessness. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Communities like the City of Saskatoon are leading the fight to end homelessness through open-minded partnerships, innovation, and community support.