Local residents believe housing affordability is getting worse according to new poll results.
The poll was conducted by Nanos Research, a Canadian public opinion company. It was conducted on behalf of the Guelph & District Association of Realtors (GDAR).
It was a telephone survey of 717 residents in the City of Guelph, Centre Wellington and Guelph-Eramosa. It surveyed people 18 years of age and older from April 16 to 25.
Out of the residents surveyed, 77 per cent of them believe housing affordability has worsened compared to five years ago.
“Mayor Cam Guthrie and our city have been leaders when it comes to taking bold action to build more homes. We need to strengthen our efforts to ensure that we remain a place where middle-class families can afford a home,” said Dillon Fraser, president of GDAR, in a press release.
Millennials were the most likely to say housing affordability has worsened.
According to the poll, 90 per cent of people surveyed thought young people are less likely to be able to afford a home compared to five years ago.
The poll indicated 39 per cent of respondents said student housing in Guelph has worsened.
Residents most prefer single detached housing types.
“The Canadian dream for most families includes space to raise a family and Guelph residents are no different,” said Fraser. “Our civic leaders must rally in support of more townhomes, duplexes, triplexes and other missing middle housing that fits the needs and means of families.”
According to the poll the majority of participants support existing homeowners to convert their property to build duplexes and semi-detached homes.
“Our residents know we need to build more housing and they support more gentle density,” said Fraser. “Growth does not have to be a debate between building single family homes and high-rise apartments. We must turn our attention to policies that will lower costs for first-time buyers and cut red tape on all forms of housing.”
GDAR has ideas to build more housing. To cut red tape around zoning GDAR suggested municipalities create a reducing zoning red tape subcommittee or task force. The subcommittee would review zoning by-laws to reduce size and complexity for developers and homeowners.
It also suggested freezing development charges and lower costs for first-time home buyers. Selling surplus land was another idea. It thinks Guelph and Wellington County should work with provincial and federal governments to sell surplus land for housing development.
