District reports on housing and homeless initiatives
The District of Muskoka reported their housing and homeless initiatives to Huntsville Committee, in the March 27, 2025, General meeting.
District Commissioner of Community and Planning Services, Arfona Zwiers, advised that they have ongoing initiatives for affordable home ownership, District owned rentals, homelessness, rental assistance, and the Muskoka Affordable Housing Incentives Program (MAHIP).
She said that last year they received approval for the province wide The Big Move On Housing program for the Muskoka Affordable and Attainable Housing Investment Program (MAHIP), which includes three streams.
The streams are Deepest Need with $19-24 million allocated to it, Attainable Market Based with $8.5 million in funding, and Capacity Building with $2 million.
Zwiers said the Deepest Need is where there is “really a dire need.” She added, “The District approved two thirds of investment here to serve our most vulnerable residents and housing types not met through development in the private sector.” Options include 100 Pine Street, community housing revitalization, motels, supportive transitional housing, expanded outreach, and optimization of shelter capacity.
The Attainable Market Base will make up about 28% of their budget at approximately $8.5 million, said Zwiers. This applies to immediate need housing supply and can include third party proponents. It will include down payment assistance for ownership, head leases and service agreement partnerships.
Other considerations for this stream will include development charge rebates for first time homeowners of new homes, programs for secondary suites, and multi-resident capital incentives.
She added that the goal is to create 250 new units between 2025 to 2032 through the MAHIP program, which funded 30 projects across the region in 2024.
Capacity Building will make up approximately 6-7% or $2 million of the District’s budget. Efforts include incentivizing the capacity regarding affordable housing, which will involve modular housing construction capacity and the Muskoka Housing Taskforce 2.0.
Mayor, Nancy Alcock, suggested that relying on motels are “less than ideal to service that community,” and inquired about ways the District is creating permanent options for transitional housing.
Zwiers advised that motels allow them to meet housing needs quickly, rather than brick and mortar or shelter options, and allows them to expand and contract services based on the needs. For instance, since Covid the numbers have increased, and the stays are longer. She added that it’s also challenging for people to get into affordable housing.
Councillor, Dione Schumacher, indicated that it’s challenging for people to find housing on ODSP.
Zwiers agreed about the challenges people are facing on ODSP at $1300 a month maximum or Ontario Works at $733, and the barrier it creates to find affordable housing. She said the District provides a “stability fund” to help people with transitional expenses associated with getting a new apartment.
Deputy Mayor, Dan Armour, praised the MAHIP initiative, indicating that it’s working well for both the District and Huntsville, and inquired about what happens if a contract isn’t fulfilled.
Zwiers advised that staff monitor development projects and funding is allocated in stages. Funding is also allocated once the building is secured, and the owner shows they are leasing it out to people with rents based on the District maximums. Owners must also show compliance annually.
She added that the District can also holdback funds and charge interest if there isn’t compliance to the contract, and the funding then goes into a reserve and gets returned back to the province.
Councillor, Jason FitzGerald, suggested the District reach out to existing developers about potentially receiving funding for smaller (more affordable housing) developments.
Zwiers encouraged him to ask developers he knows that may be interested to contact staff who are open to it provided criteria are met.
