The City of Kitchener is working on a new Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to help create more housing that people with different incomes can afford. This plan supports the goals of the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), which aims to increase housing supply and build inclusive, diverse communities.

To develop the plan, we are evaluating various initiatives to determine which ones will have the greatest long-term impact on housing affordability and availability. Staff will recommend one or more programs to City Council later this year.

About the Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan

The plan will align with HAF’s goals and be guided by the results of the City’s ongoing Housing Needs Assessment, one of the Kitchener 2051 technical studies.

It will also expand on current programs, such as:

About the potential initiatives

Your feedback on these potential initiatives has helped us choose the approaches that will be most effective here in Kitchener. Click on the dropdown menus to learn more about which incentives were chosen as part of this CIP program.

  • What it is: Construction grants or development charge waivers to help offset the upfront cost of building ADUs
  • Why it matters: This makes it easier and cheaper for homeowners to add rental units, increasing housing supply and affordability in existing neighborhoods.

Staff have developed the first stream of this CIP, called Additional Dwelling Units Grant. The details of the program include:

Program to be applied across the city, accounting for varying Development Charge rates ($39,483-$80,058). The program will have incremental benefits:

  • 🏠50% of City, Regional and educational Development Charge grant as base incentive; or
  • 💰100% of City, Regional and educational Development Charge grant for units that commit to providing a minimum of:
    • one Affordable Housing Unit for a prescribed affordability period (5 years); or
    • energy efficiency measures (heat pump, triple-pane windows, solar panels); or
    • one barrier-free unit (per specifications of the Ontario Building Code)
  • What it is: Financial incentives for private developers to include affordable units in their housing projects.
  • Why it matters: Encourages the private sector to build more affordable housing, supporting low- to moderate-income families.

A second stream initiative has been developed, called the Missing Middle Affordable Housing Grant. This program is proposed to offer:

  • Up to $25,000 per Affordable Unit to a maximum of $500,000 per project to offset the pre-construction planning, design and approvals costs for affordable housing in a missing middle format.

  • Qualifying costs include but not limited to:
    • Municipal and agency fees and charges (including applicable development charges)
    • Consultant service fees (such as planning, design, legal, property appraisal, environmental, engineering)

  • Awarded projects must maintain Affordable Units for a minimum of 25 years from the date of first occupancy. Applicants must commit to providing Affordable Units and consideration given to identified priority groups.
  • What it is: Grants to convert unused office buildings into residential units.
  • Why it matters: Helps address housing shortages by repurposing vacant office space, especially downtown near transit and jobs.

Based on concerns raised through engagement and the results of our financial analysis, staff have determined this initiative is not feasible to pursue at this time.

Updates

Past opportunities

These opportunites to share your input have now closed. They are saved here for your reference.