Mississauga Housing Task Force Unveils Bold Recommendations to Tackle Crisis

Mississauga – Mississauga City Council today received the Partners in Homebuilding report from Mayor Carolyn Parrish’s Housing Task Force, outlining a comprehensive plan to address the growing housing affordability crisis. The report challenges all levels of government, including Mississauga, to adopt innovative approaches to tackle the issue.

The task force, which includes over 30 experts from Ontario’s private and non-profit housing sectors, presented recommendations in four priority areas aimed at reforming policies and streamlining processes to boost housing supply and affordability.

“Young people cannot continue being forced out of our city because they can’t afford a home,” said Mayor Parrish. “Now is the time for new solutions.”

Key Recommendations

The task force’s recommendations focus on:

1. Reforming Development Costs: Fourteen actions aim to balance demand and incentivize affordable housing by adjusting development charges, taxes, and fees.
2. Updating Building Standards: Seven actions to create efficiencies and reduce construction costs while maintaining high standards.
3. Zoning Transformation: Five actions to provide developers with clarity and streamline application processes, supporting Mississauga’s evolution into a dynamic urban hub.
4. Sustainable Funding: Four actions to establish long-term programs that mobilize the private sector to build affordable housing.

Immediate City Actions

The City of Mississauga has already implemented 14 measures to address the housing crisis, including:

• Adding permissions for 124,000 new housing units.
• Offering financial incentives for purpose-built rentals and reducing costs for non-profit developers.
• Simplifying approval processes by creating a specialized housing-focused team.

The City also plans to update its Housing Action Plan with recommendations from the task force in the coming months.

Moving Forward

As a next step, Mayor Parrish will bring forward a motion next week with specific actions the City will take to immediately address housing affordability.

Residents and stakeholders can review the full Partners in Homebuilding report and learn more about the task force at Mississauga.ca/housing-taskforce.

Mississauga’s bold approach underscores the urgency of the housing crisis and the need for collaboration between governments and industry to deliver sustainable solutions.

SOURCES: City of Mississauga