The Affordable Housing Crisis

The Facts: A Growing Need

Grey County's housing and homelessness figures illustrate the scale of the regional challenge. The County's subsidized housing waitlist grew substantially between 2022 and 2024, while its homelessness count documented hundreds of people without stable housing.

The waitlist increased from 1,517 in 2022 to 2,230 in 2024, and then to 2,545 in 2025. These are County-wide figures, not a count limited to Owen Sound, but they demonstrate the scale of housing need in the region.

It's Not Just a Shortage of Homes

Housing for Some, but Not for All

Owen Sound reported $214.5 million in construction value in 2024. That is a significant measure of development activity. But construction value does not tell us how many homes are affordable to local workers, seniors, young families or people on fixed or low incomes.

New housing can increase supply and contribute to a healthier market over time. However, the type, price, location and timing of new construction all matter. Market-rate development alone may not meet the needs of households that cannot afford the rents or purchase prices required to make new projects financially viable.

Do Municipal Costs Affect Affordability?

Taxes, fees, development charges, land costs, financing and construction expenses can all be part of the economics of housing development. Their effects on rents and home prices, however, depend on market conditions and the individual project.

Council should understand how its own policies and charges affect the feasibility of different types of housing, while recognizing that reducing a cost does not automatically guarantee that a home will become affordable to the people who need it.

Residents should be able to see the City's analysis of these trade-offs: which measures could increase supply, which could support below-market housing, and what public benefits would be expected in return.

Some Progress, but Demand Remains High

There have been important housing initiatives in the region. In July 2025, Owen Sound Council approved the transfer of lands adjacent to Bayfield Landing to Owen Sound Housing Company Limited to support affordable housing development. The project is intended to respond to a housing type in high demand on the County's waitlist.

Grey County has also invested in homelessness supports and housing initiatives, including supportive housing and short-term emergency accommodation. These efforts involve cooperation among municipal, provincial, federal and community partners.

Such projects matter, but their progress should be considered alongside the continuing waitlist and the number of people experiencing homelessness. Residents need regular updates on units completed, affordability levels, occupancy, timelines and the number of households actually helped.

What Can Owen Sound Do?

Housing is a shared responsibility. Grey County has a central role in social housing and homelessness services, while the City has tools involving land use, planning, infrastructure, municipal property and local partnerships. The practical challenge is to coordinate these responsibilities and make the most of each government's contribution.

The Path Forward

Owen Sound's housing challenge cannot be solved by one policy, one government or one construction project. It requires a sustained effort to expand supply, preserve existing homes, improve housing conditions and create more options for people whose incomes do not match prevailing housing costs.

That effort also requires honest recognition of the City's authority and limitations. Municipal government cannot independently solve every aspect of housing affordability, but it can make deliberate choices about the policies, partnerships and resources within its reach.