Oxford County seeking feedback on new 10-year housing and homelessness plan

Do you have thoughts on housing need in Oxford County?

Oxford County is looking for feedback on the new 10-Year Shelter Plan (“Housing for all”), its provincially mandated action plan for addressing housing and homelessness needs in the community.

Oxford’s 10-Year Shelter Plan will consider a number of challenges currently facing the County:

• the impact of increasing population and cost of living;
• the low availability of both rental and ownership housing units;
• long wait times for supportive, subsidized and rent-geared-to-income housing units;
• the growing number of people who are considered to be in "core housing need," which describes people living in housing that is not adequate, affordable or suitable, and that requires a household to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay median rent; and,
• how we support those experiencing homelessness.

You can provide your feedback by filling out the survey at www.oxfordcounty.ca/housingforall. Feedback from the public will be used to develop the new 10-Year Shelter Plan that will go before Oxford County Council in mid-2024.

Under the Housing Service Act, every municipal housing services manager in Ontario is required to prepare a local 10-year housing and homelessness plan. Oxford County's first 10-Year Shelter Plan was released in 2015, followed by a 5-Year Review in 2020. Oxford’s 10-Year Shelter Plan is supported though the County’s Master Housing Strategy.

Under Oxford County Council's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, "100% Housed" is a fundamental goal for achieving Oxford's vision of a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable future. Through the plan, the County is committing to seeking innovative solutions to address our housing supply and affordability challenges, and to working with community partners and other levels of government to ensure its residents are “100% housed.”

Learn more at www.oxfordcounty.ca/housingforall.

Quick facts

• Oxford County currently manages 636 subsidized social housing units, along with support for 600 not-for-profit housing units and 538 affordable housing units.
• Since 2021, the County has brought three new affordable housing projects online, adding a total of 154 new units with 110 reserved for affordable rents.
• Two new affordable housing projects are currently underway, adding 95 new units to Oxford’s housing mix when completed.

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