One-year of Housing Accelerator Fund programs help speed up and support diverse housing options in community

The Town of Whitby is continuing its commitment to support more and diverse housing options in the community as growth continues.

Following its 2024 Housing Accelerator Fund agreement with the Government of Canada to fast-track housing development, Whitby has launched a variety of new programs and initiatives designed to accelerate housing creation and expand options for residents. These include:

• New financial incentives for property owners to add additional dwelling units, such as basement apartments, secondary suites, and garden suites, to existing properties, increasing the Town’s housing stock and providing more housing options.
• New electronic submission and tracking for residential building permits, simplifying and speeding up the approval and payment process, and reducing wait times for applicants.
• Updated density by-laws that increase the maximum number of units allowed on residential lots to four, enabling greater housing flexibility and supporting Whitby’s growing population.
• Partnership with Habitat for Humanity through the donation of surplus land to support the creation of affordable housing for residents.
• $2.5 Million Investment in the Downtown Community Improvement Program to stimulate higher-density residential development in Whitby’s downtown core, promoting sustainable growth near transit options and key services.
• A catalogue of pre-approved detached additional dwelling unit designs created in partnership with the City of Pickering. These designs already meet Ontario Building Code requirements, streamlining and speeding up the design and approval process.

As Whitby enters its second year of HAF-supported initiatives, the Town remains focused on fostering sustainable growth, increasing housing availability, and advocating with other levels of government for collaborative solutions to address housing challenges.

Quotes

With support from the Housing Accelerator Fund, Whitby is taking meaningful action to address housing challenges. From new financial incentives for adding secondary suites to partnering with Habitat for Humanity on affordable housing, these initiatives will increase housing supply, streamline approvals, and support sustainable growth. Together, we’re working to ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable, and diverse housing options.

-        Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

The federal government’s $25 million investment from the Housing Accelerator Fund is already delivering more affordable housing for Whitby in year one. As the town continues to grow, this funding has fast-tracked approvals to support more high-density development that lowers the cost of building, making the cost of housing more affordable. It has also enabled the Town to partner with Habitat for Humanity to provide surplus land for more affordable units, making homeownership a reality for many. It is important for us to work collaboratively to ensure residents have affordable and sustainable housing options.

-       Ryan Turnbull, Whitby MP

Quick Facts

• In the Town’s recent Community Survey, residents listed affordable housing as one of their top three priorities.
• On January 23, 2024, the Town of Whitby was allotted $24.9 million in funding through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to support the creation of new housing in Whitby. There are nine local HAF initiatives – learn more.
• In March 2023, Whitby Council pledged to facilitate the development of 18,000 new homes by 2031. 

  For media inquiries, contact:

  Corporate Communications
  Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
  Phone: 289.314.6913
  Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca