Advocacy Work

Letter to City Council on Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan Public Meeting - 2024-451, 2024-451

Nov 13, 2024

RE: 3.1 Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan Public Meeting - 2024-451, 2024-451 

To Mayor Guthrie and City Council, 

As we all know, the lack of sufficient affordable, attainable, and suitable housing options across the housing continuum is negatively impacting the current and long-term prosperity of our community.  

Activating all available levers (including financial incentives) that encourage and accelerate the development of affordable housing units in Guelph is crucial. The development of a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a positive step forward in that effort. We commend the City of Guelph for putting more tools forward that incentivize the development of affordable housing.  

In our engagement about the CIP as presented, with non-profit and private sector developers, we have heard that certain criteria and parameter requirements limit the intended impact of the CIP.  

We would request that the City of Guelph further engage with a cross-section of private and non-profit developers to establish and present an overview of the efficacy (i.e. implementation and uptake) of the program in its current configuration.  

The Guelph Chamber and our network will continue to be a willing and constructive partner in the development and implementation of government programs and as such, we would be happy to assist in convening such a discussion. We will continue to welcome the opportunity to be engaged more meaningfully. 

Sincerely, 

Shakiba Shayani 
President and CEO
Guelph Chamber of Commerce