Ontario Construction News staff writer
Housing affordability continues to be a pressing issue in Mississauga, with first-time homebuyers needing to be in the top 20 per cent of income earners to afford an average home.
Renters face a similar challenge, with one-bedroom units renting for over $2,000 per month. But while the problem is clear, the solutions require cooperation between the City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel, each playing a unique role in making housing more accessible to residents at different income levels.
The City of Mississauga is working to make housing more affordable for middle-income households. But what exactly does “middle” mean in terms of affordability?
Housing is considered affordable when it costs no more than 30 per cent of a household’s income. For moderate-income renters in Mississauga, with an average annual income ranging from $54,000 to $96,000, housing expenses should be between $1,350 and $2,390 per month to remain affordable. However, with the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment exceeding $3,000 per month, many middle-income families are priced out of the rental market.
To address this, the city is introducing several initiatives to help make housing more affordable for the middle class:
- Incentives for Shovel-Ready Projects: The City has approved significant financial changes, including the elimination of development charges for family-sized units, aimed at stimulating new housing development for Mississauga families. These changes are part of the bold recommendations made by the Mayor’s Housing Task Force.
- Encouraging More Housing Types: The City is also offering rebates to residents who want to build additional residential units such as fourplexes, triplexes, basement apartments, or garden suites. These measures are designed to increase the availability of affordable housing for all income levels across Mississauga.
- Free Garden Suite Design Plans: Garden suites, small homes built in backyards, are a flexible and affordable housing option. The City is providing free, pre-approved design plans for open-concept studio or one-bedroom garden suites, enabling homeowners to create additional housing units on their properties.
- Affordable Rental Units Incentive: To boost the construction of rental housing, the City has introduced a $44 million financial incentive program for developers. This program offers financial support to developers who agree to build new rental units that meet affordable rent thresholds for at least 25 years.
The Region of Peel is responsible for overseeing affordable housing in Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon, serving about 17,000 households through temporary shelters, housing subsidies, and community housing options, partnering with 50 community housing providers and Peel Living.
However, one in five households in Peel – about 93,000 homes – are in core housing need, meaning they are unable to afford adequate housing. In 2024, the Region opened six new housing projects, adding 381 new units to Peel’s affordable housing system, but the demand remains vast, with current supports meeting only 19 per cent of the need.
