10/13/2026
Affordable homeownership needs to be part of the housing conversation.
Housing affordability is one of the defining challenges facing communities today, and across the communities we serve at Habitat for Humanity Huronia, we see firsthand how important access to homeownership can be for local families.
From Barrie, Alliston, Collingwood and Newmarket to the surrounding communities in our region, affordable housing is an important part of building strong, healthy communities where people can put down roots and build a future.
Recent polling conducted by Abacus Data for the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) found that 77% of Ontarians are concerned about housing in their municipality, while 71% want municipal candidates to make housing affordability a top election issue. Seven in 10 non-homeowners aspire to own a home one day, yet 53% are pessimistic about their ability to purchase a home in their community.
The challenge extends beyond Ontario. Among Canadians who do not own a home, 56% say they do not expect to ever become homeowners, the highest rate among all 22 countries surveyed and more than double the global average of 23%.
We believe affordable housing includes affordable homeownership. Homeownership can help families build stability, strengthen communities and create pathways to long-term financial security.
Municipal governments have an important role to play by supporting policies that increase the supply of affordable homeownership, encouraging efficient planning and approvals, exploring opportunities to leverage municipal land and fee relief, and working alongside nonprofit housing organizations like Habitat.
As you consider your municipal vote, ask candidates how they plan to make affordable homeownership more accessible in our communities. We encourage candidates to make housing affordability a priority and support policies that create more pathways to homeownership for local families.
Together, we can build stronger communities through affordable homeownership.
