A Town Under Pressure: Milton Confronts Housing Target Challenges

By: Yubin Yeon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

The government has set an ambitious goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031 to alleviate the housing crisis. As part of this effort, Milton has been assigned a target of 21,000 new housing units by 2031.

These housing targets are intended to ensure affordability for all Ontarians, regardless of income level. To support this goal, the federal government announced an investment of over $22 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund to fast-track the construction of more than 800 housing units in Milton over the next three years.

Milton Ward 1 Regional Councillor Colin Best acknowledged the support but emphasized the challenges that remain. “The cost of construction has skyrocketed—up by about 42% over the last four years. That alone makes affordability a huge issue,” he said. Unforeseen costs, which were not initially considered when the federal targets were set, have further complicated Milton’s efforts.

“There’s the challenge of affordability for residents. The general rule is that housing should cost no more than 30% of one’s income. But even with that standard, many people are struggling to find anything truly affordable in Milton. So really, we need the government, developers, and nonprofits all working together to find real solutions. Right now, we have close to 7,000 people on the waitlist for assisted housing,” Best said.

The rapid rise in construction costs has made it increasingly difficult for Milton to expand its affordable housing stock. Moreover, using a fixed 30% income threshold to define affordability doesn’t always reflect the real-life challenges faced by residents, particularly those for whom housing consumes most of their income, leaving little for other essentials.

For elderly residents or retirees who may find it even more difficult to afford housing—even those considered “affordable”—there are some alternative support options. “One option we currently have is tax deferment. Eligible seniors can apply to have their property taxes deferred until they either sell their home or transfer it to a family member. It’s a small measure, but it can offer immediate relief for those on fixed incomes,” Best explained.

Milton is working closely with the Region of Halton and the provincial government to explore more assisted housing options. One project on the horizon is the development of the Allendale property, where Milton and the Region of Halton have jointly approved an implementation plan to build up to 2,000 new housing units—marking a significant step toward expanding affordable housing in the community.