That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action for preserving existing affordable housing in the private market and facilitating the transition of private market rentals into long-term affordable housing through acquisition as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024:
- Direct staff to explore the creation of a Multi-Unit Rental Acquisition Program to preserve existing affordable housing in the private market and facilitate the transition of private market rentals into long-term affordable housing;
- For staff to bring forward any recommendations to the Regional Council for consideration;
- Direct staff to work with the area municipalities to explore the creation of right of first refusal policy and identification of affordable housing at risk of loss; and
- Direct staff to work with area municipalities to create a Waterloo Region Housing Needs Assessment to inform a targeted affordable housing acquisition strategy.
That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to rental housing protections and tenant displacement as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024:
- Direct staff to work with the area municipalities to explore the creation of renovation, conversion, and demolition rental housing protection policies;
- Direct staff to engage with service providers who support tenants at risk of or are currently experiencing displacement to:
- Identify gaps in support of displaced tenants and for tenants at risk of experiencing eviction caused by renovation, demolition, or conversion;
- Develop potential solutions to fill gaps; and
- Bring forward gaps and potential solutions to the Regional Council for consideration.
That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to advocating for the preservation of existing affordable housing as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024:
- Request that the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario establish acquisition programs that would support the acquisitions and renovations/conversions for all types of private market residential properties and other properties, to create new permanent affordable and supportive homes.