Gravenhurst Housing Action Plan gets the green light

Gravenhurst council members approved the town’s Housing Action Plan earlier today.

“This is an important step in our ongoing efforts to bolster the supply of affordable housing in our community,” Mayor Heidi Lorenz said.   

Melissa Halford, director of Development Services for the Town of Gravenhurst, said the plan focuses on actions the town can take over the next decade to increase the supply of affordable housing. 

“More specifically, the intent of the plan is to support residents who cannot afford current market prices but do not qualify for subsidized or other affordable housing that is offered through the District of Muskoka Housing Program,” Halford said. 

The Housing Action Plan was developed based on five specific roles the town has in providing affordable housing: 

1.    Addressing development barriers.

2.    Promoting specific types of needed housing.

3.    Aligning programs with local needs.

4.    Continued two-way communication and engagement with the community to ensure housing needs are understood.

5.    Advocacy for funding to support housing initiatives in Gravenhurst.

“Several action items have been identified based on each of these roles,” Halford said. “Some are already in the works, some will require commitments to complete, and some will be best completed alongside other future large-scale initiatives.” 

Halford said staff will develop yearly implementation plans to ensure the success of the Housing Action Plan, adding that any budgetary requirements will be proposed for council’s consideration during the annual budget process. 

The creation of the Housing Action Plan started earlier this year with input from various town staff. 

Information from the town’s Housing Needs Assessment – approved by council in October 2024 – was also factored into the plan. A significant community engagement process took place prior to the creation of the assessment.

To learn more about the Housing Action Plan as it rolls out, watch the town’s website and social media channels. 

Additional resources

Watch the related discussion from today’s meeting.

Town of Gravenhurst Strategic Plan 2023-2027.