Housing FAQ's
Adequate in condition (no major repairs needed)
Appropriate in size (bedrooms appropriate for household)
Affordable (costing less than 30% of before tax income)
Accessible (located in areas where common services are available)
Available (a range of housing types)
What does "affordable housing" and "attainable housing" mean?
Affordable Housing versus Attainable Housing
Affordable: In Canada, housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax income.
Example: If a household earns $60,000 a year before tax, they should spend less than $18,000 a year (or $1,500 a month) on total housing costs, including rent or mortgage, utilities, maintenance, and property taxes.
Many people think "affordable housing" only means government-subsidized rental housing, but it also includes housing provided by private, public, and non-profit sectors and different types of housing tenure (rental, ownership, co-operative ownership, temporary and permanent housing).
Affordability is only one piece of the puzzle and that is why the Muskoka Housing Task Force is focused on Attainable Housing opportunities.
Attainable Housing: Attainable Housing means that the housing is:
The more pieces missing, the more unstable housing becomes.
What is the Housing Continuum?
Housing and homelessness exist in many forms across our community. The MHTF took the original CMHC Housing Continuum graphic (which illustrated housing needs in a linear progression) and updated it to better reflect the housing landscape across Muskoka.
The updated graphic below better represents the range of housing options available to meet different needs, as well as the reality of homelessness for those who lack stable housing.
Rather than a linear pathway from homelessness to homeownership, housing is about finding the right fit based on individual circumstances, affordability, and available supports. Some people may need temporary solutions like emergency shelters, while others seek long-term stability in rental housing or homeownership. Supportive and transitional housing options help those who require assistance to maintain housing.
Understanding these housing options helps us recognize the diverse needs in our community and the importance of ensuring safe, appropriate, and affordable housing for everyone.
Where can I learn more about common housing terms?
View the Housing Dictionary!
Housing can be a complex topic, with a wide range of terms and concepts to understand. The Muskoka Housing Task Force has created a dictionary to help guide conversations about housing needs in our community.
This guide provides clear definitions of common housing terms, making it easier for everyone to understand and use the same language when talking about housing. It helps support more informed conversations, so our community can work together to address housing issues. By teaching key terms, this guide empowers people to confidently join housing discussions and be part of creating housing solutions for everyone in Muskoka.
View or download the dictionary at the following link: Housing Dictionary