Muskoka Housing Task Force

Housing is a basic need for everyone.

In March 2019, Muskoka District Council endorsed the recommendation for the creation of a grass-roots, diverse, and action-oriented “task force” to identify and promote strategies and opportunities for a range of housing options across Muskoka. The Muskoka Housing Task Force (MHTF) was established.

Over the next several years, the MHTF investigated and recommended projects and concepts that could advance housing options in Muskoka. The MHTF made great strides and was paused in November 2021 so that Muskoka District Council could review and consider these recommendations. Since that time, District Council approved staff resources to support the MHTF and its recommended projects. District staff have continued to prioritize these projects, and in Spring 2023, District Council decided the MHTF will be rejuvenated with Councillor P. Kelley appointed to act as Chair.

The rejuvenated MHTF is being referred to as the Muskoka Housing Task Force 2.0 (MHTF 2.0).

The MHTF was initially made up of community members, stakeholders, members of District Council, and municipal staff. The hard work of the founding members is wholly recognized and tremendously appreciated. Membership on the MHTF 2.0 is expected to be similar, with streamlined membership of community housing stakeholder representatives, ensuring balanced representation from a variety of housing stakeholders who have demonstrated a commitment to affordable and attainable housing. A call for membership for the MHTF 2.0 is anticipated in the near future as the MHTF 2.0 looks to reconvene. Please subscribe to project updates on this page to be kept informed of the process.

With a focus on attainable housing, the Task Force mandate focuses on four areas:

• Implementation and Demonstration: Undertake, facilitate, or support activities and projects that support the creation or maintenance of attainable housing in Muskoka, including seeking funding sources and participating directly in the delivery of policies, projects or programs that result in increasing housing supply or reducing barriers;
• Foster Collaboration: Identify opportunities that support the development and maintenance of attainable housing through collaboration with the federal and provincial governments, area Municipalities, Muskoka residents, financial and housing development partners, as well as other businesses, agencies and institutions with an interest in the attainable housing needs of Muskoka residents;
• Information Sharing and Outreach: Recommend to Community and Planning Services Committee (CPS), Muskoka District Council, area Municipal Councils and the wider public actions for implementation and advocacy related to attainable housing in Muskoka; and
• Research and Evaluation: Update members’ knowledge and understanding of the planning and financial tools to support the maintenance of attainable housing, as well as policies and programs to encourage attainable housing development in Muskoka, based on emerging best practices and funding opportunities.

Through this page, the MHTF 2.0 will share housing resources and information, including what Muskoka is doing to achieve our goal of housing for everyone, and what you can do to help.

Subscribe to receive project updates via email by entering your email address in the 'Follow Project' tool on this page (just look for the big blue megaphone on the upper right-hand corner of your desktop computer or scroll down on your mobile device).