This is pulled from the r/windsorontario subreddit, by user u/coyotefew6535 . I do not claim credit for this post. Am reposting here for visibility and discussion, and appreciation of a high quality post.
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS GROWING INCOME INEQUALITY AND HOUSING CRISIS IN WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY
Windsor-Essex, ON – With a provincial election under way, a newly released report, Income Inequality and the Housing Crisis in Windsor-Essex County, reveals alarming trends in income disparity and housing affordability in the region. The report, a collaboration between five community organizations, underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to address rising economic inequality and its impact on housing accessibility.
Developed as a collaborative project between Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO), Family Services Windsor-Essex (FSWE), Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex, South Essex Community Council (SECC), and the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families, with research undertaken by Community Policy Solutions the report provides an in-depth analysis of income distribution and housing affordability challenges in Windsor-Essex.
Key Findings:
Windsor-Essex Among Canada’s Most Unequal Regions: The region ranks fifth in Canada for income inequality, trailing only Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Hamilton.
Soaring Housing Costs: Since 2006, housing prices have surged by 150%, while median incomes have declined by 10% when adjusted for inflation.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Persons with disabilities, single mothers, newcomers, and low-income households face significant barriers to securing stable housing.
Investor-Owned Properties Increasing: 64% of condos and 12% of single-family homes in Windsor-Essex are owned by investors, driving up rental costs and exacerbating affordability and inequality issues.
Housing Affordability in Decline: Between 2015 and 2020, 149 neighbourhoods (Census Dissemination Areas) in Windsor-Essex became unaffordable to middle-income earners to purchase a new home.
A Call for Action
The report emphasizes the need for a multi-faceted approach to address these challenges, including:
Zoning and Planning Reforms to allow for more diverse and affordable housing options to be built at lower costs.
Innovative housing solutions like Community Land Trusts to keep land and housing permanently affordable.
Improved Social Assistance Rates to ensure the most vulnerable are able to afford housing in our community.
Adopt broader community wealth building strategies across our region by buying local, ensuring fair wages are being paid, access to public transportation services in all municipalities, and considering tangible community benefits when municipal or regional projects are advance.
“The findings are clear: Windsor-Essex can no longer rely on historically low housing costs to balance out lower income of residents. Growing inequality is pointing to the fact that many people in Windsor-Essex are now being left behind. Without immediate action, the affordability crisis will continue to push more residents into precarious housing situations,” said Frazier Fathers, report author and Lead Consultant at Community Policy Solutions.
The full report is available for download as are over a dozen maps that maps affordability and inequality at different income thresholds for the Windsor-Essex region.
Partner Perspectives: As part of the project each partner’s perspective on the topic of inequality and housing was explored deeper. Each of their perspectives provide a unique insight into this pressing issue and an important conversation about affordability and inequality. Each link below goes to a one pager focusing on this organization's perspective.
Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario
“For the people we support, we see the impacts of income inequality and housing affordability daily. Some of our clients are fortunate while others barely can keep a roof over their heads on ODSP forcing them into impossible choices. At the same time, it costs 300% more to retrofit a housing unit to make it accessible rather than build it from scratch. This forces higher prices on our clients than the average community member.”
Leigh Vachon, Executive Director, Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario.
Family Services Windsor Essex
“The housing crisis and growing income inequality in our region are complex and our community needs action. We need to have the space to innovate and try out new ideas and solutions. We need to explore ideas like Land Trusts and new strategic partnerships between organizations and government to leverage the limited resources we have available to move the needle on this crisis. We need more affordable housing.”
Ciara Holmes, Acting Executive Director, Family Services Windsor Essex
Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex
““This report makes it clear—income inequality is a growing issue in Windsor-Essex, and without action, more families will be shut out of homeownership and long-term financial stability. Homeownership is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of poverty and build generational wealth, but rising costs and systemic barriers are making it increasingly out of reach. At Habitat for Humanity, we see firsthand how a stable, affordable home transforms lives. That’s why it’s critical for nonprofits to work together on research like this—to highlight the challenges, advocate for change, and push for policies that make homeownership and affordable housing a reality for more families in our region.”
South Essex Community Council
**“**As a multi-service agency operating in Essex County, we see the impacts of income inequality and housing affordability every day. These issues affect the physical and mental health of many of the people we serve. It affects their ability to search for employment. It affects a person’s ability to access healthy food. The impacts of income inequality and housing affordability are deep. In smaller communities, it is not just about housing, but the supports around housing. Are people making a living wage, can they afford groceries? Do they have reliable and affordable transportation access to find work or attend school? Without these and other supports, those that “have” will continue to prosper, while those that “have not” will continue to struggle.”
Carloyn Warkentin, Executive Director, South Essex Community Council
Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families
“As a shelter provider we see the direct impact of growing inequality and unaffordability in our community. Timelines for housing our clients have grown and data shows that women and families face a disproportionate impact of these crises. The need for transitional housing options continues to grow and without a spectrum of supports, keeping people with greatest needs will remain a challenge in our region.”
Lady Laforet, Executive Director, Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families
If you want to know more about this report or the data. Reach out to info@communitypolicysolutions.ca
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