Affordable Housing Action

View our staff report Ontario Housing Target & Pledge

Ontario has assigned specific housing targets to its 50 largest municipalities. These municipalities are encouraged to meet their targets through the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund, which rewards those that reach at least 80% of their annual target with funding. Additionally, municipalities are required to develop Municipal Housing Pledges, detailing the tools and strategies they will use to meet their assigned targets.

The City has been assigned a 10 year housing target from 2021-2031 to create 4,300 additional dwelling units. The City plans for a target of 12,000 dwelling units during this time period. The City’s Housing Pledge is comprised of the following actions

• Ontario Government Housing Target and Pledge
• Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan
• Update to the Official Plan
• Housekeeping Zoning By-law Amendments
• New Comprehensive Zoning By-law
• Ontario Road Infrastructure Improvements
• Implementation and Update to the Downtown and Health and Wellness CIP
• Implementation and Update to the Brownfield CIP
• Community Trails Strategy Implementation
• Development Charges By-law
• Community Housing and Infrastructure Accelerator – North-West Secondary Plan Area
• Urban Forestry Guidelines, Policies and Programs; and
• Municipal Modernization Program for Building, Planning and By-law

Visit the Affordable Housing Committee of Council webpage.

The Affordable Housing Committee's purpose is to identify affordable housing matters, conduct research, and advise City Council on affordable housing policies, proposals, and matters referred to the committee by Council.

Visit madeinwelland.ca to find out more about the Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan

The Affordable Rental Housing CIP and the programs created from the Plan are a series of financial incentive programs for private property owners and non-profit housing providers interested in developing affordable housing.

To apply for the Affordable Rental Community Improvement Plan or for more information, please contact Nicolas Aiello – Policy Planning Supervisor.

The City maintains a reserve fund which is currently $676,000 to assist affordable housing projects that require funding which is beyond the funding made available under the City’s Community Improvement Plans. City Council has the authority to allocate funding from the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund.

The City will maintain a list of surplus City owned lands available for purchase for affordable development. Non-profit developers looking to produce affordable housing on a surplus City owned land may be eligible to receive a low cost, long term lease on that land subject to Council approval. Please review the Site Evaluations for sites in Welland that have potential for affordable housing development.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law

The City maintains and implements Official Plan policies and a Comprehensive Zoning By-law which provide significant shovel-ready opportunities for affordable and market housing development in Welland. This includes Zoning By-law exemptions for housing delivered on or on behalf of the City, Region of Niagara, the Ontario Government and the Federal Government.

The City is currently updating its Official Plan, more information can be found at the following link: City of Welland Official Plan Update | Engage Welland

Development Charge By-law Exemptions.

The City of Welland provides up to a 100% local development charge exemption for non-profit housing, for up to two-accessory dwelling units, housing on Brownfields, and housing in the Downtown and Health and Wellness Community Improvement Plan area. This represents a savings of anywhere between $4,726 to $11,120 per unit depending on unit type.

The Encampment Task Force, is focused on addressing encampments and meets weekly. This taskforce includes members of the homelessness task force, meeting regularly with members of the Niagara Region, Niagara Regional Police, Hope Centre, and Niagara Assertive Street Outreach. This active involvement ensures that the City's voice is heard and its efforts are coordinated. Since 2023, the City has provided funding for temporary emergency homeless shelters.

More information on encampments in Welland can be found at the following link. Encampments and Homelessness

The Homelessness Working Group is comprised of staff from the City, Niagara Region, the Hope Centre and Mainstream-Gateway which focuses on housing solutions and supports and meets monthly.

In 2024, Council approved leasing 851 Ontario Road as the location for a 50 bed year-round, 24/7, housing-focused homeless shelter to Niagara Regional Housing.

More information on homelessness in Welland can be found at the following link. Encampments and Homelessness

The City of Welland's affordable housing actions are developed and aimed at fostering partnerships and collaboration between the City and other Public Bodies (Niagara Region, Province on Ontario and the Federal Government); non-profits; and the private sector.

The City offers efficient and effective customer service for both affordable and market rate housings. If you have questions about developing housing in Welland please contact devserv@welland.ca, call 905-735-1700 or come in person to City Hall.

The City offers fast and free Pre-Consultation Meeting Service which identifies the information required to begin a development application with the City and provides potential applicants with a clear path forward to approval. Most requests for a meeting are accommodated in less than two weeks.

A Pre-Consultation Meeting can be requested through the following link. City of Welland: Pre-consultation Request Form

Visit made in Welland for more information.

Economic growth is a strategic priority in the City of Welland Strategic Plan 2023-2026. The City believes that continued economic investment and the availability of good paying jobs are critical components to creating housing affordability.

Health and Well-being and Livability are strategic priorities in the City of Welland Strategic Plan 2023-2026. The City of Welland has been making significant investments in maintaining and expanding community services including parks improvements, new parks, multi-use trail expansion, urban forestry and recreational programming. This supports the creation of affordable housing by ensuring Welland is an affordable and livable community for all residents.

The City of Welland has been making significant investments in road, water and sewer infrastructure. These are critical investments needed to support existing and new residents. In 2024, we invested more $23.9 million and $40.2 million is budgeted for 2025.