Muskoka Housing Task Force 101: The Housing Continuum

Key Concept: The “Housing Continuum”

The housing continuum shows a range of options for housing based on the needs and incomes of residents in a community.

At one end of the housing continuum are people living in crisis who may be homeless or utilizing shelters. At the other end, there are independent renters or homeowners. In between these two ends are people who are paying their own rent but with a form of assistance or subsidy provided by a governing body or charitable organization.

People may stay where they are, or they may also move through the housing continuum. When they move, space opens in their previous position for others to move into (like a ripple effect!)

Examples of the current housing developments in Muskoka:

Home for Good (HFG) – HFG is a form of Transitional Housing (see the orange bar on the continuum graphic) located at 49 Pine St. Bracebridge. This new build will house 12 young adults in Muskoka who may currently be utilizing emergency shelters or who are homeless. The new build will also provide 5 single affordable rental units (see dark blue bar on the continuum graphic) for people in our community. Increasing the supply of transitional housing, can open up space in emergency shelters and move individuals out of homelessness. Transitional housing programs provide access to supports and services to help individuals move towards stable housing solutions.

Alexander Muskoka Property – A form of Subsidized Market Rent (see the dark blue bar on the continuum graphic) located on 520 Isaac Street Gravenhurst. This new build will bring 100+ retirement suites to seniors in Muskoka. The District worked with the builder and committed funding for 12 of the units to be set at affordable rental rates. When we increase the supply of subsidized market rents, we lessen the strain put on existing social or community housing (which has a very long waitlist). In addition, by setting units at affordable rates, we create more attainable housing in our community.