Muskoka Housing Task Force 2.0 – Progress Update

The Muskoka Housing Task Force 2.0 (MHTF 2.0) is a dynamic group of community members, Municipal Councillors, and staff from the District and Muskoka’s Area Municipalities who are dedicated to supporting the creation and maintenance of affordable and attainable housing in Muskoka. We are your neighbours, your community representatives, and your advocates for housing solutions.

The MHTF 2.0 functions as an advisory body to the District and explores and recommends strategies and opportunities for a range of housing options across Muskoka. We recognize that solving the housing crisis will take multi-levels of government and community wide efforts - we cannot do this alone. Our role is to advocate and drive forward changes collaboratively. We believe in a community that includes housing for everyone.

What We’ve Accomplished?

The Task Force has met 3 times since its relaunch in September 2023. Since that time we have worked to prioritize the investigation and pursuit of several key initiatives for the short term, including but not limited to:

1. Secondary Suites (now being referred to as Additional Residential Units);
2. Municipal Tools and Incentives; and
3. Land Trusts.

In addition to achieving consensus on key short-term priorities, the MHTF 2.0 has committed to learning as a group. We have had an invited presentation from the Muskoka Community Land Trust, and we have developed an understanding of the great work that was accomplished by our MHTF 1.0 predecessors and the work that has been done by Area Municipalities and the District to advance those initiatives.

What’s Next?

The Task Force is now in the process of developing recommendations to Council on enhancements to a key District housing program – more to follow on this when program changes are finalized!

The MHTF 2.0 is looking forward to its next meeting on February 29, 2024, and is committed to keeping our community updated on our work!