Should Kitchener Offer Grants to Build More Affordable Housing?
Official title: Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan
Kitchener wants to make it easier to build affordable housing. The city is proposing grants to help homeowners add rental units and to encourage developers to include affordable units in their projects. One program would cover up to 100% of development charges for homeowners who add accessible or energy-efficient rental units. Another would offer up to $25,000 per affordable unit for missing middle housing projects.
Why This Matters
Struggling to find affordable rent in Kitchener? This plan could mean more rental units in your neighbourhood. Homeowners could get grants to build basement apartments or backyard units. If you're a renter watching costs climb, more supply could help stabilize prices.
What Could Change
Homeowners adding rental units could get 50-100% of development charges waived—that's $39,000 to $80,000 in savings. Developers building affordable missing middle housing could receive up to $500,000 per project. Units must stay affordable for 5-25 years depending on the program.
Key Issues
- Should homeowners get development charge grants to build additional rental units?
- Should larger grants go to units that are affordable, accessible, or energy-efficient?
- Should developers receive up to $25,000 per affordable unit for missing middle housing?
How to Participate
- Review the DRAFT Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan to understand the proposed programs.
- Submit your comments by email to planningpm@kitchener.ca before October 15, 2025.
- Attend the public meeting on December 15, 2025 when City Council will receive formal comments on the plan.
Events
| Date | Event | Location | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2025 | Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee Meeting | — | |
| December 15, 2025 | Public Meeting - City Council | — |