Housing Affordability in Lincoln

Everyone should have access to housing that is suitable, adequate, meets their special needs and is affordable.

However, communities across Ontario are facing a housing crisis, and the Town of Lincoln is no exception. Housing is a key determinant of health, and it provides a foundation to actively participate in the community.

Recent housing construction in Lincoln has been almost entirely in the form of ownership housing and the availability of rental housing has decreased. Having an adequate supply of all forms of housing, including purpose-built rental accommodation provides the flexibility to address the needs of low-and moderate-income households in the community.

In keeping with the 2019 – 2022 Council Priorities, Lincoln recognizes the importance of facilitating housing that is affordable and accessible in order to meet the needs of its current and future residents.

Affordable housing is a priority in Lincoln and is currently addressed in the Official Plan, Secondary Plans, Council’s Priorities, and the Community Improvement Plan financial incentives review.

Public Consultation

Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey and shared their thoughts in our Forum.

We will continue to keep you up-to-date on this project through this Speak Up Lincoln page.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the project leads noted at the right of this page.

Current Affordable Housing Actions

Identifying and delivering on affordable housing solutions is a priority for this term of Council. To date the Town has taken the following actions to support the provision of affordable housing;

1. The creation of a Housing and Homelessness Community Partnership Advisory Committee.
2. The adoption of core housing needs targets
3. Incorporating affordable housing as a focus area in the update of the Town’s Community Improvement Plans.
4. Approval by Council of a new Town’s Zoning By-law to expand the permissions for secondary dwelling units.
5. Updating the Town’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law provisions for Garden Suites.

Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing which is also defined as attainable housing means:

• In the case of ownership housing, the least expensive of:
  • Housing for which the purchase price results in annual accommodation costs which do not exceed 30 percent of gross annual household income for low and moderate-income households; or
  • Housing for which the purchase price is at least 10 percent below the average purchase price of a resale unit in the regional market area
• In the case of rental housing, the least expensive of:
  • A unit for which the rent does not exceed 30 percent of gross annual household income for low-and-moderate income households; or
  • A unit for which the rent is at or below the average market rent of a unit in the regional market area as defined by the Region of Niagara and/or
  • Has received funding through Regional, Provincial and/or Federal attainable housing programs.
  • For the purposes of the definition of attainable ownership housing, the maximum purchase price for ownership housing and the maximum monthly rent is established each year by the Region of Niagara. For 2021, the maximum purchase price to be considered as attainable is $468,166. For 2021, the maximum monthly rent is based on the maximum average monthly rent (AMR) in the regional market area. For 2021, the maximum rents to be considered attainable are as follows:

Basement Apartment

For information on legalizing an existing secondary unit such as a basement apartment please contact the Planning and Development Department for information on zoning regulations and building permit requirements.

Housing and Homelessness, Community Partnership Advisory Committee

The Housing and Homelessness Community Partnership Advisory Committee provides Council with recommendations on policy and municipal actions that will encourage an increase in the supply of diverse market, co-op and non-profit rental and ownership housing options for low and moderate-income households. Although Niagara Region has the overall legislated responsibility for affordable housing, it does not control local strategies such as zoning or municipal incentive programs related to affordable housing. The Committee will recommend initiatives to Council that will enable an increase in the supply of affordable housing in the community.