Township Launches Community Engagement for New Housing Action Plan

CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Township is developing a new Housing Action Plan, which will build on the Housing Needs Assessment completed in 2025 to identify practical, locally focused and implementable actions that may support a broader range of housing options, improve housing choice, and strengthen the Township’s ability to respond to evolving housing needs.

Housing pressures are being felt across Centre Wellington, with rising housing costs, limited rental availability, changing household needs and a constrained range of housing options affecting residents at different stages of life and across a range of incomes and household circumstances.

The Township’s Housing Needs Assessment identified several local housing pressures, including increasing affordability challenges, limited rental housing availability, a housing stock predominantly made up of single detached homes, and a growing need for a broader range of housing forms, tenures, and accessible, age-friendly options. Currently, approximately one in six households in Centre Wellington cannot afford their housing.

The Housing Action Plan will examine where the Township can have the greatest influence through municipal planning, policy, regulatory, financial, and other tools. It will consider potential actions related to housing supply and diversity, affordable and attainable housing, rental and ownership opportunities, additional residential units, planning and zoning, development processes, incentives, partnerships, and advocacy.

“Housing is an important part of building a complete and resilient community, and there is no single solution to the challenges we are experiencing. This plan allows us to take a thoughtful look at what we can do locally and, importantly, to learn from the people who live and work here about what housing means to them and what they believe our community needs,” said Emma South, Senior Policy & Housing Planner.

Community input will help shape the plan

Community members are invited to participate throughout the development of the Housing Action Plan.  An online survey is now open and provides an opportunity for residents to share their experiences, perspectives and priorities related to housing in Centre Wellington.

Township staff will also be hosting a series of community pop-up events in September and October.  These informal opportunities are intended to make it easier for residents to ask questions, learn more about the project and share their thoughts directly with project staff.  Upcoming pop-up events include:

• Open Sky Live – Thursday, September 3, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Elora Centre for the Arts
• Cogs and Clockwork Festival – Saturday, September 12, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Downtown Fergus
• Elora Farmers’ Market – Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Bissell Park
• Victoria Park Seniors Centre – Wednesday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Key Township Open House – Thursday, October 1, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., CW Community Sportsplex
• Victoria Park Seniors Centre – Wednesday, October 7, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

“We want to learn from people with different experiences and housing needs,” said South. “Whether you rent, own your home, are looking for housing, are planning for a future change in your household, or simply have ideas about what Centre Wellington needs, your perspective can help inform this work.”

The Township recognizes that housing is a complex issue involving planning, infrastructure, land supply, construction costs, market conditions, funding programs, legislation, and the actions of multiple levels of government and community partners.  While the Township does not directly control all of these factors, it can play an important role in creating conditions that support a broader range of housing options and working with partners to advance housing outcomes.

The Housing Action Plan will not provide a single solution to Centre Wellington’s housing challenges.  Instead, it will identify where the Township can lead, where it can support or facilitate action, and where partnerships and advocacy with other levels of government and housing providers will be important. 

Residents are encouraged to learn more about the Housing Action Plan, complete the online survey and find upcoming engagement opportunities at www.connectcw.ca/housingactionplan