When activists and politicians say the words “affordable housing,” people might assume they’re using a politically correct catchall term for “subsidized housing” or perhaps even “welfare.”  In some cases, they might be. In the case of Mississauga, however, affordable housing means just that — housing that the average social worker, accounting clerk or retail employee can afford.

A generation ago, a family with a modest income could afford a spacious town, semi or detached home in the city. Now, a four-bedroom home is monumentally expensive — a fantasy for a family with two modest incomes.

Many people who grew up in Mississauga and spent their summers playing in sprawling backyards with fishponds and swimming pools have been forced to move to less built-out cities, often quainter places like Georgetown and Milton.

Last Monday, city councillors and Mayor Bonnie Crombie gathered for a planning committee meeting to discuss the pressing need to tackle the city’s mounting affordable housing problem. The mayor and councillors addressed a lengthy — and much lauded —  Housing Gap Assessment and Municipal Best Practices report produced by SHS Consultants on the issue that laid out several options for the city to potentially tackle.

While discussions have been ongoing for some time — and affordable housing has long been identified as one of Crombie’s priorities — one city councillor who has been out in front of the difficult (and sometimes contentious) issue is Carolyn Parrish.  Read More>>>

Ashley Newport, Insauga, May 10th 2016